Amy Acker

Amy Acker

Acker at the Wizard World Toronto in 2012
Born Amy Louise Acker
December 5, 1976
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Alma mater Southern Methodist University
Occupation Actress
Years active 1998–present
Spouse(s) James Carpinello (m. 2003)
Children 2
Website
www.amyackeronline.com

Amy Louise Acker (born December 5, 1976) is an American actress. She played Winifred Burkle and Illyria on the TV series Angel and Kelly Peyton on Alias. She currently plays Samantha "Root" Groves on Person of Interest, having become a series regular in the show's third season.

Early life

Acker was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, to a homemaker mother and a lawyer father.[1][2] She graduated from Lake Highlands High School in Dallas. She subsequently earned a bachelor's degree in theater from Southern Methodist University.[3]

In her junior year of college, Acker modeled for J. Crew catalog. In 1999 she was nominated for a Leon Rabin award for "Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role" for her performance in the play Thérèse Raquin. 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.

Career

Acker made her major television debut when she starred as Winifred "Fred" Burkle on the 2nd - 5th seasons of Angel, and also as the character of Illyria for part of the show's 5th and final season. She won the 2003 Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television for her portrayal.

She joined the cast of Alias in 2005 for its final season, playing villainess Kelly Peyton. Acker graduated from guest star to fully credited cast member as the show entered the final episodes in April and May 2006. Also in 2005, Acker provided voice acting for the character of Huntress 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.

She portrayed Dr. Claire Saunders/Whiskey, a recurring character, on Joss Whedon's Dollhouse.[4] Acker guest starred in 10 of the 13 episodes of the first season and three episodes of the second.

Acker with her husband, James Carpinello, in 2005

In 2010, she 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. In 2012, she starred as Beatrice in Joss Whedon's Much Ado About Nothing.

Acker appeared in the sitcom Husbands '​s third season as Claudia, the ex-fiancée of Brady Kelly who unexpectedly shows up.[5] In March 2014, Acker was cast as Audrey, a former lover to Phil Coulson in an episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D..[6]

Personal life

On April 25, 2003, Acker wed actor James Carpinello in California. The couple have two children.[7]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2000 The Energy Specialist Claire
2001 The Accident Nina
2002 Groom Lake Kate
2002 Catch Me If You Can Miggy
2005 Mr. Dramatic Jodi Short film
2006 The Novice Jill Yarrut
2009 21 and a Wake-Up Caitlin Murphy
2011 Vile Whitney Richards
2011 Sironia Molly
2012 The Cabin in the Woods Wendy Lin
2012 Much Ado About Nothing Beatrice
2014 Let's Kill Ward's Wife Geena
2015 The Energy Specialist Claire

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1998 Wishbone Catherine Morland Episode: "Pup Fiction"
1999 To Serve and Protect Melissa Jorgensen Episode: "1.2"
1999 Wishbone Priscilla
Venus
Episode: "A Bone of Contention"
Episode: "A Roamin' Nose"
2001 Special Unit 2 Nancy Episode: "The Invisible"
2001– 2004 Angel Winifred 'Fred' Burkle/Illyria 70 episodes
2003 Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt Bonnie Lindsay TV movie
2005 Supernatural Andrea Barr Episode: "Dead in the Water"
2005– 2006 Justice League Unlimited Huntress/Helena Bertinelli 4 episodes
2005– 2006 Alias Kelly Peyton 13 episodes
2006 How I Met Your Mother Penelope Episode: "Come On"
2007 Drive Kathryn Tully 3 episodes
2007 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Leslie LeZard Episode: "Smile"
2007 Ghost Whisperer Tessa Episode: "Weight of What Was"
2008 A Near Death Experience, Voices Ellie Daly Movie
2008 Fire and Ice: The Dragon Chronicles Princess Luisa Movie
2008 October Road Girl in Blue Uniform Episode: "Dancing Days Are Here Again"
2008 October Road Jenny Bristol Episode: "Hat? No Hat?"
2008 Private Practice Molly Madison Episode: "A Family Thing"
2009– 2010 Dollhouse Dr. Claire Saunders (Whiskey) 14 episodes
2010 Human Target Katherine Walters Episode: "Christopher Chance"
2010 Good Wife, TheThe Good Wife Trish Arkin Episode: "Running"
2010 Happy Town Rachel Conroy 8 episodes
2010 No Ordinary Family Amanda Grayson 2 episodes
2011 Dear Santa Crystal Carruthers Movie
2011– 2013 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Sandy Colfax 2 episodes
2012 Grimm Lena Marcenko Episode: "Tarantella"
2012 Once Upon a Time Astrid/Nova Episode: "Dreamy"
2012 Warehouse 13 Tracey Episode: "The Ones You Love"
2012– present Person of Interest Root/Samantha Groves Recurring in seasons 1 & 2; series regular in season 3–present[8]
2013 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated Nova 4 episodes
2013 Husbands Claudia
2014 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Audrey Nathan, the Cellist Episode: "The Only Light in the Darkness"
2015 [ A Novel Romance] Sophie Movie

Web

Year Title Role Notes
2015 Con Man Unknown

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Work Result
2003 Saturn Award Best Supporting Actress on Television Angel Nominated
2004 Won
2005 Nominated

References

  1. "Amy Acker Biography (1976-)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
  2. "The Brothers Gililland of Missouri:Information about Amy Louise ACKER". Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  3. 'Happy Town' star Amy Acker first caught acting bug while growing up in Dallas by Kurt Anthony Krug. The Dallas Morning News, April 27, 2010; retrieved May 2, 2010.
  4. Angel Vet Moves into Whedon's Dollhouse!" TV Guide. April 17, 2008. Retrieved on April 17, 2008.
  5. Ng, Philiana (July 5, 2013), Amy Acker to Guest Star on 'Husbands' (Exclusive), hollywoodreporter.com, retrieved July 6, 2013
  6. Arbams, Natalie. "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Exclusive: Amy Acker to Play Famous Role from Coulson's Past". TV Guide. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
  7. "Alias's Amy Acker, Husband Have a Girl", People Magazine, September 7, 2006.
  8. Webb Mitovich, Matt (July 20, 2013). "Person of Interest: Amy Acker Now Series Regular". TVLine. Retrieved August 14, 2013.

External links

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