Amy Brenneman
{{short description|American actress (born 1964)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Amy Brenneman
| image = Amy Brenneman 2009.jpg
| caption = Brenneman in 2009
| birth_name = Amy Frederica Brenneman
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1964|06|22}}
| birth_place = New London, Connecticut, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| other_names =
| occupation = {{hlist|Actress|producer}}
| years_active = 1992–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Brad Silberling|1995}}
| children = 2
| education = Harvard University (BA)
| website = {{url|http://theamybrenneman.com/}}
}}
Amy Frederica Brenneman (born June 22, 1964) is an American actress and producer. She worked extensively in television, coming to prominence as Detective Janice Licalsi in the ABC police drama series NYPD Blue (1993–1994). Brenneman next co-created and starred as Judge Amy Gray in the CBS drama series Judging Amy (1999–2005). She received five Primetime Emmy Award nominations for these roles.
In subsequent years, Brenneman has had starring roles as Violet Turner in the Shonda Rhimes medical drama series Private Practice (2007–2013), and as Laurie Garvey on the HBO drama series The Leftovers (2014–2017). She is also known for her recurring role as Faye Moskowitz on Frasier and has starred in various films, including Heat (1995), Fear (1996), Daylight (1996), Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her (2000), Nine Lives (2005), and The Jane Austen Book Club (2007).
Early life and education
Brenneman was born on June 22, 1964,{{cite web |title=Brenneman, Amy 1964– |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/brenneman-amy-1964 |website=Encyclopedia.com |publisher=Cengage |access-date=April 23, 2022}} in New London, Connecticut, to Frederica Joanne (née Shoenfield), a judge of the Connecticut State Superior Court, and Russell Langdon Brenneman Jr., an environmental lawyer.{{cite book|title=Who's Who in American Law|publisher=Marquis Who's Who|year=1983|page=78|isbn=0837935032}}[https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800020872/bio Amy Brenneman Biography], Yahoo! Movies; accessed December 24, 2017.{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061213181454/http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800020872/bio |date=December 13, 2006}} Her aunt was Cold War-era journalist Beryl D. Hines.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/15/AR2007081502323.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|title=Cold War Journalist Beryl D. Hines, 84|date=August 16, 2007}} Her mother was Jewish, and joined a Congregationalist church as an adult.{{Cite web|first=Gerri |last=Miller |url=http://www.interfaithfamily.com/arts_and_entertainment/popular_culture/Hollywood_Now_Interfaith_Stars_and_How_They_Raise_Their_Kids.shtml|title=Hollywood Now: Interfaith Stars and How They Raise Their Kids - InterfaithFamily|website=www.interfaithfamily.com|language=en|date=March 21, 2016|access-date=2017-06-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403181724/http://www.interfaithfamily.com/arts_and_entertainment/popular_culture/Hollywood_Now_Interfaith_Stars_and_How_They_Raise_Their_Kids.shtml|archive-date=3 April 2016}} Her father, who was of English, Irish, and Swiss descent, was from a Protestant background.{{cite web |date=2013-08-08 |title=Blog Archive » Race: Whose Problem Is It, Anyway? |url=http://theamybrenneman.com/notebook/2010/03/race-whose-problem-is-it-anyway/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620030612/http://theamybrenneman.com/notebook/2010/03/race-whose-problem-is-it-anyway/ |archive-date=2013-06-20 |access-date=2013-12-30 |publisher=Amy Brenneman}}
Brenneman was raised in Glastonbury, Connecticut, where she participated in theatre as a teenager, both in school at Glastonbury High School and with a local theater group. She graduated from Harvard University, where she majored in comparative religion, in 1987. While at Harvard, she co-founded Cornerstone Theatre Company, with which she traveled for several years after graduation.Julia Collins, [http://www.law.harvard.edu/alumni/bulletin/backissues/sum2000/article3.html "Brennemans on the Bench"], harvard.edu; accessed December 24, 2017.
Career
{{update-section|date=July 2022}}
Brenneman began her career in the short-lived CBS series Middle Ages in 1992. The next year she was cast in her first major role as mob-connected uniformed officer Janice Licalsi on the ABC police drama series, NYPD Blue. Her story arc, which included a romantic relationship with David Caruso's character, ran through the show's first season (1993–1994) and the first few episodes of the second season. She was nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 1994 and for Outstanding Guest Actress the following year.{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/bios/amy-brenneman |title=Amy Brenneman | Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=2013-12-30}}
After leaving NYPD Blue, Brenneman made her way into film. In 1995, she appeared in Bye Bye Love, Casper, and the critically acclaimed crime drama Heat. In 1996, Brenneman had the female lead role opposite Sylvester Stallone in disaster thriller Daylight, and also starred in another thriller, Fear. In 1997, she played the leading role in the independent drama film Nevada.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/v154851 |title=Nevada (1997) - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast |publisher=AllMovie |access-date=2013-12-30}} The next year she starred in Your Friends & Neighbors directed by Neil LaBute.{{Citation|title=Your Friends & Neighbors|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/your_friends_and_neighbors/|work=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=June 5, 2017}} In 1998–1999 season, she returned to television with a recurring role on the NBC comedy, Frasier, as Faye Moskowitz.
