Olympia Dukakis

Olympia Dukakis (born June 20, 1931) is a Greek American actress. She started her career in theater, and won an Obie Award for Best Actress in 1963 for her Off-Broadway performance in Bertolt Brecht's Man Equals Man. She later transitioned to film acting, and in 1987, she won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA nomination for her performance in Moonstruck. She received another Golden Globe nomination for Sinatra, and Emmy Award nominations for Lucky Day, More Tales of the City, and Joan of Arc.
== Early life ==
Dukakis was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, the daughter of Alexandra (néeChristos) and Constantine S. Dukakis. Her parents were Greek emigrants, her father originally from Anatolia and her mother from the Peloponnese.[1][2] She has a brother named Apollo and is a cousin of Michael Dukakis, former Governor of Massachusetts and the Democratic nominee for President in 1988, for whom she was a delegate from New Jersey at the 1988 Democratic National Convention. She is an alumna of Arlington High School in Arlington, Massachusetts, and was educated at Boston University.
== Career ==
Dukakis has appeared in a number of films, including Steel Magnolias, Mr. Holland's Opus, Jane Austen's Mafia!, The Thing About My Folks, and Moonstruck, for which she won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. She also played the role of Anna Madrigal in the Tales of the City television mini-series, which garnered her an Emmy Award nomination, and appeared on Search for Tomorrow as Dr. Barbara Moreno, who romanced Stu Bergman. She appears as Dolly Sinatra in the mini-series of Frank Sinatra's life (1992). Her Broadway theatre credits include Who's Who in Hell, Social Security, and the one-woman play Rose. Her theater, film, and television work has also won her an Obie Award, a Drama Desk Award, a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award, and a Golden Globe.
Dukakis won Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Moonstruck and was nominated for the Canadian Academy Award for The Event. She provided the voice of Grandpa's love interest for The Simpsons episode "The Old Man and the Key". In 2003, Dukakis published her national bestselling autobiography Ask Me Again Tomorrow: A Life in Progress. Recent films include 3 Needles, The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines, In the Land of Women, and Away From Her, the 2006 film which cast her alongside Gordon Pinsent as the spouses of two Alzheimerspatients.
In 1998, she starred as Charlotte Kiszko in the British TV drama A Life for a Life (ITV), based on the real-life story of Stefan Kiszko, a man wrongfully imprisoned for seventeen years for the murder of a child, Lesley Molseed, after police suppressed evidence of his innocence.
She recently directed the world premiere production of Todd Logan's Botanic Garden at Victory Gardens Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.[3]
In the 2008 season of Hartford Stage, Dukakis starred in the revival of Tennessee Williams' The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore, opposite Kevin Anderson.
In 2008, Dukakis also co-adapted and starred in the world-premiere of Another Side of the Island, based on Shakespeare's The Tempest, at Alpine Theatre Project in Whitefish, Montana.
She starred in and executive-produced the 2013 film Montana Amazon, co-starring Haley Joel Osment.
In 2011, Dukakis guest-starred on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. She played the role of Debby Marsh, an attorney.[4]
On May 24, 2013, she was honored with the 2,498th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 6233 Hollywood Boulevard, in the category of Live Theater.
2018 Olympia Dukakis stars in Eleftheromania, and follows an Auschwitz survivor as she recites a true story about a group from the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp.
== Personal life ==
Dukakis was married to actor Louis Zorich from 1962 until his death on January 30, 2018. They have three children. She is the cousin of Michael Dukakis, the 1988 Democratic nominee for president.[5]
== Filmography ==
Film
Year	Title 	Role 	Notes
1964	Twice a Man 	Young mother 	
1964	Lilith 	Patient 	Uncredited role
1969	Stiletto 	Mrs. Amato 	Uncredited role
1969	John and Mary 	John's mother 	
1971	Made for Each Other 	Mrs. Panimba 	
1973	Sisters 	Louise Wilanski 	Uncredited role
1974	Death Wish 	Cop at the precinct 	Uncredited role
1974	The Rehearsal 	 	
1979	The Wanderers 	Joey's Mom 	
1979	Rich Kids 	Lawyer 	
1980	The Idolmaker 	Mrs. Vacarri 	
1982	National Lampoon Goes to the Movies 	Helena Naxos 	Segment: "Success Wanters"
1985	Walls of Glass 	Mary Flanagan 	
1987	Moonstruck 	Rose Castorini 	Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Female Performer – Motion Picture or TV
Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Nominated – New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress
1988	Working Girl 	Personnel Director 	
1989	Look Who's Talking 	Rosie 	
1989	Steel Magnolias 	Clairee Belcher 	Nominated – American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
1989	Dad 	Bette Tremont 	
1990	In the Spirit 	Sue 	
1990	Look Who's Talking Too 	Rosie 	
