Laura Innes

Infobox Actor

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imagesize =
birthdate = birth date and age|1959|8|16
birthplace = Pontiac, Michigan, USA
birthname = Laura Elizabeth Innes
spouse = David Brisbin (1988 - present) 2 children
homepage =

Laura Elizabeth Innes (born August 16 1959) is a three-time Emmy Award-nominated American actress and director.

Biography

Career

Innes was introduced to professional theater by her father, who frequently took the family to the Stratford Festival of Canada in Stratford, Ontario. Following his advice to "do what you love", she attended Northwestern University where she was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority and earned a degree in theater.

Her first stage credits were in Chicago at the renowned Goodman Theatre, where among other roles she played Stella opposite John Malkovich's Stanley in "A Streetcar Named Desire". Other major stage credits include "Two Shakespearean Actors" with Eric Stoltz at Lincoln Center, "Our Town" at the Seattle Repertory Theatre, and "Three Sisters" at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego.

In 1986, Innes played the young daughter of Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara in the short-lived television sitcom "The Stiller and Meara Show", but the series was canceled within a few weeks. In the 1990s, Innes guest-starred on television series such as "Party of Five", "My So-Called Life", and "Brooklyn Bridge" and appeared in the Emmy-winning cable movie "And the Band Played On" before being cast in her first major TV role as Thomas Haden Church's promiscuous ex-wife Bunny on the NBC comedy series "Wings" from 1991-1993.

In the fall of 1995, she joined the hit NBC medical drama "ER" in its second season, where she was cast as the skilled but abrasive Dr. Kerry Weaver. Her recurring role led her to become a series regular at the start of the 3rd season. In 2001, her character, who had a physical disability, came out of the closet. She received two Emmy Award nominations for her portrayal, as well as three Screen Actors Guild Awards as part of the “ER” ensemble, and has received five nominations for Best Supporting Actress from Viewers For Quality Television. Innes also directed several episodes of the series, as well as episodes of "Brothers & Sisters", "House", "The West Wing", one of which earned her an Emmy nomination for directing.

In January of 2007, Innes left "ER" after twelve seasons, becoming the longest serving cast member in the show's history. However, Innes is in talks to appear in a cameo in "ER" during its final season. In film, Innes has co-starred in the blockbuster film "Deep Impact" and with "ER" castmate Noah Wyle in "Can’t Stop Dancing".

Personal life

Innes was born in Pontiac, Michigan, the daughter of Laurette and Robert Innes, a tool and die company executive. [ Laura is a graduate of Birmingham Seaholm High School. [http://www.filmreference.com/film/78/Laura-Innes.html Laura Innes Biography (1959?-) ] ] Her first fiance was murdered in the early eighties. A few years after the tragedy, she married actor David Brisbin and gave birth to their son, Cal in 1990. They have since adopted another child, Mia, from China.

Laura is close friends with Megan Mullally and former ER co-star Maura Tierney

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0005041|name=Laura Innes
* [http://www.nbc.com/ER/bios/Laura_Innes.html NBC bio]
* [http://www.kimandkerry.com/board Kerry Weaver Fansite]
* [http://www.laurainnes.narod.ru Laura Innes Russian Fansite]