Aidan Quinn#cite ref-11
{{Short description|Irish-American actor (born 1959)}}
{{For|the soccer player|Aodhan Quinn}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| image = Aidan Quinn at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival.jpg
| name = Aidan Quinn
| image_size =
| caption = Quinn at the premiere of Handsome Harry at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|3|8}}
| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
| other_names =
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1979–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Elizabeth Bracco|1987}}
| children = 2
}}
Aidan Quinn (born March 8, 1959){{cite web|title=Famous birthdays for March 8: Camryn Manheim, Aidan Quinn|date=March 8, 2021|website=United Press International|url=https://www.upi.com/amp/Entertainment_News/2021/03/08/Famous-birthdays-for-March-8-Camryn-Manheim-Aidan-Quinn/7931615132811/|accessdate=December 16, 2024}} is an Irish-American actor. He made his film debut in Reckless (1984), and has starred in over 80 feature films, including Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), The Mission (1986), Stakeout (1987), All My Sons (1987), Avalon (1990), The Handmaid's Tale (1990), Benny & Joon (1993), Legends of the Fall (1994), Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994), Michael Collins (1996), Practical Magic (1998), Song for a Raggy Boy (2003), Wild Child (2008) and Unknown (2011). He also played Captain Thomas "Tommy" Gregson on the CBS television series Elementary (2012–19).
Quinn has received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his performances in the television films An Early Frost (1985) and Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (2007). Highly active in Irish cinema as well as in the United States, Quinn is a four-time Irish Film and Television (IFTA) Award nominee, winning Best Supporting Actor in a Film for the Conor McPherson film The Eclipse (2009).
Early life
Quinn was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Irish Catholic parents.{{cite web|title=Aidan Quinn|url=http://www.biography.com/people/aidan-quinn-16472533|website=Biography.com|access-date=2018-02-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315225150/https://www.biography.com/people/aidan-quinn-16472533|archive-date=2018-03-15|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last=Hasted|first=Nick|title=Aidan Quinn: The quiet man|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/aidan-quinn-the-quiet-man-55228.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924152425/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/aidan-quinn-the-quiet-man-55228.html |archive-date=2015-09-24 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|website=The Independent|date=9 Apr 2004}} He was raised in Chicago and Rockford, Illinois, as well as in Dublin and Birr, County Offaly, Ireland. His mother, Teresa, was a homemaker, but also worked as a bookkeeper and in the travel business, and his father, Michael Quinn, was a professor of English literature at Rock Valley College.{{cite web|last=Fischer|first=Paul|title=Aidan Quinn|website=Cranky Critic|url=http://www.crankycritic.com/qa/pf_articles/aidanquinn.html|access-date=12 Oct 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100131135844/http://crankycritic.com/qa/pf_articles/aidanquinn.html|archive-date=2010-01-31|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/obituaries/teresa-quinn-il/|title=Death Notice: TERESA QUINN|website=Chicago Tribune|date=6 Oct 2009 |access-date=19 Oct 2012}}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/aidan-quinns-ode-to-ireland-of-the-seventies-26476804.html |title=Aidan Quinn's ode to Ireland of the Seventies |website=Irish Independent |date=14 Sep 2008 |access-date=21 May 2022}} When he was nineteen and working as a roofer, Quinn realized he wanted to become an actor. He trained at the Piven Theatre Workshop.{{cite web|title=Piven Theatre Workshop - Alumni|url=http://piventheatre.org/alumni/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130004813/http://piventheatre.org/alumni/|archive-date=2017-11-30|access-date=2018-02-25}}{{cite web|last1=Drew|first1=April|title=Aidan Quinn talks up his Irish heritage|url=http://www.irishcentral.com/culture/entertainment/aidan-quinn-talks-up-his-irish-heritage-92522949-237693401.html|access-date=27 August 2016|website=Irish Central|date=April 30, 2010 }}
He has three brothers and a sister. His older brother, Declan Quinn, is a cinematographer, and his younger sister, Marian, is an actress, director and writer.{{cite web|title=Marian Quinn|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0703922/?ref_=tt_cl_t4|website=IMDb}} His brother Paul, an actor and director, died in 2015 at the age of 55.{{Cite web|last=Holmes|first=Mannie|date=2015-09-03|title=Director Paul Quinn, Brother of Aidan Quinn, Dies at 55|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/obituaries-people-news/director-paul-quinn-brother-of-aidan-quinn-dies-at-55-1201585568/|access-date=2021-12-26|website=Variety|language=en-US}}
Career
His first significant film role was in Reckless, followed by a breakthrough role in Desperately Seeking Susan as the character "Dez" (the love interest of the character played by Rosanna Arquette). Quinn next starred in the controversial television film An Early Frost, about a young gay lawyer dying of AIDS (it was broadcast on NBC on November 11, 1985, and co-starred Gena Rowlands, Ben Gazzara and Sylvia Sidney). He received his first Emmy Award nomination for the role. He made a short, well received{{Cite web |last=Benson |first=Sheila |date=1986-11-14 |title=MOVIE REVIEW : A DILEMMA OF CONSCIENCE AT HEART OF 'THE MISSION' |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-11-14-ca-29420-story.html |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Canby |first=Vincent |date=1986-10-31 |title=SCREEN: 'THE MISSION,' WITH DeNIRO AND IRONS |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/10/31/movies/screen-the-mission-with-deniro-and-irons.html |access-date=2023-03-29 |issn=0362-4331}}{{Opinion|date=May 2022}} contribution as Robert De Niro's brother in The Mission. He played escaped convict Richard "Stick" Montgomery in the action comedy Stakeout opposite Richard Dreyfuss and Emilio Estevez.
