Olympia Dukakis

Olympia Dukakis Headshot

Actress

Birth Date: June 20, 1931

Death Date: May 1, 2021

Birth Place: Lowell, Massachusetts

Having long established herself as a respected stage actress and veteran performer in dozens of film and television projects, Olympia Dukakis achieved overnight stardom at the tender age of 56 with her Oscar-winning portrayal in "Moonstruck" (1987). Originally intending to become a physical therapist, Dukakis turned to acting with work on and off-Broadway in productions such as "The Aspern Papers" and "A Man's a Man." Never the ingénue, Dukakis quickly found herself portraying young mothers in films that included "John and Mary" (1969) and "Made for Each Other" (1971). The pattern continued with features like "The Wanderers" (1979) and "The Idolmaker" (1980) until "Moonstruck" placed her at the top of the casting agent's wish list. A slew of roles in high-profile feature films followed, including turns in "Working Girl" (1988), "Look Who's Talking" (1989) and "Steel Magnolias" (1989). Occasional starring roles also presented themselves, as with the comedy-drama "The Cemetery Club" (1993). On television she essayed the character of Mrs. Madrigal in "Armistead Maupin's 'Tales of the City'" (PBS, 1993) and its two sequel miniseries, and achieved true pop culture status when she voiced Grandpa Simpson's love interest in a 2002 episode of "The Simpsons" (Fox, 1989- ). Living proof that one was never too old to reinvent oneself, the scene-stealing actress continued to delight audiences in a variety of mediums for over four decades.

The child of Greek immigrants, Olympia was born on June 20, 1931 in Lowell, MA to Alexandra and Constantine S. Dukakis. Although her immediate family was small, consisting only of her parents, herself, and a brother, Apollo, her extended family included future Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis, who would run for President of the United States in 1988. As a youngster, Dukakis was encouraged by her father to perform with his amateur theater group, although her focus was on physical rehabilitation studies upon entering college at Boston University's Sargent College, from which he earned her BA in 1953. However, her parents were, above all, pragmatists, and when Dukakis announced that she was abandoning a potentially well-paying career as a physical therapist for the unpredictable life of an actress, they were less than thrilled. Undeterred, she picked up an MFA in Acting from B.U. in 1957 and went on to become a founding member of the Charles Playhouse in Boston for a period before its eventual closure. Dukakis next made the move to New York City, where she made her off-Broadway debut in a production of "The Breaking Wall" in 1960.

Possessed of a New England work ethic and unassailable talent, Dukakis began a fruitful affiliation with the Williamstown Theatre Festival in 1961, followed by her debut on Broadway in "The Aspern Papers" the following year. While none of the work would necessarily be considered "star-making" the young actress was gaining notice, with her television debut on the first season of the medical drama "The Doctors and the Nurses" (CBS, 1962-65), and an Obie Award win for Distinguished Performance in a 1963 production of "A Man's a Man." Dukakis made her feature film debut in Robert Rossen's "Lilith" (1964), in which the versatile performer was cast as a patient in a mental institution. It was also around this time that she began teaching acting at New York University, in addition to founding The Whole Theater Company in Montclair, NJ. Dukakis would remain active in both roles over the next two decades. As more feature film work came her way, Dukakis began what would become a lengthy career portraying mothers, such as that of Dustin Hoffman in the romantic drama "John and Mary" (1969) and Joseph Bologna in the cult comedy "Made for Each Other" (1971).

Still known more for her lauded work on the stage than on the big or small screen, Dukakis continued to pick up small, often uncredited roles in projects that included the psychological thriller "Sisters" (1973), directed by Brian De Palma, and "Death Wish" (1974), starring Charles Bronson as a pacifist-turned-vigilante. Having already made several series guest appearances, she made her TV movie debut as a member of a close-knit Greek family in the failed television pilot "Nicky's World" (CBS, 1974). In what was becoming a career staple, Dukakis played more mothers in a pair of period pieces including the comedy-drama "The Wanderers" (1979), starring Ken Wahl, then in the 1950s pop music melodrama "The Idolmaker" (1980), opposite Ray Sharkey. Never far from her theatrical roots, Dukakis returned to the stage when famed director Mike Nichols hired her to co-star as an elderly woman with a penchant for literally chewing the scenery in the Broadway mounting of the comedy "Social Security" in 1986. It was that performance that caught the attention of filmmaker Norman Jewison who cast her in the hit romantic comedy "Moonstruck" (1987), starring Cher and Nicholas Cage. For her complex role as the mother of the lovelorn Loretta (Cher) and wife of philandering husband Cosmo (Vincent Gardenia), Dukakis won both an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress.