1992	Over the Hill 	Alma Harris 	
1993	The Cemetery Club 	Doris Silverman 	
1993	Digger 	Bea 	
1993	Look Who's Talking Now 	Rosie 	
1994	Dead Badge 	Dr. Doris Rice 	
1994	The Naked Gun 33 ⅓: The Final Insult 	Herself 	Uncredited role
1994	I Love Trouble 	Jeannie 	
1995	Jeffrey 	Mrs. Marcangelo 	
1995	Mighty Aphrodite 	Jocasta 	
1995	Mr. Holland's Opus 	Principal Helen Jacobs	
1996	Mother 	Mrs. Jay 	
1996	Jerusalem 	Mrs. Gordon 	
1996	Milk & Money 	Goneril Plogg 	
1997	Balkan Island: The Last Story of the Century	Mother 	
1997	Picture Perfect 	Rita Mosley 	
1998	Mafia! 	Sophia Cortino 	
1998	Better Living 	Nora 	
2000	Brooklyn Sonnet 	Helen Manners 	
2002	The Intended 	Erina 	
2003	The Event 	Lila 	Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film
Nominated – Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
2003	Charlie's War 	Charlie 	
2005	The Great New Wonderful 	Judy Hillerman 	Segment: "Judy's Story"
2005	The Thing About My Folks 	Muriel Kleinman 	
2005	3 Needles 	Hilde 	
2005	Whiskey School 	Ellen Haywood 	
2005	Jesus, Mary and Joey 	Sophia Vitello 	
2006	Away from Her 	Marian 	
2006	Day on Fire 	Dr. Mary Wade 	
2006	Upside Out 	Dr. Walker 	
2007	In the Land of Women 	Phyllis 	
2011	Cloudburst 	Stella 	Nominated – Seattle International Film Festival Award for Best Actress
2011	Outliving Emily 	Emily Hanratty 	Short film
2013	Montana Amazon 	Ira Dunderhead 	Also executive producer
2013	The Last Keepers 	Rosmarie Carver 	
2013	A Little Game 	YaYa 	
2015	7 Chinese Brothers 	Grandma 	
2015	Emily & Tim 	Emily 	Segment: "6"
2016	The Infiltrator 	Aunt Vicky 	
2016	Broken Links 	Arlene 	
2016	Change in the Air 	Margaret Lemke 	Post-production
Television
Year 	Title 	Role 	Notes
1951 	Search for Tomorrow 	Dr. Barbara Moreno 	Television series
1962 	The Nurses 	Ioana Chiriac 	Episode: "Frieda"
1962 	Dr. Kildare 	Anna Nieves 	Episode: "The Legacy"
1974 	Nicky's World 	Irene Kaminios 	Television film
1975 	Great Performances 	Pauline 	Episode: "The Seagull"
1977 	The Andros Targets 	Marina Angelis 	Episode: "The Beast of Athens"
1980 	FDR: The Final Years 	 	Television film
1980 	Breaking Away 	 	Episode: "The Cutters"
1982 	American Playhouse 	Mama Nicola 	Episode: "King of America"
1982 	One of the Boys 	Professor 	Episode: "His Cheatin' Heart"
1982 	The Neighborhood 	Mrs. St. Paul 	Television film
1986 	The Equalizer 	Judge Paula G. Walsh	Episode: "Shades of Darkness"
1991 	Lucky Day 	Katherine Campbell 	Television film
Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
1991 	The General Motors Playwrights Theater 	Laura Cunningham 	Episode: "The Last Act Is a Solo"
1991 	Fire in the Dark 	Emily Miller 	Television film
1992 	Sinatra 	Dolly Sinatra 	Television miniseries
4 episodes
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film
1993 	Tales of the City 	Anna Madrigal 	Television miniseries
6 episodes
Nominated – British Academy Television Award for Best Actress
1995 	Young at Heart 	Rose Garaventi 	Television film
1996 	Touched by an Angel 	Clara 	Episode: "A Joyful Noise"
1997 	Heaven Will Wait 	Diana 	Television film
1997 	A Match Made in Heaven 	Helen Rosner 	Television film
1998 	Scattering Dad 	Molly 	Television film
1998 	The Pentagon Wars 	Madam Chairwoman 	Television film
1998 	More Tales of the City 	Anna Madrigal 	Television miniseries
6 episodes
Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
Nominated – Satellite Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film
Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie
1998 	A Life for a Life 	Charlotte Kiszko 	Television film
1999 	Joan of Arc 	Mother Babette 	Television miniseries
3 episodes
Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
2000 	The Last of the Blonde Bombshells 	Dinah 	Television film
2001 	And Never Let Her Go 	Marguerite Capano 	Television film
2001 	Ladies and the Champ 	Sara Stevens 	Television film
2001 	Further Tales of the City 	Anna Madrigal 	Television miniseries
3 episodes
2001 	My Beautiful Son 	Esther Lipman 	Television film
2002 	Guilty Hearts 	Amanda Patterson 	Television film
2002 	The Simpsons 	Zelda 	Voice role
Episode: "The Old Man and the Key"
2002 	Frasier 	Caller #3 	Voice role
Episode: "Frasier Has Spokane"
2003 	Mafia Doctor 	Rose 	Television film
2003 	It's All Relative 	Coleen O'Neil 	Episode: "Thanks, But No Thanks"
2004 	The Librarian: Quest for the Spear 	Margie Carsen 	Television film
2004–2005	Center of the Universe 	Marge Barnett 	12 episodes
2006 	Numbers 	Charlotte Yates 	Episode: "Hot Shot"
2006 	The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines	Margie Carsen 	Television film
2008 	Worst Week 	June 	Episodes: "The Ring", "The Wedding"
2010–2011	Bored to Death 	Belinda 	4 episodes
2011 	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit 	Debby Marsh 	Episode: "Pop"
2013 	The Christmas Spirit 	Gwen Hollander 	Television film
2013–2015	Sex & Violence 	Alex Mandalakis 	Television miniseries
Also executive producer
12 episodes
2013–2015	Forgive Me 	Novalea 	9 episodes
2013 	Mike & Molly 	Narrator on TV 	Episode: "The Princess and the Troll"
2014 	F to 7th 	Marie 	Television series
Episode: "Down to Zero"
2014 	Big Driver 	Doreen 	Television film
2016 	TripTank 	Ma / Caller 	Voice role
4 episodes