In 1988, Quinn lost the role of Jesus Christ when Paramount Pictures dropped the distribution rights to the Martin Scorsese movie The Last Temptation of Christ. When Universal Pictures picked up the film, the role went to Willem Dafoe. In the meantime, Quinn starred as the protagonist in the film Crusoe, finished in 1989.
During the 1990s, he appeared in Legends of the Fall, Benny & Joon, The Handmaid's Tale, Haunted and Practical Magic. He also starred in Michael Collins, Song for a Raggy Boy, This Is My Father, and Evelyn. He had a cameo appearance as the captain of a doomed Arctic vessel in the Francis Ford Coppola-produced adaptation of Frankenstein.
In 2000, Quinn portrayed Paul McCartney in the VH1 television drama Two of Us.
Quinn played Kerry Max Cook in the 2005 movie The Exonerated, a true story about people on death row who had been freed.
Quinn played the main character on the NBC drama The Book of Daniel in 2006. After the first three weeks of its run, the show was canceled, and its last five episodes never aired. In 2007, Quinn received his second Emmy nomination for the television movie Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.
In 2010, he played a cameo role as William Rainsferd in the French-made film Sarah's Key, set during World War II.
He starred as Dermot opposite Taylor Schilling (Abby) in the Canadian-Irish drama film Stay (2013).
Quinn co-starred in the CBS Television series Elementary.
Personal life
File:Elizabeth Bracco and Aidan Quinn 2009.jpg and Quinn, 2009]]
In 1987, Quinn married his Stakeout co-star Elizabeth Bracco (sister of actress Lorraine Bracco). They have two daughters: Mia (b. 1998) and Ava Eileen (b. 1989), who has autism.{{cite web|last1=McGoldrick|first1=Debbie|title=The Mighty Quinn|url=http://www.irishabroad.com/news/irish-voice/entertainment/Articles/mighty-quinn180908.aspx|website=IrishAbroad|date=18 Sep 2008|access-date=20 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604165532/http://www.irishabroad.com/news/irish-voice/entertainment/Articles/mighty-quinn180908.aspx|archive-date=4 June 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|last1=Garcia|first1=Rikkie|title=Biography (Aidan Quinn)|url=http://members.tripod.com/~rikkie_g/bio.htm|website=Tripod.com|date=Nov 2001}} Ava appeared as the baby "David" in Avalon,{{cite web|title=Ava Eileen Quinn|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0703764/?ref_=fn_al_nm_6|website=IMDb}} and Mia played a ghost in The Eclipse.{{cite web|title=Mia Quinn (I)|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4048700/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1|website=IMDb}} He has controversially suggested that the MMR vaccine led to his daughter's autism diagnosis.{{cite web | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/how-vaccines-autism-battle-continues-despite-scientific-consensus-924080/ | title=How Hollywood Stars, Trump and Scientologists Inflame the Vaccine Wars: "It's Spurious but Effective" | website=The Hollywood Reporter | date=August 31, 2016 }} Former residents of Englewood, New Jersey, Quinn and his family now live in Palisades, Rockland County, New York,{{cite web|last1=David|first1=Mark|title=Al Pacino Sells Palisades Guest House|url=https://variety.com/2013/dirt/real-estalker/al-pacino-sells-palisades-guest-house-1201235848/|website=Variety|date=24 May 2013}} and Marbletown in the Catskills / Woodstock region of Ulster County, New York.{{cite web|last1=Rohan|first1=Virginia|title=Aidan Quinn talks about his role on "Elementary"|url=http://www.northjersey.com/arts-and-entertainment/tv/aidan-quinn-talks-about-his-role-on-elementary-aidan-quinn-relishing-his-support-role-1.703584|website=NorthJersey.com|date=31 Oct 2013}}{{cite web|last1=Van Buskirk|first1=Leslie|title=Daniel Craig, Anne Hathaway, The Clintons: Is Hippie Town Woodstock the New High-End NYC Getaway?|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/daniel-craig-anne-hathaway-homes-436892|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=12 Apr 2013}}
