Amy Louise Acker (born December 5, 1976
) is an American actress. She is best known for starring as
Winifred Burkle
Winifred "Fred" Burkle is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon and introduced by Shawn Ryan and Mere Smith on the television series ''Angel''. The character is portrayed by Amy Acker.
Biography
Character history
Fred was born in San An ...
and
Illyria
In classical antiquity, Illyria (; grc, Ἰλλυρία, ''Illyría'' or , ''Illyrís''; la, Illyria, ''Illyricum'') was a region in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula inhabited by numerous tribes of people collectively known as the Illyr ...
on the supernatural drama series ''
Angel
In various theistic religious traditions an angel is a supernatural spiritual being who serves God.
Abrahamic religions often depict angels as benevolent celestial intermediaries between God (or Heaven) and humanity. Other roles ...
'' (2001–2004), as Kelly Peyton on the action drama series ''
Alias
Alias may refer to:
* Pseudonym
* Pen name
* Nickname
Arts and entertainment Film and television
* ''Alias'' (2013 film), a 2013 Canadian documentary film
* ''Alias'' (TV series), an American action thriller series 2001–2006
* ''Alias the J ...
'' (2005–2006), and as Root on the science-fiction drama series ''
Person of Interest
"Person of interest" is a term used by law enforcement in the United States, Canada, and other countries when identifying someone possibly involved in a criminal investigation who has not been arrested or formally accused of a crime. It has no le ...
'' (2012–2016). From 2017 to 2019, she starred as Caitlin Strucker on the superhero drama series ''
The Gifted'', based on
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is an American comic book publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Comics'' in ...
'
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, first appearing in Uncanny X-Men, ''The X-Men'' #1 by artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby and writer/editor Stan Lee in 1963. Although initially cancelled in ...
.
Early life
Amy Louise Acker was born on December 5, 1976 and raised in Dallas, Texas, to a homemaker mother and a lawyer father. She studied
ballet
Ballet () is a type of performance dance that originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It has since become a widespread and highly technical form ...
and
modern dance
Modern dance is a broad genre of western concert or theatrical dance which included dance styles such as ballet, folk, ethnic, religious, and social dancing; and primarily arose out of Europe and the United States in the late 19th and early 20th ...
for 14 years. She underwent knee surgery while in
high school
A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper seconda ...
, ending her ballet career. Acker graduated from
Lake Highlands High School
Lake Highlands High School (LHHS) is a secondary school serving grades 9-12 in the Lake Highlands area of northeastern Dallas, Texas, United States, primarily serving the Lake Highlands community. The school is part of the Richardson Independent Sc ...
in Dallas. She subsequently earned a bachelor's degree in theater from
Southern Methodist University
, mottoeng = " The truth will make you free"
, established =
, type = Private research university
, accreditation = SACS
, academic_affiliations =
, religious_affiliation = United Methodist Church
, president = R. Gerald Turner
, p ...
.
In her junior year of college, Acker
modeled for the
J. Crew catalog. She received a
Bachelor of Fine Arts
A Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) is a standard undergraduate degree for students for pursuing a professional education in the visual, fine or performing arts. It is also called Bachelor of Visual Arts (BVA) in some cases.
Background
The Bachel ...
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
Spring Green is a village in Sauk County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,628 at the 2010 census. The village is located within the Town of Spring Green.
Geography
Spring Green is located at (43.177268, -90.067277).
According ...
.
Career
Acker made her major television debut when she starred as
Winifred "Fred" Burkle in ''
Angel
In various theistic religious traditions an angel is a supernatural spiritual being who serves God.
Abrahamic religions often depict angels as benevolent celestial intermediaries between God (or Heaven) and humanity. Other roles ...
'' (seasons 2–5), and also as the character of
Illyria
In classical antiquity, Illyria (; grc, Ἰλλυρία, ''Illyría'' or , ''Illyrís''; la, Illyria, ''Illyricum'') was a region in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula inhabited by numerous tribes of people collectively known as the Illyr ...
for part of the show's fifth and final season. She won the 2003
Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television
The Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television is presented annually by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films, honoring the work of actresses in science fiction, fantasy, and horror fiction on television.
'' The Wa ...
for her portrayal.
Acker joined the cast of ''
Alias
Alias may refer to:
* Pseudonym
* Pen name
* Nickname
Arts and entertainment Film and television
* ''Alias'' (2013 film), a 2013 Canadian documentary film
* ''Alias'' (TV series), an American action thriller series 2001–2006
* ''Alias the J ...
'' in 2005 for its final season, playing villainess Kelly Peyton. Acker graduated from guest star to 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
''Justice League Unlimited'' (''JLU'') is a 2004–2006 American superhero animated television series that was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and aired on Cartoon Network. Featuring a wide array of superheroes from the DC Comics univers ...
''. She went on to make a guest appearance on ''
How I Met Your Mother
''How I Met Your Mother'' (often abbreviated as ''HIMYM'') is an American sitcom, created by Craig Thomas (screenwriter), Craig Thomas and Carter Bays for CBS. The series, which aired from September 19, 2005 to March 31, 2014, follows the main c ...
