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Olympia Dukakis

 
American Theater Guide: Olympia Dukakis
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Dukakis, Olympia (b. 1931), actress and manager. The dry, subtle character actress has spent much of her career in regional theatre, particularly at the Whole Theatre Company in New Jersey, which she ran, but she has managed to give several potent performances in New York as well. She was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, the daughter of Greek immigrants, and educated at Boston University. Dukakis appeared in Boston theatres (she co‐founded the Charles Street Theatre) before making her Manhattan debut in 1960, playing many roles at the New York Shakespeare Festival and other Off‐Broadway venues. But she would find fame first on television and then in the movies, coming back to Broadway as a star in The Marriage of Bette and Boo (1985), Social Security (1986), and Rose (2000). Autobiography: Ask Me Again Tomorrow, 2003.

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Actor: Olympia Dukakis
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Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Actors
  • Born: Jun 20, 1931 in Lowell, Massachusetts
  • Occupation: Actor
  • Active: '80s-2000s
  • Major Genres: Drama, Comedy
  • Career Highlights: Moonstruck, Look Who's Talking, The Idolmaker
  • First Major Screen Credit: Twice a Man (1964)

Biography

Olympia Dukakis is one of those character actresses who infallibly lends a touch of class to whatever picture she's in. Despite her extraordinary dignity and class, she is able to make even the most outrageous character believable. Though she is well regarded in film, Dukakis has spent the bulk of her distinguished career on-stage as an actress and a director. She is also a highly respected drama teacher.

The daughter of Greek immigrants, Dukakis once worked as a physical therapist. Her interest in acting came after appearing in summer stock and then taking adult-ed classes in drama at Boston University, where she graduated with a master's in Fine Arts. After graduation, she began her theatrical career and then co-founded Boston's renowned Charles Playhouse. Dukakis made her film debut in director Robert Rossen's last film Lillith (1964). She continued to make sporadic and undistinguished appearances in movies though much of the '80s, but did not gain notice until 1987 when she won an Academy Award for playing Cher's Italian mother in Moonstruck. Since then, Dukakis has specialized in playing older women from different ethnic backgrounds or mothers. Subsequent film appearances include Steel Magnolias (1989), where she played the elegant widow Clairee Belcher, Mighty Aphrodite (1995), and Picture Perfect (1997).

In addition to her film and stage work -- she has appeared in over 100 plays -- Dukakis has also occasionally appeared on television in movies and mini-series. One of her most famous roles was that of the mysterious and kooky Annie Madrigal in the PBS adaptation of Armistad Maupin's Tales of the City (1993). Though the miniseries' gay themes led to considerable controversy, a sequel starring Dukakis was released in 1998. In addition to her Oscar win, she has earned Obie Awards, a New York and Los Angeles Critics Award, and a Golden Globe. As a drama teacher, Dukakis has worked at New York University and Yale. Her cousin, Michael Dukakis, was a presidential candidate for the Democratic party in 1988. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Wikipedia: Olympia Dukakis
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Olympia Dukakis

Olympia Dukakis, July 2005
Born June 20, 1931 (1931-06-20) (age 78)
Lowell, Massachusetts
Spouse(s) Louis Zorich (1962-)

Olympia Dukakis (born June 20, 1931) is an American actress.

Contents

Personal life

Dukakis was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, the daughter of Alexandra (née Christos) and Constantine S. Dukakis. Her parents were Greek immigrants to the United States, her father from Anatolia and her mother from Peloponnese.[1][2] She has a brother, Apollo, and is a cousin of Michael Dukakis, a 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.

Dukakis has been married to actor Louis Zorich since 1962. They have three children.

Career

Dukakis has starred in 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, she also appeared on Search for Tomorrow as Dr. Barbara Moreno, who romanced Stu Bergman. She also appears as Dolly Sinatra (Frank's mother) 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 a BAFTA 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.

In 1998 she starred as Charlotte Kisko in the British TV drama, A Life For A Life (ITV) based on the real-life story of Stefan Kisko, a man wrongfully imprisoned for seventeen years for the murder of a young 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 is starring 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 recently starred in and executive-produced the film Montana Amazon, co-starring Haley Joel Osment and due for release in 2009.