As an avid sports fan, Quinn supports the Chicago Cubs, the Green Bay Packers, Michael Jordan, Rory McIlroy, and Roger Federer.{{cite web|last1=Ouzounian|first1=Richard|title=Aidan Quinn: Elementary star says you have to learn to live with life's jokes|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2012/11/02/aidan_quinn_elementary_star_says_you_have_to_learn_to_live_with_lifes_jokes.html|website=Toronto Star|date=2 Nov 2012}}
Quinn is also an outspoken critic of Donald Trump.{{cite web|title=Aidan Quinn on Trump: "It is absolutely frightening."|date=October 19, 2024|website=RTÉ.ie|url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2024/1019/1476332-aidan-quinn-on-trump-it-is-absolutely-frightening/|accessdate=December 14, 2024}}
Philanthropy
Quinn has participated in charity golf events for the East Lake Foundation, a community redevelopment program,{{cite web|author1=Joe the Cigartainer|title=Tag Archives: East Lake Foundation – Cigar Host|url=http://blog.cigartainment.com/?tag=east-lake-foundation|date=26 Aug 2014|access-date=12 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035722/http://blog.cigartainment.com/?tag=east-lake-foundation|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}} and Samuel L. Jackson's "One for the Boys" campaign about testicular cancer awareness.{{cite web|title=One For The Boys Charity Golf Match|url=http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/aidan-quinn-attends-the-one-for-the-boys-charity-golf-match-news-photo/477103040|website=Getty Images|date=12 Jun 2015}} In 2010, Quinn attended a premiere benefit screening of A Shine of Rainbows for the International Children's Media Center (ICMC) and The American Ireland Fund (AIF).{{cite web|title=Premiere Benefit Screening with actor Aidan Quinn : April 15 2010|url=https://www.ammado.com/nonprofit/51167/articles/21401|website=ammado.com|publisher=The Ireland Funds|date=25 Feb 2011|access-date=12 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610180032/https://www.ammado.com/nonprofit/51167/articles/21401|archive-date=10 June 2016|url-status=dead}} In 1991, he read a segment from Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis as part of MTV's "Books: Feed Your Head" literacy promotion PSAs.{{cite web|title=Books Feed Your Head Commercial 1991 with Aidan Quinn|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Pf71m6zACg| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114023509/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Pf71m6zACg| archive-date=2019-01-14 | url-status=dead|website=YouTube|publisher=Keith Richardson|date=22 Nov 2014}}
Quinn spoke at the 2003 "Night of Too Many Stars" gala benefiting The Autism Coalition.{{cite web|title=Night Of Too Many Stars Benefit For Autism Coalition|url=http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/actor-aidan-quinn-speaks-at-the-night-of-too-many-stars-a-news-photo/1820182|website=Getty Images|publisher=Mark Mainz|date=27 Feb 2003}} He was an honorary board member of the National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR), which merged with Autism Speaks.{{cite web|title=Aidan Quinn Stars in Miracle Run|url=https://www.autismspeaks.org/news/news-item/aidan-quinn-stars-miracle-run|publisher=Autism Speaks|date=23 Apr 2007|access-date=13 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161219051352/https://www.autismspeaks.org/news/news-item/aidan-quinn-stars-miracle-run|archive-date=19 December 2016|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Autism Speaks and The National Alliance for Autism Research Complete Merger|url=https://www.autismspeaks.org/about-us/press-releases/autism-speaks-and-national-alliance-autism-research-complete-merger|publisher=Autism Speaks|date=13 Feb 2006}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | My Favorite Year behind Bologna 1/2 hour in | ||
