Amy Aquino

Amy Aquino
Born March 20, 1957[1]
Teaneck, New Jersey, U.S.[1]
Alma mater Harvard University (B.S., Biology)
Yale University (M.F.A.)
Occupation Television, film, stage actress
Spouse(s) Drew McCoy (1995–present)
Parent(s) Salvatore and Adele Aquino

Amy Aquino (born March 20, 1957) is an American television, film, and stage actress. She is a graduate of Harvard and Yale University, and has appeared in television series such as Brooklyn Bridge, ER and Being Human. She was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for her role in Picket Fences. She is currently co-Secretary/Treasurer of the SAG-AFTRA.

Early life

Aquino was born in Teaneck, New Jersey,[1] to Adele Frances (née Mesiti) and Salvatore Aquino. She first acted in junior high school productions. She went onto Harvard University, studying pre-med with biology as a major. In her final year, she realised that she was spending more time acting than studying and so left to travel to New York to take acting classes while working at a law firm. She stayed there for three years without landing any acting jobs, before traveling to Minneapolis on a recommendation where she gained her first roles. She enrolled at Yale University School of Drama in 1986 after two years of rejections.[2]

Career

After three years at Yale, she spent the following five years based in New York. Whilst there she appeared with Kevin Spacey at Playwrights Horizons and joined the Circle Repertory Company. She appeared in Wendy Wasserstein's The Heidi Chronicles,[2] which won the Tony Award for Best Play in 1989.[3] During the same year she appears in both Moonstruck (as Loretta's hairdresser) and had a brief scene in Working Girl where she played Melanie Griffith's secretary at the end of the film, her first film roles.[2][4]

In 1991, she gained a main cast role in the pilot for the CBS series Brooklyn Bridge. It was picked up and after being renewed for a second series, Aquino moved to California to be closer to where it was being filmed.[2] After moving, she has primarily been in television roles, including ER,[2] and Everyone Loves Raymond.[5] She was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for playing the part of Dr Joanna "Joey" Diamond in Picket Fences.[2][6] She appeared in another play of Wasserstein's, Third, in the off-Broadway production at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in 2005.[7] Aquino also appeared off-Broadway at the 59E59 Theaters in Secrets of the Trade by Jonathan Tolins.[8]

She was cast as the witch Donna in the second series of Being Human.[9] In 2013, Aquino was cast in the ABC Television pilot Divorce: A Love Story. However, the role was recast when the producers decided that she looked too young to play Jason Jones's mother. The actor was sixteen years younger than her.[10] Aquino played college President Dalley in The Lazarus Effect,[11] also starring Sarah Bolger, Mark Duplass and Olivia Wilde.[12]

Personal life

Aquino met Drew McCoy after moving to California. They were married in 1995 at Saint Malachy's Roman Catholic Church in Manhattan.[2] Together they purchased the Villa Royale, an Inn in Palm Springs, California, which they renovated over a two year period.[2] She joined the Screen Actors Guild in 1987, and was named the co-secretary-treasurer on September 24, 2009.[13][14] She was elected for a second term in 2011 without opposition.[15] She previously served two terms as 1st Vice-President.[14]

Filmography

Television

She has also guest starred on The West Wing, Weeds and Harry's Law. She has often gained notability by playing tough, no-nonsense characters.

Film

Aquino has appeared in such feature films as Moonstruck, Working Girl, Boys on the Side, A Lot Like Love, and In Good Company.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lavin, Cheryl, "Profile: Amy Aquino", Chicago Tribune, May 24, 1992
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 "Amy Aquino". Industry Central. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Search Past Winners". Tony Awards. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  4. ↑ Grahnke, Lon (November 23, 1990). "HBO's clumsy `Angel' drama descends to the obvious". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 19, 2013. (subscription required)
  5. ↑ Zuckerman, Faye B. (March 31, 2003). "'Raymond' continues to be best". The Telegraph-Herald. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Picket Fences". Lakeland Ledger. October 1, 1995. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Amy Aquino Added to Cast of Wendy Wasserstein's Third". Broadway.com. July 6, 2005. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  8. ↑ Isherwood, Charles (August 10, 2010). "Angling for a Mentor, He’ll Take What He Can Get". New York Times. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  9. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (April 8, 2013). "Amy Aquino To Co-Star In ABC’s ‘Divorce’, Seaton Smith Cast In NBC’s John Mulaney Project & More Pilot Castings". Deadline. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  10. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (April 16, 2013). "Amy Aquino Exits ABC Pilot ‘Divorce’". Deadline. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  11. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (April 16, 2013). "The Lazarus Effect". Dc. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  12. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (April 16, 2013). "The Lazarus Effect". BD. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  13. ↑ Singh, Ray. "... Unions make it possible to do this work as a living.". Actors Equity Association. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Amy Aquino" (PDF). Screen Actors Guild. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  15. ↑ Handal, Jonathan (June 23, 2011). "SAG Nominating Committee Selects Candidates for Fall Election". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  16. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0032628/
  17. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3502248/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm

External links