Filmography

Year Film Role Other notes
1964 Lilith Patient uncredited
Twice a Man Young mother
1969 Stiletto Mrs. Amato, woman accepting perfume uncredited
John and Mary John's mother
1971 Made for Each Other Gig's Mother
1973 Sisters Louise Wilanski, Bakery Shop Employee #2 uncredited
1974 Death Wish Cop at the precinct uncredited
The Rehearsal
1979 Rich Kids Lawyer
The Wanderers Joey's Mom
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
BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture
1988 Working Girl Personnel Director
1989 Steel Magnolias Clairee Belcher
Look Who's Talking Rosie
Dad Bette Tremont
1990 Look Who's Talking Too Rosie
In the Spirit Sue
1992 Over the Hill Alma Harris
1993 Look Who's Talking Now Rosie
The Cemetery Club Doris Silverman
Digger Bea
1994 I Love Trouble Jeannie, Peter's Secretary
1995 Mr. Holland's Opus Principal Helen Jacobs
Mighty Aphrodite Jocasta
Jeffrey Mrs. Marcangelo
Dead Badge Dr. Doris Rice
Young at Heart Rose Garaventi
1996 Milk & Money Goneril Plogg
Jerusalem Mother (Mrs. Gordon)
Mother Mrs. Jay
1997 A Match Made in Heaven Helen Rosner
Picture Perfect Rita Mosley
1998 Better Living Nora
Jane Austen's Mafia! Sophia
2000 Brooklyn Sonnet Helen Manners
2005 The Intended Erina
2003 Charlie's War Charlie
The Event Lila
2005 Whiskey School Ellen Haywood
3 Needles Hilde the Missionary Nun
The Thing About My Folks Muriel Kleinman
The Great New Wonderful Judy Hillerman segment "Judy's Story"
2006 Day on Fire Dr. Mary Wade
Away from Her Marian
Jesus, Mary and Joey Sophia Vitello
2007 In the Land of Women Phyllis
2008 Poor Things pre-production
The Price of Art Esther pre-production
2009 Montana Amazon Ira post-production

References

  1. ^ Guardian Unlimited | Archive Search
  2. ^ An Interview with Olympia Dukakis (BroadwayWorld.com)
  3. ^ The Theater Loop - News from America's hottest theater city | Chicago Tribune | Blog

External links

v • d • e
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress

Maureen Stapleton (1981) · Jessica Lange (1982) · Linda Hunt (1983) · Peggy Ashcroft (1984) · Anjelica Huston (1985) · Dianne Wiest (1986) · Olympia Dukakis (1987) · Geena Davis (1988) · Brenda Fricker (1989) · Whoopi Goldberg (1990) · Mercedes Ruehl (1991) · Marisa Tomei (1992) · Anna Paquin (1993) · Dianne Wiest (1994) · Mira Sorvino (1995) · Juliette Binoche (1996) · Kim Basinger (1997) · Judi Dench (1998) · Angelina Jolie (1999) · Marcia Gay Harden (2000)

Complete list · (1928–1940) · (1941–1960) · (1961–1980) · (1981–2000) · (2001–present)
v • d • e
Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture

Joan Hackett (1981) · Jessica Lange (1982) · Cher (1983) · Peggy Ashcroft (1984) · Meg Tilly (1985) · Maggie Smith (1986) · Olympia Dukakis (1987) · Sigourney Weaver (1988) · Julia Roberts (1989) · Whoopi Goldberg (1990) · Mercedes Ruehl (1991) · Joan Plowright (1992) · Winona Ryder (1993) · Dianne Wiest (1994) · Mira Sorvino (1995) · Lauren Bacall (1996) · Kim Basinger (1997) · Lynn Redgrave (1998) · Angelina Jolie (1999) · Kate Hudson (2000)

Complete List · (1943–1960) · (1961–1980) · (1981–2000) · (2001–present)



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