| 1984 | Reckless | Johnny Rourke | |
| rowspan=2|1985 | Desperately Seeking Susan | Dez | |
| An Early Frost | Michael Pierson | ||
| 1986 | {{sortname|The|Mission|dab=1986 film}} | Felipe Mendoza | |
| 1987 | Stakeout | Richard 'Stick' Montgomery | |
| 1989 | Crusoe | Crusoe | |
| rowspan=3|1990 | {{sortname|The|Handmaid's Tale|dab=film}} | Nick | |
| The Lemon Sisters | Frankie McGuinness | ||
| Avalon | Jules Kaye | ||
| 1991 | At Play in the Fields of the Lord | Martin Quarrier | |
| 1992 | The Playboys | Tom Casey | |
| 1993 | Benny & Joon | Benjamin 'Benny' Pearl | |
| rowspan=3|1994 | Blink | Det. John Hallstrom | |
| Mary Shelley's Frankenstein | Cpt. Robert Walton | ||
| Legends of the Fall | Alfred Ludlow | ||
| rowspan=3|1995 | The Stars Fell on Henrietta | Don Day | |
| Haunted | Prof. David Ash | ||
| Lumière and Company | Himself | Short film: "John Boorman" | |
| rowspan=2|1996 | Looking for Richard | Richmond | |
| Michael Collins | Harry Boland | ||
| rowspan=2|1997 | Commandments | Seth Warner | |
| The Assignment | Lt. Cmdr. Annibal Ramirez / Carlos | ||
| rowspan=2|1998 | This Is My Father | Kieran O'Day | Also executive producer |
| Practical Magic | Officer Gary Hallet | ||
| rowspan=2|1999 | In Dreams | Paul Cooper | |
| Music of the Heart | Brian Turner | ||
| 2000 | Songcatcher | Tom Bledsoe | |
| rowspan=2|2002 | Stolen Summer | Joe O'Malley | ' |
| Evelyn | Nick Barron | ||
| 2003 | Song for a Raggy Boy | William Franklin | |
| rowspan=4|2004 | Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius | Harry Vardon | |
| Shadow of Fear | Detective Scofield | ||
| Return to Sender | Frank Nitzche | ||
| Proud | Commodore Alfred Lind | ||
| 2005 | Nine Lives | Henry | |
| rowspan=2|2007 | Dark Matter | Prof. Jacob Reiser | |
| 32A | Frank Brennan | ||
| 2008 | Wild Child | Gerry Moore | |
| rowspan=3|2009 | {{sortname|A|Shine of Rainbows}} | Alec O'Donnell | |
| The Eclipse | Nicholas Holden | ||
| Handsome Harry | Prof. Porter | ||
| rowspan=7|2010 | Flipped | Richard Baker | |
| Festival of Lights | Adem | ||
| Jonah Hex | President Ulysses S. Grant | ||
| Sarah's Key | William Rainsferd | ||
| Across the Line: The Exodus of Charlie Wright | Charlie Wright | ||
| The 5th Quarter | Steven Abbate | ||
| The Pilgrims: The Journey to a New World for Autism | Himself | Documentary | |
| rowspan=4|2011 | Unknown | Martin B. | |
| The Stand Up | Sandy Hardwick | ||
| The Greening of Whitney Brown | Henry Brown | ||
| Muide Éire | Himself | Documentary | |
| rowspan=2|2012 | If I Were You | Derek | |
| Allegiance | Lieutenant Colonel Owens | ||
| rowspan=3|2013 | The Last Keepers | John Carver | |
| Rushlights | Cameron Brogden | ||
| Stay | Dermot Fay | ||
| 2014 | Journey to Sundance | Himself | Documentary |
| 2018 | Change in the Air | Moody | |
| 2021 | Spiked | John Wilson | |
| 2022 | Blacklight | Gabriel Robinson | |
| 2023 | Daughter of the Bride | Bruce | |
| TBA | Cry from the Sea | TBA |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | American Dream | Scooter | Episode: "Casey's Romance" |
| 1985 | An Early Frost | Michael Pierson | rowspan=5|Television movie |
| 1987 | All My Sons | Chris Keller | |
| 1989 | Perfect Witness | Sam Paxton | |
| 1991 | Lies of the Twins | James McEwen/Jonathan McEwan | |
| 1992 | {{sortname|A|Private Matter}} | Bob Finkbine | |
| 1994 | Baseball | Himself/Various | 2 episodes |
| rowspan=2|1995 | The Irish in America | rowspan=2|Narrator | rowspan=5|TV movie |
