Amy Brenneman

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**Amy Frederica Brenneman** (born June 22, 1964) is an American actress, writer, and producer.

Brenneman rose to prominence after her performance as Detective Janice Licalsi in the ABC police drama series *NYPD Blue* (1993–1994), for which she was nominated for two Primetime Emmys. She later starred in various films, including *Heat*, *Fear*, and *Daylight*. She has also starred in the critically acclaimed films *Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her* (2000), *Nine Lives* (2005), and *The Jane Austen Book Club* (2007).

Brenneman created and starred as Judge Amy Gray in the CBS drama series *Judging Amy* from 1999 to 2005. She was nominated for three Primetime Emmys and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama for *Judging Amy*. From 2007 to 2013, Brenneman starred as Violet Turner in the Shonda Rhimes medical drama *Private Practice*, and in 2014 she began starring as Laurie Garvey on the HBO drama *The Leftovers*.

## Early life

Brenneman was born in New London, Connecticut to Jewish parents, the daughter of Frederica Joanne (née Shoenfield), a judge of the Connecticut State Superior Court, and Russell Langdon Brenneman, Jr., an environmental lawyer. Her aunt was Cold War-era journalist Beryl D. Hines. Brenneman was raised in Glastonbury, Connecticut, where she participated in theatre as a teenager, both in school and with a local theater group. She graduated from Harvard University, where she majored in comparative religion, in 1987. While at Harvard, she co-founded Cornerstone Theatre Company, with which she traveled for several years after graduation.

## Career

Brenneman began her career in short-lived CBS series *Middle Ages* in 1992. The next year she was cast in her first major role as mob-connected uniformed officer Janice Licalsi on the ABC police drama series *NYPD Blue*. Her story arc, which included a romantic relationship with David Caruso's character, ran through the show's first season (1993–1994) and the first few episodes of the second season. She was nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 1994 and for Outstanding Guest Actress the following year.

After leaving *NYPD Blue*, Brenneman began her career in film. In 1995, she appeared in *Bye Bye Love* and *Casper*, and most notably, in critically acclaimed crime drama *Heat*. In 1996, Brenneman had the female lead role opposite Sylvester Stallone in disaster thriller *Daylight*, and also starred in another thriller, *Fear*. In 1997, she played the leading role in the independent drama film *Nevada*. The next year she starred in *Your Friends & Neighbors* directed by Neil LaBute. In 1998–1999 season, she returned to television with a recurring role on the NBC comedy *Frasier*, as Faye Moskowitz.

In 1999, Brenneman became creator and executive producer of her own television series *Judging Amy*, in which she played the title character. Brenneman portrayed a divorced single mother working as a Family Court Judge in Hartford, Connecticut. The show's concept was based on the real-life experiences of her mother, Frederica Brenneman, as a superior court judge in the state of Connecticut. *Judging Amy* ran on CBS for six seasons and 138 episodes from September 19, 1999 to May 3, 2005 to good ratings. Frederica Brenneman was one of Harvard Law School's first female graduates and became a juvenile court judge in Connecticut when Amy was 3 years old. Amy has said, "I play my mother's job, not my mother."[*citation needed*] In 2002, she was awarded the Women in Film Lucy Award in recognition of her excellence and innovation in her creative works that have enhanced the perception of women through the medium of television.

Brenneman starred in ensemble cast film *Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her* directed by Rodrigo García in 2000. In 2005, she starred in another Rodrigo García's independent drama, *Nine Lives*. In 2007, Brenneman played the role of Sylvia Avila in *The Jane Austen Book Club* based on 2004 novel of the same name by Karen Joy Fowler. In 2008, Brenneman co-starred in *88 Minutes* alongside Al Pacino.

In March 2007, Brenneman was cast as Violet Turner in the *Grey's Anatomy* spin-off, *Private Practice*. The Shonda Rhimes series ran on ABC from September 26, 2007, to January 22, 2013. She later starred in films *The Face of Love* and *Words and Pictures*, and was cast in HBO drama series *The Leftovers* opposite Justin Theroux. Also in 2013, Brenneman played the role of Mary of Guise, the series' lead character's mother, in *Reign*.

## Personal life

In 1995, Brenneman married director Brad Silberling in the garden at her parents' home. They have two children: Charlotte Tucker and Bodhi Russell. Brenneman is heavily involved in her children’s school, CHIME, because she favors its unique approach to education by blending together typical kids, like Bodhi, and kids with disabilities, like Charlotte, who has cognitive special needs. Brenneman is an Episcopalian. Her mother was Jewish, and joined a Congregationalist church as an adult. Her father, who was of English, Irish, and Swiss descent, was from a Protestant background.

Brenneman, who is very actively pro-choice, signed the "We Had Abortions" petition which appears in the October 2006 issue of *Ms. Magazine*. The petition contains signatures of over 5,000 women declaring that they had an abortion and were "unashamed of the choice they made."