In 1999, Brenneman became creator and executive producer of her own television series Judging Amy, in which she played the title character.{{cite web|author=JAMES ENDRST |work=The Hartford Courant |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1999-05-10-9905100241-story.html |title=Brenneman Takes Up Art, Courts Frasier, Seeks Own Show|publisher=South Florida Sun-Sentinel |date=1999-05-10 |access-date=2019-10-21}} Brenneman portrayed a divorced single mother working as a Family Court Judge in Hartford, Connecticut. The show's concept was based on the real-life experiences of her mother, Frederica Brenneman, as a superior court judge in the state of Connecticut. Frederica Brenneman was one of Harvard Law School's first female graduates and became a juvenile court judge in Connecticut when Amy was three years old. Amy has said, "I play my mother's job, not my mother."Hal Erickson {{google books|RXQNIs12SzQC|Encyclopedia of Television Law Shows: Factual and Fictional Series About ...|page=147}} Judging Amy ran on CBS for six seasons and 138 episodes from September 19, 1999, to May 3, 2005, to good ratings. In 2002, she was awarded the Women in Film Lucy Award in recognition of her excellence and innovation in her creative works that have enhanced the perception of women through the medium of television.{{Cite web|url=http://wif.org/past-recipients|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830035734/http://www.wif.org/past-recipients|title=Past Recipients|archivedate=August 30, 2011}}
Brenneman starred in ensemble cast film Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her directed by Rodrigo García in 2000. In 2005, she starred in another Rodrigo García's independent drama, Nine Lives. In 2007, Brenneman played the role of Sylvia Avila in The Jane Austen Book Club based on 2004 novel of the same name by Karen Joy Fowler.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/work/the-jane-austen-book-club-379686/cast|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090323084444/http://www.allmovie.com/work/the-jane-austen-book-club-379686/cast|title=The Jane Austen Book Club - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi|archivedate=March 23, 2009}} In 2008, Brenneman co-starred in 88 Minutes alongside Al Pacino.{{cite web|author= RON DICKER|work=HARTFORD COURANT |url=https://www.courant.com/2008/04/13/amy-brenneman-not-the-boss-anymore-and-its-nice/ |title=Amy Brenneman Not The Boss Anymore, And It's Nice |date=2008-04-13 |access-date=2013-12-30}}
In March 2007, Brenneman was cast as Violet Turner in the Grey's Anatomy spin-off, Private Practice.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i35ff0462bf2b5346d11721dd6caaf5f1?imw=Y|title=Applegate, Smart, Brenneman cast in pilots|website=The Hollywood Reporter }} The Shonda Rhimes series ran on ABC from September 26, 2007, to January 22, 2013. She later starred in films The Face of Love and Words and Pictures, and was cast in HBO drama series The Leftovers opposite Justin Theroux.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/private-practices-amy-brenneman-star-574520 |title='Private Practice's' Amy Brenneman to Co-Star in HBO's 'Leftovers' |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=2013-06-25 |access-date=2013-12-30}}{{cite web|last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |url=https://deadline.com/2013/06/amy-brenneman-to-co-star-in-hbo-pilot-the-leftovers-529562/ |title=Amy Brenneman To Co-Star In HBO Pilot 'The Leftovers' |website=Deadline|date=June 25, 2013|access-date=October 21, 2019}}{{cite magazine|last=Highfill |first=Samantha |url=https://ew.com/article/2013/09/16/hbo-series-order-damon-lindelof-the-leftovers/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=2013-09-16 |access-date=2019-10-21|title=HBO gives series order to Damon Lindelof's 'The Leftovers'}} Also in 2013, Brenneman played the role of Mary of Guise, the series' lead character's mother, in Reign.{{cite magazine|last=Highfill|first=Samantha|url=https://ew.com/article/2013/11/25/amy-brenneman-reign/|title=Amy Brenneman joins 'Reign' as Mary's mom|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=2013-11-25|access-date=2019-10-21|archive-date=July 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220717145920/https://ew.com/article/2013/11/25/amy-brenneman-reign/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2013/tv/news/amy-brenneman-reign-1200887355/ |title=Amy Brenneman Joins CW's 'Reign' |publisher=Variety |date=2013-11-26 |access-date=2013-12-30}}
Personal life