| Out of Ireland: The Story of Irish Emigration to America | |||
| 1997 | Forbidden Territory: Stanley's Search for Livingstone | Henry Morton Stanley | |
| rowspan=3|2000 | The Prince and the Pauper | Miles Hendon | |
| Two of Us | Paul McCartney | ||
| The Young Messiah | Narrator | Voice; TV movie | |
| 2001 | Night Visions | Jeremy Bell | Episode: "The Passenger List" |
| rowspan=2|2003 | Benedict Arnold: A Question of Honor | Gen. Benedict Arnold | TV movie |
| Freedom: A History of US | Mob Member/Philadelphia Press Editorial | 2 episodes | |
| rowspan=4|2004 | See You in My Dreams | Joe F. Brown | rowspan=4|TV movie |
| Plainsong | Tom Guthrie | ||
| Cavedweller | Clint Windsor | ||
| Miracle Run | Douglas Thomas | ||
| 2004–2005 | Third Watch | Lieutenant/Captain John Miller | 5 episodes |
| rowspan=3|2005 | The Exonerated | Kerry Max Cook | TV movie |
| Empire Falls | David Roby | 2 episodes | |
| Mayday | John Berry | TV movie | |
| 2006 | The Book of Daniel | Daniel Webster | 8 episodes |
| rowspan=2|2007 | Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee | Henry L. Dawes | TV movie |
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Ben Nicholson | Episode: "Savant" | |
| rowspan=2|2008 | Canterbury's Law | Matthew 'Matt' Furey | 5 episodes |
| The Prince of Motor City | Charlie Hamilton | Pilot | |
| 2010 | White Collar | Prof. George Oswald | Episode: "Copycat Caffrey" |
| rowspan=2|2011 | Weeds | Foster 'Chuck' Klein | 4 episodes |
| Prime Suspect | Lt. Kevin Sweeney | Recurring role | |
| 2012 | The Horses of McBride | Matt Davidson | TV movie |
| 2012–2019 | Elementary | Captain Thomas 'Tommy' Gregson | Main role |
| 2014 | From Tee to Green: The Story of Irish Golf | Narrator | Voice; 3 episodes |
| 2019 | The American Guest | Theodore Roosevelt | Main role |
| 2021-2022 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Burton Lowe | Episodes: "The Five Hundredth Episode" & "Confess Your Sins to be Free" |
| 2024 | Detective Gus Vanderlip | Episode: "The Heart of a Saturday Night" | |
| TBA
|The Walsh Sisters | Jack Walsh | Upcoming comedy drama series{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2025/bbc-marian-keyes-walsh-sisters-cast|title=Cast unveiled for new comedy drama The Walsh Sisters, led by Louisa Harland, Caroline Menton and Aidan Quinn|website=bbc.co.uk/mediacentre|accessdate=14 February 2025}} |
=Theatre=
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| Year | Production | Role | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | The Man in 605 | Jerry Green | Piven Theatre Workshop |
| Scheherazade | rowspan=2|Chicago | ||
| The Irish Hebrew Lesson | |||
| 1984 | Fool for Love | Eddie | Douglas Fairbanks Theater |
| 1985 | Hamlet | Prince Hamlet | Wisdom Bridge Theatre |
| 1985–1986 | A Lie of the Mind | Frankie | Promenade Theatre |
| 1988 | A Streetcar Named Desire | Stanley Kowalski | Circle in the Square Theatre |
| 2003 | The Exonerated | Kerry Max Cook | 45 Bleecker Theater Curran Theatre |
| 2004 | Trumbo: Red, White and Blacklisted | Dalton Trumbo | Westside Theatre |
| 2005 | rowspan=2|The Exonerated | rowspan=2|Kerry Max Cook | Queen's Hall |
| 2006 | Riverside Studios Dublin Theatre Festival | ||
| 2008 | Conversations in Tusculum | Brutus | The Public Theater |
Awards and nominations
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Aidan Quinn}}
- {{IMDb name|1644|Aidan Quinn}}
- {{IBDB name}}
- {{iobdb name|10558}}
{{IFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Film}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Quinn, Aidan}}
Category:20th-century American male actors
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:American male voice actors
Category:American people of Irish descent