Amy Louise Acker (born December 5, 1976)[1][2] is an American actress. She is best known for starring as Winifred Burkle and Illyria on the supernatural drama series Angel (2001–2004), as Kelly Peyton on the action drama series Alias (2005–2006), and as Root on the science-fiction drama series Person of Interest (2012–2016). From 2017 to 2019, she starred as Caitlin Strucker on the superhero drama series The Gifted, based on Marvel Comics' X-Men.
Amy Acker | |
|---|---|
 Acker in 2005 | |
| Born | Amy Louise Acker December 5, 1976 Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Education | Southern Methodist University (BFA) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Website | www |
Early life
editAmy Louise Acker was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, to a homemaker mother and a lawyer father.[3][better source needed] She studied ballet and modern dance for 14 years. She underwent knee surgery while in high school, ending her ballet career.[4] Acker graduated from Lake Highlands High School in Dallas in 1995. She subsequently earned a bachelor's degree in theater from Southern Methodist University in 1999.[1]
In her junior year of college, Acker modeled for the J. Crew catalog. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in the same year. She worked as a stage actress for several seasons, including a stint at American Players Theatre in Spring Green, Wisconsin.[5]
Career
editAcker made her major television debut when she starred as Winifred "Fred" Burkle in Angel (seasons 2–5), and also as the character of Illyria for part of the show's fifth and final season. She won the 2003 Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television for her portrayal.[6]
Acker joined the cast of Alias in 2005 for its final season, playing villainess Kelly Peyton. Acker graduated from guest star to cast member as the show entered the final episodes in April and May 2006.[citation needed] Also in 2005, Acker provided voice acting for the character of Huntress (Helena Rosa Bertinelli) on the animated series Justice League Unlimited. She went on to make a guest appearance on How I Met Your Mother, in which she was reunited with Angel co-star Alexis Denisof (the real-life husband of HIMYM star Alyson Hannigan), who had a recurring role on the show.
Acker portrayed Dr. Claire Saunders/Whiskey, a recurring character, on Joss Whedon's Dollhouse.[7] She guest-starred in 10 of the 13 episodes of the first season and three episodes of the second.
In 2010, Acker was a series regular in the ABC drama Happy Town, portraying the character Rachel Conroy. That same year, she starred in the season-one finale of the Fox series Human Target as the mysterious Katherine Walters. On May 25, 2010, she appeared on CBS's The Good Wife. She appeared in the horror movie The Cabin in the Woods, released April 13, 2012. In 2012, she made guest performances in Warehouse 13, Once Upon a Time, and Grimm. Also in 2012, she starred as Beatrice in Joss Whedon's film Much Ado About Nothing.
Acker appeared in season three of the sitcom Husbands as Claudia, Brad Kelt's ex-fiancée of who unexpectedly shows up.[8] In March 2014, Acker was cast as Audrey Nathan, a former lover to Phil Coulson in an episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.[9]
Between 2012 and 2016, Acker portrayed Samantha "Root" Groves on the CBS drama Person of Interest; Groves became a regular character starting in the series' third season. Starting with the series' 100th episode, Acker took on the voice role of the Machine.[10][11] In the series finale, she also appeared as the visual manifestation of the Machine.[12]
In March 2017, Acker was cast as Caitlin Strucker in the pilot for the prospective Fox television series The Gifted,[13][14] which was picked up to series in May 2017.[15] The Gifted began airing on October 2, 2017, and Fox canceled the series after two seasons on April 17, 2019.[16]
In 2019, Acker appeared in What Just Happened??! with Fred Savage, a parody of aftershows. She plays Dr. Rachel Layne in the "show-within-a-show", a fictional drama series called The Flare.