In 1995, Brenneman married director Brad Silberling in the garden at her parents' home. They had originally met on the set of NYPD Blue. Brenneman and Silberling have two children, Charlotte Tucker and Bodhi Russell, in Pasadena.[http://frostigschool.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Frostig-Focus-December-2020.pdf The Frostig Focus] frostigschool.org December 2020{{cite journal|title=Amy Brenneman — Chiming In|journal=ABILITY Magazine| date=Apr–May 2013 |issue=Amy Brenneman Issue|url=http://abilitymagazine.com/Amy-Brenneman.html}}
Brenneman is an Episcopalian.{{Cite web|url=http://www.americanrepertorytheater.org/inside/articles/mouth-wide-open-program-program-notes-amy-brenneman-opens|title=Mouth Wide Open Program: Program Notes: Amy Brenneman Opens Up | A.R.T. - American Repertory Theater}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodprayernetwork.org/content/amy-brenneman|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726135717/http://www.hollywoodprayernetwork.org/content/amy-brenneman|title=Amy Brenneman | Hollywood Prayer Network|archivedate=July 26, 2011}}
Brenneman signed the "We Had Abortions" petition which appears in the October 2006 issue of Ms. Magazine. The petition contains signatures of over 5,000 women declaring that they had an abortion and were "unashamed of the choice they made."[http://msmagazine.com/blog/2017/05/19/qa-amy-brenneman-defining-devoting-feminism/ Q&A: Amy Brenneman on Defining—and Devoting Herself to—Feminism]. Ms. Magazine, 19 May 2017
In the February 28, 2007, all-star benefit reading of The Gift of Peace at UCLA's Freud Playhouse, she portrays an entrepreneur, alongside actors Ed Asner, Barbara Bain, George Coe, Wendie Malick, and James Pickens, Jr. The play was an open appeal and fundraiser for passage of U.S. House Resolution 808, which sought to establish a Cabinet-level "Department of Peace" in the United States government, funded by a two percent diversion of The Pentagon's annual budget.{{cite web|url=http://www.thepeacealliance.org/content/view/289/148/ |title=The Peace Alliance |access-date=2007-03-01 |author=Martino, Stacey |date=2007-02-28 |work=The Gift of Peace |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919114212/http://www.thepeacealliance.org/content/view/289/148/ |archive-date=2008-09-19 }}
In July 2008, Brenneman was nominated as a candidate on the Unite for Strength slate for a place on the national governing board of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) in elections scheduled for September 18, 2008.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/25/2314256.htm?section=entertainment |title=Hollywood actors' union faces internal rift |newspaper=ABC News |access-date=2008-07-27 |date=2008-07-25 |agency=Reuters| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080727023320/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/25/2314256.htm?section=entertainment| archive-date= 27 July 2008 | url-status= dead}} The bid was successful.{{cite web|url=http://www.sag.org/node/5 |title=National Board of Directors |work=Screen Actors Guild |access-date=2008-11-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121135452/http://www.sag.org/node/5 |archive-date=21 November 2008 |url-status=dead }}
Brenneman is also a strong supporter of more restrictive gun laws, and in 2009 she hosted the Target for a Safe America gala at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles for the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, a gun control group that favors restrictive gun laws and supports gun bans.{{cite web|url=http://www.bradycenter.org/donate/events/la |title=Amy Brenneman hosts the Brady Center Target for a Safe America gala, Los Angeles 2009 |work=Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence web site |access-date=2010-06-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515071357/http://www.bradycenter.org/donate/events/la |archive-date=2011-05-15 }}
Filmography
| class="wikitable"
|+Key | style="background:#FFFFCC;"| {{dagger|alt=Not yet released}} |Denotes works that have not yet been released |
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1995
|Susan | |
| 1995
|Amelia | |
| 1995
|Heat |Eady | |
| 1996
|Fear |Laura Walker | |
| 1996
|Madelyne "Maddy" Thompson | |
| 1997
|Chrysty | |
| 1997
|Lesser Prophets |Annie | |
| 1998
|Angel |Uncredited cameo |
| 1998
|Mary | |
| 1999
|{{sortname|The|Suburbans}} |Grace | |
| 2000
|Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her |Det. Kathy Faber |Segment: "Love Waits for Kathy" |
| 2003
|Adult Bo Groden | |
| 2005
|Lorna | |
| 2007
|Shelly Barnes | |
| 2007
|{{sortname|The|Jane Austen Book Club|The Jane Austen Book Club (film)}} |Sylvia | |
| 2008
|Carol | |
| 2009
|Dr. Eleanor Stone | |
| 2013
|Elspeth | |
| 2013
|{{sortname|The|Face of Love|The Face of Love (2013 film)}} |Ann | |
| 2016
|In the Shadows of the Rainbow | |Short film |
