Amy Acker

Amy Acker Headshot

Actress

Birth Name: Amy Louise Acker

Birth Date: December 5, 1976

Age: 47 years old

Birth Place: Dallas, Texas

Spouses: James Carpinello

As a recurring character on nearly a dozen TV shows, most notably the supernatural drama "Angel" (The WB, 1999-2004), Amy Acker has managed to stay busy since launching her professional acting career in the late 1990s. A native of Dallas, Acker landed bit parts on shows like "Wishbone" (PBS, 1995-99) and "Special Unit 2" (UPN, 2001-02), before she was cast as the brilliant math genius, Winifred "Fred" Burkle, on the third season of "Angel." Although her character was only supposed to be on the show for a few episodes, Acker's portrayal of the fiercely intelligent Fred made an immediate impression on creator Joss Whedon, who subsequently bumped her up to a series regular.

When the series ended in 2004, Acker continued to work with Whedon on additional projects, including his short-lived science-fiction series, "Dollhouse" (Fox, 2009-10), where she played a doctor, and as the strong-willed Beatrice in Whedon's 2012 film adaptation of Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing." With a growing list of film and TV credits spanning various types of character roles and genres, Acker has quickly risen to become one of Hollywood's most prolific young actresses.

Born and raised in Dallas, Acker grew up wanting to become a ballerina. She studied ballet for several years as a child, before an unexpected knee injury permanently ended her dreams of becoming a professional. Still harboring a love of performing, it was only then that Acker turned to acting. She enrolled in the drama department at Southern Methodist University, and began performing on stage in numerous Shakespeare productions throughout Dallas, including "Much Ado About Nothing."

After earning her B.F.A. from Southern Methodist, Acker moved to New York City. She landed small parts in two independently produced films, including 2001's "The Accident," before relocating to Los Angeles. Shortly after arriving in L.A., Acker won the part of Fred on "Angel," a spin-off of Joss Whedon's much-beloved "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (The WB, 1997-2001; UPN, 2001-03). The Fred character was initially intended to arc after a few episodes, and then quickly disappear from the storyline. However, Whedon believed Acker to be such a good fit for the character that he expanded Fred's role.

By the time "Angel" went off the air after five seasons in the spring of 2004, she had appeared in 70 episodes.

After lending her voice to the animated action series, "Justice League" (Cartoon Network, 2001-04), Acker nabbed her next big part as the villainous Kelly Peyton on the final season of J.J. Abrams' spy-drama "Alias" (ABC, 2001-06). Over the next few years, Acker landed recurring parts on the action-packed "Drive" (Fox, 2007), Whedon's fan-favorite "Dollhouse," and the ABC kidnapping drama "Happy Town" (2010), but neither show lasted long.

In 2012 Acker reteamed with Whedon for two of the writer-director's film projects, the horror-mystery "The Cabin in the Woods" and "Much Ado About Nothing," the latter of which was film entirely on location at the writer/director's house in Santa Monica. Acker had less than three weeks to prepare for her starring turn as Beatrice in the film, which received mostly positive reviews upon its limited release in late 2012. That same year, Acker appeared in a recurring role as a gifted computer hacker on the second season of the CBS crime drama, "Person of Interest," (2011-16). She joined the cast of the show at the start of the third season in the fall of 2013.

Credits

Ordinary AngelsStream

Actor
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Movie
2024
84%

Average Joe

Actor
Denise Kennedy
Movie
2024

The Watchful EyeStream

Actor
Tory Ayres
Series
2023
67%

Crashing Through the SnowStream

Actor
Maggie Collins
Movie
2021

9-1-1: Lone StarStream

Guest Star
Catherine
Series
2020

Superman: Red Son

Voice
Lois Lane
Movie
2020

All RiseStream

Guest Star
Georgia Knight
Series
2019

God Friended MeStream

Guest Star
Tammy
Series
2018
59%

United We Fan

Self
Movie
2018

The GiftedStream

Actor
Caitlin Strucker
Series
2017
79%

Amanda and Jack Go Glamping

Actor
Amanda
Movie
2017

MacGyverStream

Guest Star
Series
2016

A Nutcracker ChristmasStream

Actor
Lily
Movie
2016

Con ManStream

Guest Star
Dawn
Series
2015

A Novel RomanceStream

Actor
Sophie
Movie
2015

The Write Man

Actor
Movie
2015

Person of Interest: Extras

Actor
Show
2014

Let's Kill Ward's Wife

Actor
Geena
Movie
2014

The Lord of Catan

Actor
Sugar Monkey
Movie
2014

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.Stream

Guest Star
Series
2013
95%

Much Ado About Nothing

Actor
Beatrice
Movie
2012

GrimmStream

Guest Star
Lena Marcinko
Series
2011
89%

Once Upon a TimeStream

Guest Star
Series
2011
78%

Person of InterestStream

Actor
Root
Series
2011
92%

Person of InterestStream

Guest Star
Caroline Turing
Series
2011
92%

SuitsStream

Guest Star
Esther Edelstein
Series
2011
91%

The Cabin In The WoodsStream

Actor
Lin
Movie
2011
92%

Dear Santa

Actor
Crystal
Movie
2011

Sironia

Actor
Molly
Movie
2011

No Ordinary FamilyStream

Guest Star
Amanda Grayson
Series
2010
71%

Happy TownStream

Actor
Rachel Conroy
Series
2010
46%

Scooby-Doo: Mystery IncorporatedStream

Guest Voice
Nova
Series
2010

Human TargetStream

Guest Star
Series
2010
75%

The Good WifeStream

Guest Star
Trish Arkin
Series
2009
93%

Dollhouse

Guest Star
Show
2009

DollhouseStream

Guest Star
Series
2009
71%

21 and a Wakeup

Actor
Caitlin Murphy
Movie
2009

A Near Death Experience

Actor
Ellie Daly
Movie
2008

Fire & Ice

Actor
Princess Luisa
Movie
2008

Private PracticeStream

Guest Star
Molly Madison
Series
2007

Drive

Guest Star
Show
2007

October RoadStream

Guest Star
Girl in Blue Uniform
Series
2007
11%

The Novice

Actor
Jill Yarrut
Movie
2006

Ghost WhispererStream

Guest Star
Series
2005

How I Met Your MotherStream

Guest Star
Penelope
Series
2005
84%

Grey's AnatomyStream

Guest Star
Kathleen Shepherd
Series
2005
84%

Groom Lake

Actor
Kate
Movie
2002

Law & Order: Criminal IntentStream

Guest Star
Leslie LeZard
Series
2001

AliasStream

Actor
Kelly Peyton
Series
2001
86%

AliasStream

Guest Star
Kelly Peyton
Series
2001
86%

CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationStream

Guest Star
Series
2000

AngelStream

Actor
Winifred "Fred" Burkle
Series
1999

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