Alyssa Jayne Milano (born December 191972) is an
American actress and singer. She is perhaps best known for her roles as Samantha Micelli
in the sitcom Who's the Boss? and Phoebe
Halliwell on the supernatural series Charmed.
Biography
Early life and career
Milano was born in New York to Italian American parents Lin, a former fashion designer and talent manager, and Thomas M.
Milano, a film music editor and a well-known boating enthusiast.[1] She has a younger brother, Cory (born in 1982), who is also an actor. Milano grew up in
Staten Island, New York and was raised Catholic.[2] She began her career at the age of eight when she won a part in an open
audition for a national tour of Annie. She appeared in television commercials
and off-Broadway productions. At the age of eleven, she earned her first major role in the TV show Who's the Boss?, alongside Tony Danza, Judith Light, Danny Pintauro and Katherine Helmond. She starred as Samantha Micelli, the daughter of Danza's character, Tony Micelli.
When Alyssa won the role, her family relocated from Staten Island to Hollywood. Alyssa produced a teen workout video in 1988
called Teen Steam. Won Kids' Choice Awards in 1988, '89, and '90 for her role on Who's the Boss? ... nominated for
an "Annie" Award (not the orphan this time) for her work on Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure.
Later career
At the beginning of her career, Milano was known mainly for her role on Who's the Boss? (1984-1992). She tried to shed
her "nice girl" image by appearing in several films targeted at adults, such as Casualties of Love: The Long Island Lolita Story (1992),
Embrace of the Vampire (1994), Confessions of a Sorority Girl (1994), Deadly
Sins (1995), and Poison Ivy II: Lily (1995), where she starred
opposite Johnathon Schaech and Xander
Berkley. She gained more mainstream success in TV as Jennifer Mancini on Melrose
Place (1997-1998), Meg Winston in Spin City and most notably as Phoebe
Halliwell on Charmed (1998-2006). Both Milano and Holly Marie Combs became producers for Charmed during the show's fifth season. In 2007, Milano
filmed a pilot for ABC entitled Reinventing the Wheelers. The series was not picked up for the 2007-2008 season.
Milano played the role of Eva Savelot in MCI's 1-800-COLLECT commercials.
On stage, she starred in Tender Offer, a one-act play written by Wendy
Wasserstein, All Night Long, and the first American musical
adaptation of Jane Eyre. She returned to her theater roots in 1991, when she starred in and produced a Los Angeles
production of Butterflies Are Free. Alyssa also appeared in the
Josie music video by Blink-182.
In 2007, Milano began appearing on television commercials for Veet.
Milano is currently part of TBS' special coverage installment Hot Corner for
the 2007 Major League Baseball playoffs.[3] She reported at Fenway
Park during the ALDS between the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Angels of
Anaheim. She is also expected to report at Chase Field and Coors Field during the NLCS between the
Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado
Rockies.
Starting in November 2007 Milano will appear in a minimum of eight episodes on the show My Name is Earl as a "possible love interest for Jason Lee". This will reunite her with
Jaime Pressly who guest starred in the Season 5 premiere of Charmed.[4]
Personal life
Outside of acting, her hobbies include photography, humanitarian work and spending time with her four dogs; Ripley, Stella,
Hugo, and Lucy. Her other pets are birds and horses.
Milano suffers from Dyslexia.[5] In an interview in 2004, Milano explained how she deals with her Dyslexia:
| “ |
"I've stumbled over words while reading from TelePrompTers. Sir John Gielgud, whom I
worked with on 'The Canterville Ghost' years ago, gave me great advice. When I asked how he memorized his monologues, he said, 'I
write them down'. I use that method to this day. It not only familiarizes me with the words, it makes them my own". |
” |
Milano is an avid fan of the L.A. Dodgers. In 2007 she created her own signature
"Touch" line of team apparel for female baseball fans, currently available on Major League Baseball's website. She also maintains
a baseball blog.[6]
Philanthropy
Milano was recently appointed Founding Ambassador for the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases. The Global Network is an
alliance formed to advocate and mobilize resources in the fight to control neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Milano will work
to raise awareness of NTDs by educating the mainstream media and general public of the plight faced by the one billion people
that are afflicted by NTDs, and the importance in controlling and preventing this global health crisis.
Milano is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for the United States. She traveled to India, as well as Angola, to work with
UNICEF field officers there. In the fall of 2004, she launched UNICEF's "Trick or Treat" campaign as an official spokesperson.
She raised approximately $50,000 for South African women and children who have AIDS by
selling her own photo work and a school's photo work.
Milano is also a supporter of PETA.
Filmography
Films
TV series
TV appearances
Discography
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
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External links
vls:Alyssa Milano
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