| 2019
|Peel |Lucille | |
| 2019
|Her Mind in Pieces |Mother |Segment: "Here Now" |
| 2019
|Kim Trainer | |
| 2021
|Diana Morgan | |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1992
|Blanche |Episodes: "The Pig in the Python", "Night Moves", "Murmur of the Heart" |
| 1992
|Amy Wainwright |Episode: "A Christmas Secret" |
| 1993–94
|Det. Janice Licalsi |Main role, 18 episodes |
| 1997
|Lauren Simone (voice) |Episode: "A Trophied Duck" |
| 1998–99
|Faye Moskowitz |Recurring role, 4 episodes |
| 1999
|Agent Robin O'Brien |TV film |
| 1999
|Mary Cassatt: An American Impressionist |TV film |
| 1999–2005
|Amy Gray |Lead role, 138 episodes |
| 2004
|Herself | |
| 2007
|Dr. Violet Turner |Episode: "The Other Side of This Life: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 2007–13
|Dr. Violet Turner |Main role, 106 episodes |
| 2011
|Dorothy Gale / Various (voice) |Episode: "The Departy Monster" |
| 2014–15
|Episodes: "The Consummation", "Forbidden", "The Price" |
| 2014–17
|{{sortname|The|Leftovers|The Leftovers (TV series)}} |Laurie Garvey |Main role, 20 episodes |
| 2016
|Herself |Episode: "No Holds Barred" |
| 2017
|Veep |Regina Pell |Episode: "Library" |
| 2017
|The Get |Ellen |Television film |
| 2018
|Donna |Episode: "Chapter Eighty" |
| 2019
|Diana Blackwood |8 episodes |
| 2021
|Mary Barlow |Main cast |
| 2022
|Rachel |Main cast |
| 2022–2024
|Zoe |Main cast |
=Music videos=
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Artist ! Title ! Role ! {{Abbr|Ref.|References}} |
|---|
| 2014
| Various | "Imagine" {{small|(UNICEF: World version)}} | Herself | style="text-align: center;" |{{cite web|last=Rowles|first=Dustin|date=2014-11-21|title='Imagine' Gets the Star-Studded 'We Are The World' Treatment for UNICEF|url=https://www.pajiba.com/videos/imagine-gets-the-starstudded-we-are-the-world-treatment-for-unicef.php|access-date=2021-05-24|website=Pajiba}} |
= Producer =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1997
|Co-producer |
| 1999–2005
|Executive producer, writer/creator (138 episodes) |
| 2016
|Executive producer (10 episodes) |
| 2018
|Intelligent Lives |Executive producer |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Award ! Category ! Work ! Result |
|---|
| rowspan=2|1994
| Viewers for Quality Television Award | Best Supporting Actress in a Quality Drama Series | rowspan=3 | NYPD Blue | {{nom}} |
| rowspan="2" | Primetime Emmy Award
| Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | {{nom}} |
| 1995
| Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series | {{nom}} |
| rowspan=5|2000
| Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama | rowspan=11 | Judging Amy | {{nom}} |
| TV Guide Award
| Favorite Actress in a New Series | {{won}} |
| Producers Guild of America Award
| Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television | {{nom}} |
| Primetime Emmy Award
| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | {{nom}} |
| Viewers for Quality Television Award
| Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series | {{nom}} |
| rowspan=3|2001
| Golden Globe Award | Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama | {{nom}} |
| TV Guide Award
| Actress of the Year in a Drama Series | {{won}} |
| Primetime Emmy Award
| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | {{nom}} |
| rowspan=4|2002
| Golden Globe Award | Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama | {{nom}} |
| Primetime Emmy Award
| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | {{nom}} |
| Satellite Award
| Best Performance by an Actress in a Series – Drama | {{nom}} |
| Women in Film Lucy Award
| Lucy Award | | {{won}} |
| 2003
| Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series | Judging Amy | {{nom}} |
| rowspan=2| 2005
| Locarno International Film Festival | rowspan=2 | Nine Lives | {{won}} |
| Gotham Award
| {{nom}} |
| 2007
| TV Moment That Became Headline News | NYPD Blue | {{nom}} |
References
{{reflist|3}}
External links
{{commons}}
- [http://theamybrenneman.com/intro.html Official site]
- {{IMDb name|0000312}}
- [http://www.law.harvard.edu/alumni/bulletin/backissues/sum2000/article3.html Frederica/Amy Brenneman article] at Harvard Law School alumni site
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brenneman, Amy}}
Category:20th-century American actresses
Category:21st-century American actresses
Category:Actresses from Connecticut
Category:American Episcopalians
Category:American film actresses
Category:American gun control activists
Category:American people of Jewish descent
Category:American television actresses
Category:Harvard University alumni
Category:People from Glastonbury, Connecticut
Category:People from New London, Connecticut