Personal life
editOn April 25, 2003, Acker married actor James Carpinello in California. They have a son, born in 2005, and a daughter, born in 2006.[17]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | The Accident | Nina | |
| 2002 | Groom Lake | Kate | |
| 2002 | Catch Me If You Can | Miggy | |
| 2006 | The Novice | Jill Yarrut | |
| 2009 | 21 and a Wake-Up | Caitlin Murphy | |
| 2011 | Sironia | Molly Fisher | |
| 2012 | The Cabin in the Woods | Wendy Lin | |
| 2012 | Much Ado About Nothing | Beatrice | |
| 2014 | Let's Kill Ward's Wife | Gina | |
| 2016 | The Energy Specialist | Claire | |
| 2017 | Amanda & Jack Go Glamping | Amanda | |
| 2020 | Superman: Red Son | Lois Lane | Voice role |
| 2024 | Ordinary Angels | Theresa | Completed[18][19] |
| 2025 | The Unbreakable Boy | Lori | Completed |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Wishbone | Catherine Morland | Episode: "Pup Fiction" |
| 1999 | To Serve and Protect | Melissa Jorgensen | Episode: "Part II" |
| Wishbone | Priscilla / Venus | Episodes: "A Bone of Contention", "A Roamin' Nose" | |
| 2001 | Special Unit 2 | Nancy | Episode: "The Invisible" |
| 2001–2004 | Angel | Winifred "Fred" Burkle / Illyria | Recurring role (season 2); Main role (seasons 3–5) |
| 2003 | Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt |
Bonnie Lindsay | Television film (CBS) |
| 2005 | Supernatural | Andrea Barr | Episode: "Dead in the Water" |
| 2005–2006 | Justice League Unlimited | Huntress / Helena Bertinelli | Voice role; 4 episodes |
| Alias | Kelly Peyton | Main role (season 5); 13 episodes | |
| 2006 | How I Met Your Mother | Penelope | Episode: "Come On" |
| 2007 | Drive | Kathryn Tully | 3 episodes |
| Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Leslie LeZard | Episode: "Smile" | |
| Ghost Whisperer | Tessa | Episode: "Weight of What Was" | |
| 2008 | Voices | Ellie Daly | Television film (a.k.a. A Near Death Experience) |
| Fire and Ice: The Dragon Chronicles | Princess Luisa | Television film (Syfy) | |
| October Road | Girl in Blue Uniform / Jenny Bristol | 2 episodes | |
| Private Practice | Molly Madison | Episode: "A Family Thing" | |
| 2009–2010 | Dollhouse | Dr. Claire Saunders / Whiskey | Recurring role; 14 episodes |
| 2010 | Human Target | Katherine Walters | Episode: "Christopher Chance" |
| The Good Wife | Trish Arkin | Episode: "Running" | |
| Happy Town | Rachel Conroy | Main role; 8 episodes | |
| No Ordinary Family | Amanda Grayson | Episodes: "No Ordinary Mobster", "No Ordinary Accident" | |
| 2011 | Dear Santa | Crystal Carruthers | Television film (Lifetime) |
| 2011, 2013 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Sandy Colfax | Episodes: "Man Up", "Backfire" |
| 2012 | Grimm | Lena Marcenko | Episode: "Tarantella" |
| Once Upon a Time | Astrid / Nova | Episode: "Dreamy" | |
| Warehouse 13 | Tracey | Episode: "The Ones You Love" | |
| 2012–2016 | Person of Interest | Samantha "Root" Groves | Guest role (season 1); Recurring role (season 2); Main role (seasons 3–5);[10] 65 episodes |
| 2013 | Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated | Nova | Voice role; 4 episodes |
| 2014 | Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. | Audrey Nathan | Episode: "The Only Light in the Darkness" |
| 2015 | A Novel Romance | Sophie | Television film (Hallmark) |
| 2015–2019 | Suits | Esther Litt-Edelstein | 5 episodes (seasons 5, 8–9) |
| 2016–2017 | MacGyver | Sarah Adler | Episodes: "Metal Saw", "Screwdriver" |
| 2016 | A Nutcracker Christmas | Lily | Television film (Hallmark) |
| 2017–2019 | The Gifted | Caitlin Strucker | Main role |
| 2019 | What Just Happened??! with Fred Savage | Dr. Rachel Layne | Episode: "Family" |
| Grey's Anatomy | Kathleen Shepherd | Episode: "Good Shepherd"[20] | |
| 2020 | God Friended Me | Tammy | Episode: "Almost Famous" |
| 2021 | All Rise | Georgia Knight | Episodes: "Georgia", "Leap of Faith" |
| Crashing Through the Snow | Maggie | Television film (Hallmark) | |
| 2022 | 9-1-1: Lone Star | Catherine | 6 episodes (season 3) |
| 2023 | The Watchful Eye | Tory | Main role[21] |
Web
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Who Cut the Cake? | Ellen | 3 episodes |
| 2013 | Husbands | Claudia | |
| 2015–2017 | Con Man | Dawn Jones | 8 episodes |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Association | Category | Work | Result | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Saturn Awards | Best Supporting Actress on Television | Angel | Won | [22] |
| 2004 | Saturn Awards | Best Supporting Actress on Television | Angel | Nominated | [23] |
| 2014 | Indie Series Awards | Best Guest Star – Comedy | Husbands | Won | [24] |
References
edit- ^ a b Anthony Krug, Kurt. "Happy Town star Amy Acker first caught acting bug while growing up in Dallas". Dallas News. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011.