In the February 28, 2007, all-star benefit reading of "The Gift of Peace" at UCLA's Freud Playhouse, she portrays an entrepreneur, alongside actors Ed Asner, Barbara Bain, George Coe, Wendie Malick, and James Pickens, Jr.. The play was an open appeal and fundraiser for passage of U.S. House Resolution 808, which sought to establish a Cabinet-level "Department of Peace" in the United States government, funded by a two percent diversion of The Pentagon's annual budget.

In July 2008, Brenneman was nominated as a candidate on the Unite for Strength slate for a place on the national governing board of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) in elections scheduled for 18 September 2008. The bid was successful.

Brenneman is also a strong supporter of more restrictive gun laws, and in 2009 she hosted the Target for a Safe America gala at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles for the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, a gun control group that favors restrictive gun laws and supports gun bans.

## Other work

 1999-05
 2016

## References

1. ↑ *Who's Who in American Law*. Marquis Who's Who. 1983. p. 78. ISBN 0837935032.
2. ↑ Amy Brenneman Biography (1964-)
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Amy Brenneman Biography - Yahoo! Movies Archived December 13, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
4. ↑ "Cold War Journalist Beryl D. Hines, 84". *The Washington Post*. August 16, 2007.
5. ↑ Julia Collins, "Brennemans on the Bench," *Harvard Law School Alumni Bulletin*.
6. ↑ "Amy Brenneman | Academy of Television Arts & Sciences". Emmys.com. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
7. ↑ "Nevada (1997) - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast". AllMovie. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
8. ↑ http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/your\_friends\_and\_neighbors/
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 JAMES ENDRST (1999-05-10). "Brenneman Takes Up Art, Courts Frasier, Seeks Own Show - Sun Sentinel". *The Hartford Courant*. Articles.sun-sentinel.com. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
10. ↑ Past Recipients
11. ↑ The Jane Austen Book Club - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi Archived March 23, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
12. ↑ RON DICKER (2008-04-13). "Amy Brenneman Not The Boss Anymore, And It's Nice". *HARTFORD COURANT*. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
13. ↑ Applegate, Smart, Brenneman cast in pilots
14. ↑ "'Private Practice's' Amy Brenneman to Co-Star in HBO's 'Leftovers'". Hollywoodreporter.com. 2013-06-25. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
15. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie. "Amy Brenneman To Co-Star In HBO Pilot 'The Leftovers'". Deadline.com. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
16. ↑ Nadel, Nick (2013-09-16). "HBO gives series order to Damon Lindelof's 'The Leftovers' | Inside TV | EW.com". Insidetv.ew.com. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
17. ↑ Nadel, Nick (2013-11-25). "Amy Brenneman joins 'Reign' as Mary's mom | Inside TV | EW.com". Insidetv.ew.com. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
18. ↑ "Amy Brenneman Joins CW's 'Reign'". Variety. 2013-11-26. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
19. ↑ "Amy Brenneman — Chiming In". *ABILITY Magazine* (Amy Brenneman Issue). Apr–May 2013.
20. ↑ Mouth Wide Open Program: Program Notes: Amy Brenneman Opens Up | A.R.T. - American Repertory Theater
21. ↑ Amy Brenneman | Hollywood Prayer Network Archived July 26, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
22. ↑ http://www.interfaithfamily.com/arts\_and\_entertainment/popular\_culture/Hollywood\_Now\_Interfaith\_Stars\_and\_How\_They\_Raise\_Their\_Kids.shtml
23. ↑ "Blog Archive » Race: Whose Problem Is It, Anyway?". Amy Brenneman. 2013-08-08. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
24. ↑ David Crary (October 3, 2006). "Women Sign "We Had Abortions" Petition". Associated Press. Archived from the original on December 8, 2006. Retrieved 2007-04-12. Unknown parameter `|deadurl=` ignored (`|url-status=` suggested) (help)
25. ↑ Martino, Stacey (2007-02-28). "The Peace Alliance". *The Gift of Peace*. Retrieved 2007-03-01.
26. ↑ "Hollywood actors' union faces internal rift". *Reuters*. 2008-07-25. Archived from the original on 27 July 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-27. Unknown parameter `|deadurl=` ignored (`|url-status=` suggested) (help)
27. ↑ "National Board of Directors". *Screen Actors Guild*. Archived from the original on 21 November 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-12. Unknown parameter `|deadurl=` ignored (`|url-status=` suggested) (help)
28. ↑ "Amy Brenneman hosts the Brady Center Target for a Safe America gala, Los Angeles 2009". *Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence web site*. Retrieved 2010-06-28.

## External links

* Official site
* Amy Brenneman on Twitter
* Amy Brenneman at AllMovie
* Amy Brenneman on IMDb
* Frederica/Amy Brenneman article at Harvard Law School alumni site