Laura Innes

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8.7 Great
105 votes

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Biography

Recent Role:
on Prime Suspect
Gender:
Female
Born:
8-16-1959
Birthplace:
Pontiac, Michigan, USA
Birth Name:
Laura Elizabeth Innes
One of six children, Laura Innes was born in Pontiac, Michigan, and raised in nearby Birmingham. She remembers her father, a college English instructor, taking the family to the famous Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario, Canada, when she was small. It was there that she got her first taste of professional theater and decided to follow her father's advice to "do what you love."

After graduating from high school, Innes attended Northwestern University, where in 1979 she earned a BA in theater. Work in Chicago theater followed, including a role at the renowned Goodman

More Theatre playing Stella opposite John Malkovich in A Streetcar Named Desire. She continued working in Chicago for four years and originated the lead role of Glenna in David Mamet's Edmund before traveling with the production to New York City. Innes's other theater credits include Two Shakespearean Actors opposite Eric Stoltz at Lincoln Center, Our Town with Campbell Scott at the Seattle Repertory Theatre, and Three Sisters at the La Jolla Playhouse with Nancy Travis, Phoebe Cates, and Jon Lovitz.

Innes has guest-starred on television series such as Brooklyn Bridge, My So-Called Life, and Party of Five, and appeared in the 1993 Emmy Award-winning cable movie And the Band Played On. She is well-known for her comic turn as Bunny Mather, the promiscuous but sweet ex-wife of Lowell (Thomas Hayden Church) on NBC's Wings. She also starred with comedian Louie Anderson in the short-lived 1996 comedy series The Louie Show.

Her breakthrough television portrayal came in 1995, when Innes stepped into the recurring role of Dr. Kerry Weaver during the second season of NBC's hit medical series ER. She became a series regular during the third season and has received two Emmy Award nominations as well as three nominations for Best Supporting Actress from Viewers for Quality Television for her portrayal of the fiercely independent doctor.

Innes has stepped behind the camera nine times to direct episodes of ER, including the critically acclaimed "Be Still My Heart," in which Kellie Martin's character, Lucy Knight, was fatally stabbed. She has also directed five episodes of NBC's The West Wing and one episode of FOX's medical series House.

Her big screen credits include the 1998 action-adventure film Deep Impact, co-starring Téa Leoni, Morgan Freeman, and Vanessa Redgrave and directed by former ER producer/writer/director Mimi Leder; as well as the 1999 film Can't Stop Dancing, with former ER co-star Noah Wyle.

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  •  
    9.2 Superb
    empty hide show

    Laura Innes was incredible on her 12 year run on ER. It was sad to see her go, especially considering the past few years/seasons, she hasn't had much air time. But I look back at the early "Kerry" seasons, and it made me realise just how great of an actress Laura really is! She will and already has been missed on the show!

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  •  
    10 Perfect
    With her talent it is a shame that they give more storys to the other characters. She plays her character so well and is able to give you just enough of different emotions and feeling that you want more. She is the best of all the characters! No doubt. hide show

    On the show she is so commanding, but then every now and then you learn about her more. In the begginning she was commanding and in control, but as the show progresses we learn her weaknesses and that she is just like the rest of us. She is able to show just a little emotion of sadness and it is enough from her to touch you. In the episodes after she got with sandy there are not many with her where she on screen more than five minutes. It makes you miss the first shows where she worked down in the ER. The newest ones at the end of season 12 and am guessing season 13 she will be used more. Well at least I hope.

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  •  
    9.1 Superb
    love her hide show

    she went from a charecter every one loved to hate, to a beloved charecter without changing her personality much, that takes great acting, I really enjoy her as Kerry weaver on Er ,and have enjoyed her other acting appearences as well.. she is great, and should be used more on the show

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  •  
    10 Perfect
    I don't care if she prefers directing, give her some more screen-time or I'll hit someone with a crutch! hide show

    Laura Innes plays the part of ER's Kerry Weaver with dignity, variety and great acting. The audience never know what they're going to get; one week, angry aggressive Kerry, the next, a compassionate woman full of love. The week after, a vulnerable doctor.
    Into the character, Innes brings so much passion and skill, that despite her not-so-lovely actions, I rate her as my absolute favourite ER character.
    Innes has portrayed beautifully the struggle of coming out of the closet, being a positive example of strength for a lot of people, I am sure.
    Her three-minute performance in every other ER episode always leaves me aching for more. She has great chemistry and on-screen relationships with the rest of the cast, and never lets herself be stereotyped.
    So, please oh great and wise powers-that-be, bring this actress back to acting, and give us some more Kerry Weaver!

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  •  
    9 Superb
    I think she is underused as a actor and should be given more air time. hide show

    I would really like to see Laura Innes used more in ER. I think she is underused as a actor in the show.
    I think she plays the part of Kerry Weaver very well and I would like to see more interaction between her and other characters in the show.


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