- ^ "Amy Acker". TV Guide. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
Birth name: Amy Louise Acker
- ^ "The Brothers Gililland of Missouri:Information about Amy Louise ACKER". familytreemaker.genealogy.com. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
- ^ DeCosemo, Nick (August 2003). "Angel!". FHM (Uk). 164: 125.
- ^ "Actors in Joss Whedon's 'Much Ado' once did Shakespeare at American Players Theatre". The Capital Times. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
- ^ Peebles, Frank (March 14, 2019). "Amy Acker coming to FanCon". Prince George Citizen. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- ^ "Angel Vet Moves into Whedon's Dollhouse!". TV Guide. April 17, 2008. Archived from the original on April 21, 2008. Retrieved April 17, 2008.
- ^ Ng, Philiana (July 5, 2013). "Amy Acker to Guest Star on 'Husbands' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
- ^ Abrams, Natalie (March 26, 2014). "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Exclusive: Amy Acker to Play Famous Role from Coulson's Past". TV Guide. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
- ^ a b Webb Mitovich, Matt (July 20, 2013). "Person of Interest: Amy Acker Now Series Regular". TVLine. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
- ^ Rice, Lynette (May 31, 2016). "Person of Interest death is TV's latest lesbian fatality". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
- ^ Piester, Lauren (June 21, 2016). "Who Survived that Beautiful Person of Interest Series Finale?". E! News. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
- ^ Petski, Denise (March 2, 2017). "Amy Acker To Star In Fox Marvel Pilot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
- ^ Outlaw, Kofi (March 10, 2017). "X-Men TV Series 'Gifted' Official Title Revealed". Comicbook.com. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
- ^ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (May 9, 2017). "Fox Greenlights Marvel Action Series 'The Gifted' From Bryan Singer & Matt Nix — Watch First Teaser". Variety. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- ^ Goldberg, Lesley (April 17, 2019). "'The Gifted,' 'Rel' Canceled at Fox". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
- ^ Gee, Alison (September 7, 2006). "Alias's Amy Acker, Husband Have a Girl". People. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (April 18, 2022). "Kingdom Story Company's 'Ordinary Angels' Adds Nancy Travis, Tamala Jones & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
- ^ McKendrick, Devon (April 25, 2022). "Where Hilary Swank and Alan Ritchson have been spotted in Winnipeg". CTV News. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
- ^ Petski, Denise (February 13, 2019). "'Grey's Anatomy': Amy Acker Joins ABC Drama As Member Of The Shepherd Family". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ White, Peter (September 13, 2021). "Hitchcockian Nanny Drama From Julie Durk Lands Pilot Order At Freeform; Andrea Londo & Warren Christie Among Stars". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- ^ "30rd Annual Saturn Awards : Cinescape Review". www.whedon.info. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- ^ "The SF Site: News". www.sfsite.com. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- ^ "5th Annual Indie Series Awards Winners". Indie Series Awards. April 2014. Retrieved June 10, 2020.