'', in which she was reunited with ''Angel'' co-star
Alexis Denisof
Alexis Denisof (born February 25, 1966) is an American actor. He is primarily known for playing Wesley Wyndam-Pryce in the television series ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' and its spin-off ''Angel''. He also had a recurring role on ''How I Met Your ...
(the real-life husband of ''HIMYM'' star
Alyson Hannigan
Alyson Lee Hannigan (born March 24, 1974) is an American actress. After starting her career at age four with appearances in commercials, she moved to Hollywood at age 11 and soon got an agent.
Hannigan began her film career with supporting ro ...
), who had a recurring role on the show.
Acker portrayed Dr. Claire Saunders/Whiskey, a recurring character, on
Joss Whedon
Joseph Hill Whedon (; born June 23, 1964) is an American filmmaker, composer, and comic book writer. He is the founder of Mutant Enemy Productions, co-founder of Bellwether Pictures, and is best known as the creator of several television serie ...
's ''
Dollhouse
A dollhouse or doll's house is a toy home made in miniature. Since the early 20th century dollhouses have primarily been the domain of children, but their collection and crafting is also a hobby for many adults. English-speakers in North America ...
''. She guest-starred in 10 of the 13 episodes of the first season and three episodes of the second.
In 2010, Acker 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
The Human Target is the name of two fictional characters in American comic books published by DC Comics. The first is Fred Venable, while the second is private investigator and bodyguard Christopher Chance who assumes the identities of clients tar ...
'' as the mysterious Katherine Walters. On May 25, 2010, she appeared on CBS's ''
The Good Wife
''The Good Wife'' is an American legal and political drama television series that aired on CBS from September 22, 2009, to May 8, 2016. It focuses on Alicia Florrick, the wife of the Cook County State's Attorney, who returns to her career in l ...
''. She appeared in the horror movie ''
The Cabin in the Woods
''The Cabin in the Woods'' is a 2011 science fiction horror comedy film directed by Drew Goddard in his directorial debut, produced by Joss Whedon, and written by Whedon and Goddard. It stars Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, F ...
'', released April 13, 2012. In 2012, she made guest performances in ''
Warehouse 13
''Warehouse 13'' is an American science fiction television series that originally ran from July 7, 2009, to May 19, 2014, on the Syfy network, and was executive produced by Jack Kenny and David Simkins for Universal Cable Productions. Describ ...
'', ''
Once Upon a Time'', and ''
Grimm
Grimm may refer to:
People
* Grimm (surname)
* Brothers Grimm, German linguists
** Jacob Grimm (1785–1863), German philologist, jurist and mythologist
** Wilhelm Grimm (1786–1859), German author, the younger of the Brothers Grimm
* Christia ...
''. Also in 2012, she starred as
Beatrice in Joss Whedon's film ''
Much Ado About Nothing
''Much Ado About Nothing'' is a comedy by William Shakespeare thought to have been written in 1598 and 1599.See textual notes to ''Much Ado About Nothing'' in ''The Norton Shakespeare'' ( W. W. Norton & Company, 1997 ) p. 1387 The play ...
''.
Acker appeared in season three of the sitcom ''
Husbands'' as Claudia, Brad Kelt's ex-fiancée of 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.
''Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'' is an American television series created by Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon, and Maurissa Tancharoen for ABC, based on the Marvel Comics organization S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, an ...
''
Between 2012 and 2016, Acker portrayed Samantha "Root" Groves on the
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...
drama ''
Person of Interest
"Person of interest" is a term used by law enforcement in the United States, Canada, and other countries when identifying someone possibly involved in a criminal investigation who has not been arrested or formally accused of a crime. It has no le ...
''; 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 and Fox canceled the series after two seasons on April 17, 2019.
In 2019, Acker appeared in ''What Just Happened??! with Fred Savage
''What Just Happened??! with Fred Savage'' (or ''What Just Happened??!'') is an American parody television series hosted by Fred Savage. It is presented as the aftershow
An aftershow or after-show is a genre of television talk show whose topic ...
'', a parody of aftershow
An aftershow or after-show is a genre of television talk show whose topic is another television program. An aftershow is typically broadcast immediately after a new episode of its corresponding program to help retain the audience, and to provide ad ...
s. She plays Dr. Rachel Layne in the "show-within-a-show", a fictional drama series called ''The Flare''.
Personal life
On April 25, 2003, Acker married actor James Carpinello
James Anthony Carpinello (born August 13, 1975) is an American actor who came to national attention with his appearances in Tori Spelling's VH1 sitcom ''So Notorious''. He also portrayed Stacee Jaxx in the Broadway production of the musical ''R ...
in California
California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...
. They have a son, born in 2005, and a daughter, born in 2006.
Filmography
Film
Television
Web
Awards and nominations
References
External links
*
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Acker, Amy
1976 births
Living people
20th-century American actresses
21st-century American actresses
Actresses from Dallas
Female models from Texas
American film actresses
American television actresses
American voice actresses
Southern Methodist University alumni