Piper Perabo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Piper Perabo
Perabo at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con
Born	Piper Lisa Perabo (1976-10-31) October 31, 1976 (age 48) Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Alma mater	Ohio University (BFA)
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1997–present
Spouse(s)	Stephen Kay ​ (m. 2014)​
Relatives	Lilli Kay (step-daughter)

Piper Lisa Perabo (ⁱ/ˈpɛrəboʊ/ perr-Ə-boh; born October 31, 1976) is an American actress. She became well-known after starring in the movie Coyote Ugly (2000). She also appeared in popular films like Cheaper by the Dozen (2003) and The Prestige (2006). Later, she played a CIA agent named Annie Walker in the TV show Covert Affairs (2010–2014). For this role, she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award.

Early Life and Discovery

Piper Perabo was born in Dallas, Texas, and grew up in Toms River, New Jersey. Her mother, Mary Charlotte, was a physical therapist. Her father, George William Perabo, taught poetry at a college. Piper has English, German, Irish, and Norwegian family roots. Her parents named her after the famous actress Piper Laurie.

Piper is the oldest of three children. She has two younger brothers, Noah and Adam. She finished high school in 1994. In 1998, she earned a degree in theater from Ohio University. She also studied Latin, physics, and poetry.

Before she graduated from college, Piper was discovered. She was visiting her boyfriend in New York City. She went with him to an audition. A casting director, Denise Fitzgerald, saw Piper and asked her to read for a part. Piper didn't get that role. But the casting director helped her find an agent.

Career Highlights

Starting Out and Becoming Known (1997–2007)

After college, Piper moved to New York. She worked as a waitress and studied acting. She got her first movie role in Whiteboyz soon after moving. In 2000, she starred in the musical comedy-drama Coyote Ugly. She played Violet "Jersey" Sanford. For this role, she won an MTV Movie Award for Best Music Moment. The movie was a big success, earning over $113 million worldwide. She also played an FBI agent in The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle.

After Coyote Ugly, Piper chose to work on independent films. In 2001, she starred in Lost and Delirious. She played a boarding school student who falls in love with a classmate. Critics praised her performance in this film. One reviewer called it her "breakout performance."

In 2002, she appeared in the comedy She Gets What She Wants. She also played Nora Baker in Cheaper by the Dozen (2003). She played Nora again in the 2005 sequel, Cheaper by the Dozen 2. Other films from this time include The Cave (2005) and The Prestige (2006).

Perabo at the premiere of Looper at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2012

Covert Affairs and Recent Work (2008–Present)

In 2008, Piper was in the family comedy Beverly Hills Chihuahua. She also performed in her first off-Broadway play, Reasons to Be Pretty. While the play was ending, she read the script for Covert Affairs. She loved the character of Annie Walker, a smart and strong CIA agent.

Piper was cast as the main character in Covert Affairs. The show ran for five seasons, from 2010 to 2014. Her role earned her a nomination for a Golden Globe Award in 2010.

In 2012, Piper had a supporting role in the time travel thriller Looper. She also appeared in the TV sitcom Go On. In 2015, she starred in the thriller Into the Grizzly Maze. She played Julia George in the TV drama Notorious (2016).

Piper co-starred with Antonio Banderas in the thriller Black Butterfly (2017). In 2018, she joined the Netflix comedy series Turn Up Charlie. In 2019, she was Leah Banning in the action film Angel Has Fallen. In 2020, she had a role in the horror series Penny Dreadful: City of Angels.

She also appeared in the dark comedy film Spontaneous (2020). Since 2021, Piper has been a recurring character, Summer Higgins, in the TV series Yellowstone. She plays an animal rights activist.

Personal Life

In 2013, Piper Perabo got engaged to director and writer Stephen Kay. They married on July 26, 2014, in New York City. Piper is a stepmother to Stephen's daughter.

Piper is good friends with actress Lena Headey. They worked together on the films The Cave and Imagine Me & You in 2005. Piper speaks French fluently. She supports LGBT rights and women's leadership in politics. She is also part owner of two businesses in New York City: a bar called Employees Only and a restaurant called Jack's Wife Freda.

Political Involvement

Piper Perabo is active in politics. She has taken part in protests for important causes. For example, she participated in protests related to a Supreme Court confirmation hearing. She also joined Jane Fonda's weekly climate change protests in 2019.

Piper supported Elizabeth Warren in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries. She often uses her social media to encourage people to register and learn about voting. She suggests followers use VoteRiders to understand Voter ID rules.

Piper is on the advisory board for The Hometown Project. This group helps elect candidates in local elections. She also supported Kamala Harris in the 2024 United States presidential election.

Filmography

Film

Television

Stage

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Piper Perabo para niños