Téa Leoni facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Téa Leoni
Leoni in June 2007
Born	Elizabeth Téa Pantaleoni (1966-02-25) February 25, 1966 (age 59) New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1988–present
Spouse(s)	Neil Joseph Tardio Jr. ​ ​ (m. 1991; div. 1995)​ David Duchovny ​ ​ (m. 1997; div. 2014)​
Partner(s)	Tim Daly (2014–)
Children	2, including West Duchovny
Relatives	Amram Ducovny (ex-father-in-law; deceased)

Téa Leoni (born Elizabeth Téa Pantaleoni on February 25, 1966) is an American actress. She became well-known for her roles in TV shows and movies.

Early in her career, she starred in TV comedies like Flying Blind (1992–93) and The Naked Truth (1995–1998). Her big break came in 1995 with the action-comedy film Bad Boys.

Leoni also played lead roles in many popular films. These include Deep Impact (1998), The Family Man (2000), Jurassic Park III (2001), Spanglish (2004), and Fun with Dick and Jane (2005). From 2014 to 2019, she starred as Elizabeth McCord, the Secretary of State, in the TV drama Madam Secretary.

Early Life and Family Background

Téa Leoni was born in New York City on February 25, 1966. Her mother, Emily Ann, was a dietitian. Her father, Anthony Pantaleoni, was a lawyer.

Her paternal grandmother, Helenka Adamowska Pantaleoni, was an American silent film actress. She was also a humanitarian who helped others. Téa grew up in Englewood, New Jersey, and New York City. She went to two private schools: Brearley School and The Putney School. She also attended Sarah Lawrence College.

In a TV show called Finding Your Roots, Téa learned more about her family history. She found out that her mother, who was adopted, had biological parents from Louisiana and Virginia.

Acting Career Highlights

Téa Leoni started her acting career in 1988. She was cast in a show called Angels 88, but it never aired. The next year, she appeared in the TV soap opera Santa Barbara. In 1991, she had a small role in the movie Switch. She also appeared in A League of Their Own (1992).

Early TV Roles and Breakthrough Film

From 1992 to 1993, Leoni starred in the TV comedy Flying Blind. In 1995, she appeared in an episode of the popular sitcom Frasier.

Later in 1995, she got a main role in the TV comedy The Naked Truth. She played Nora Wilde, a journalist. This show ran until 1998. Téa was also offered the role of Rachel Green in the hit show Friends, but she chose The Naked Truth instead.

In 1995, Téa Leoni also starred in the action-comedy film Bad Boys. This movie was a huge success, making over $141 million worldwide.

Major Film Roles and Success

After her TV work, Leoni took on a big role in the movie Deep Impact (1998). This was a large disaster film about a comet heading towards Earth. The movie was very successful, earning $349 million worldwide.

She then starred in two other major films. These were the romantic comedy The Family Man (2000) with Nicolas Cage, and the science fiction film Jurassic Park III (2001). In 2002, she appeared in Hollywood Ending, directed by Woody Allen.

In 2004, she played the wife of Adam Sandler's character in the comedy-drama Spanglish. In 2005, Leoni starred with Jim Carrey in the comedy film Fun with Dick and Jane. This movie also did very well, making $202 million globally.

Later Career and Madam Secretary

In the late 2000s, Téa Leoni appeared in smaller films like You Kill Me and The Smell of Success. She also starred with Ricky Gervais in the comedy-drama Ghost Town in 2008. In 2011, she had a supporting role in the comedy film Tower Heist.

Leoni's most recent major role was as Elizabeth McCord in the CBS political drama Madam Secretary. She played the Secretary of State, a high-ranking government official. The show ran from 2014 to 2019.

Personal Life and Family

Téa Leoni married Neil Joseph Tardio Jr. in 1991. They divorced in 1995.

She then married actor David Duchovny in 1997. They have two children: a daughter named Madelaine West and a son named Kyd Miller. Leoni and Duchovny separated in 2008 and later divorced in 2014.

After her divorce, Leoni moved to New York City. She began dating Tim Daly, her co-star from Madam Secretary, in 2014. They both went to The Putney School.

Humanitarian Work

Téa Leoni became a UNICEF goodwill ambassador in 2001. A goodwill ambassador helps promote the work of UNICEF, which supports children's rights and well-being worldwide. Her paternal grandmother, Helenka Pantaleoni, was also involved with UNICEF for many years.

Asteroid Named After Her

An asteroid, a small rocky body in space, was named after Téa Leoni. It is called 8299 Téaleoni. It was discovered in 1993 by Eric Elst.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Téa Leoni para niños