Amy Acker

**Amy Louise Acker** is an American actress. She is best known for starring as Winifred Burkle and Illyria on the supernatural drama series Angel (2001–2004), as Kelly Peyton on the action drama series Alias (2005–2006), and as Root on the science-fiction drama series Person of Interest (2012–2016). As of 2017, she stars as Caitlin Strucker on the superhero drama series The Gifted, based on Marvel Comics' X-Men.

## Early life

Acker was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, to a homemaker mother and a lawyer father. She studied ballet and modern dance for 14 years. She underwent knee surgery while in high school, ending her ballet career. Acker graduated from Lake Highlands High School in Dallas. She subsequently earned a bachelor's degree in theater from Southern Methodist University.

In her junior year of college, Acker modeled for J. Crew catalog. 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 in *Angel* (seasons 2–5), and also as the character of Illyria for part of the show's fifth 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.

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

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. 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*.

Between 2012 and 2016, Acker portrayed Samantha "Root" Groves on the CBS drama *Person of Interest*; Groves became a regular character starting in the series' third season. Starting with the series' 100th episode, Acker took on the voice role of the Machine. In the series finale, she also appeared as the visual manifestation of the Machine.

In March 2017, Acker was cast as Caitlin Strucker in the pilot for the prospective FOX television series *The Gifted*, which was picked up to series in May 2017. The Gifted began airing on October 2, 2017, with first season running for 13 episodes.

## Trivia

* Acker studied ballet, modern dance and jazz dance for 13 years before moving onto acting. She underwent knee surgery while in high school, thus ending her ballet career. She began to study acting in her sophomore year. A 1995 graduate of Lake Highlands High School, she enrolled at Southern Methodist University to take advantage of that school's renowned theatrical program.
* While on Angel (1999), she and her co-star, J. August Richards, shared a trailer for quite some time.
* Gave birth to her first child at age 28, a son named Jackson James Carpinello on January 22, 2005. Gave birth to her second child at age 29, a daughter named Ava Grace Carpinello on September 1, 2006. Both children are by husband James Carpinello.
* Starting with the season five episode, Alias: S.O.S. (2006), she was promoted from guest star to series regular on Alias (2001), and appeared in the opening credits, until the series ended.
* Wore her own glasses as "Fred" on Angel (1999).
* A friend of Neil Patrick Harris, the two played former lovers on the How I Met Your Mother (2005) episode, "How I Met Your Mother: Come On (2006)".
* Guest-voiced as "The Huntress" for the Cartoon Network's Justice League (2001) (aka "Justice League Unlimited") for the episode, Justice League Unlimited: Double Date (2005). [2004]
* Guest-starred as "Dr. Claire Saunders" on Joss Whedon's Dollhouse (2009). [2009]
* Her ancestry includes English, as well as German, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, and French.
* Prior to her interest in acting, she trained in ballet, modern dance, and jazz dance for thirteen years.
* She earned her B.A. in theater from Southern Methodist University, and, in 2010, she was a regular on Happy Town, playing Rachel Conroy.
* She married James Carpinello in 2003, and the couple welcomed a son named Jackson in 2005 and a daughter named Ava in 2006.
* She starred on Alias with Jennifer Garner.