Suddenly, the 56-year-old actress was an "overnight success," and Dukakis' film career shifted into high gear with an impressive streak that included roles as a personnel director opposite Melanie Griffith in Mike Nichol's "Working Girl" (1988), as Kirstie Alley's mom in "Look Who's Talking" (1989), and as Jack Lemmon's humorless wife in "Dad" (1989). On a roll, that same year she joined an impressive female ensemble cast as Shirley MacLaine's friendly rival in the tear-jerking dramedy "Steel Magnolias" (1989). Other notable roles included that of an aging actress desirous of a comeback in "The Last Act is a Solo" (A&E, 1991), for which she won a CableACE Award, as well as the mother of actor-singer Frank Sinatra in the miniseries "Sinatra" (CBS, 1992). Also on television, Dukakis played the eccentric landlady with a secret, Mrs. Madrigal, in the adaptation of "Armistead Maupin's 'Tales of the City'" (PBS, 1993). That same year, she had a rare lead in "The Cemetery Club" (1993), a comedy drama co-starring Ellen Burstyn and Diane Ladd as three women who all lose their husbands within a short period of time. She was busier than ever two years later, taking on roles as varied as the proud mother of a pre-operative transsexual son in "Jeffrey" (1995), to a member of the Greek chorus in Woody Allen's "Mighty Aphrodite" (1995), to the disapproving high school principal in "Mr. Holland's Opus" (1995).

Dukakis reprised her earlier role on cable in the miniseries sequel, "Armistead Maupin's 'More Tales of the City'" (Showtime, 1998), and for a third time in "Armistead Maupin's 'Further Tales of the City'" (Showtime, 2001). She later appeared with Parker Posey in writer-director Thom Fitzgerald's mystery drama "The Event" (2003) and with fellow cinematic "grand dames" Lynn Redgrave and Diane Ladd in the psychological thriller "Charlie's War" (2003). Dukakis appeared briefly as bookish adventurer Noah Wyle's mother in the TV adventure "The Librarian: Quest for the Spear" (TNT, 2004), as Peter Falk's wife in the Paul Reiser comedy "The Thing about My Folks" (2005), and as a missionary in South Africa in the HIV drama "3 Needles" (2005). The following year she reprised her earlier role in "The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines" (TNT, 2006), which had become a successful TV movie franchise for the cable network. Continuing to work steadily well into her seventies, Dukakis appeared with Meg Ryan and Kristen Stewart in actor-writer Jon Kasdan's directorial debut "In the Land of Women" (2007), in addition to numerous other film projects. On television, she took on guest turn roles on the noir comedy series "Bored to Death" (HBO, 2009-11) in 2010, followed by a 2011 appearance on the long-running police procedural "Law & Order" Special Victims Unit" (NBC, 1999- ). Dukakis kept working steadily through her 80s, including supporting roles on the limited series "Sex and Violence" (OUTtv 2013-15) and the Canadian drama "Forgive Me" (Super Channel 2013-18). She starred in a documentary about her life, "Olympia" (2019) the same year that she returned to one of her most famous roles in a reboot of "Tales of the City" (Netflix 2019). Olympia Dukakis died on May 1, 2021 at her home in New York City. She was 89.

Credits

The New Abolitionists

Executive Producer
Movie
2022

The New Abolitionists

Producer
Movie
2022

Not to Forget

Actor
Judge
Movie
2021

Armistead Maupin's Tales of the CityStream

Actor
Anna Madrigal
Miniseries
2019
82%

Change in the Air

Actor
Margaret Lemke
Movie
2018

Olympia

Self
Movie
2018

The Infiltrator

Actor
Aunt Vicky
Movie
2016

Her Secret Sessions

Actor
Arlene
Movie
2016

7 Chinese Brothers

Actor
Grandma
Movie
2015

Outliving Emily

Actor
Emily
Movie
2015

Beneath the Olive Tree

Executive Producer
Movie
2015

Beneath the Olive Tree

Narrator
Movie
2015

Irene & Marie

Actor
Irene
Movie
2015

A Little Game

Actor
YaYa
Movie
2014

Big DriverStream

Actor
Doreen
Movie
2014
50%

Sex & Violence

Actor
Alex Mandalakis
Show
2013

Forgive Me

Actor
Novalea
Show
2013

The Last Keepers

Actor
Rosmarie Carver
Movie
2013

The Christmas SpiritStream

Actor
Gwen Hollander
Movie
2013

Montana Amazon - The Adventures of the Dunderheads

Actor
Ira
Movie
2012

CloudburstStream

Actor
Stella
Movie
2011
100%

George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight

Guest
Show
2010

I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale

Actor
Show
2010

The Promise of Tomorrow 1940-1960

Narrator
Movie
2009

I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale

Actor
Movie
2009

Worst Week

Guest Star
Show
2008

Greatest Ever Rom-Com Movies

Self
Show
2007

The Morning Show With Mike & Juliet

Guest
Show
2007

In the Land of Women

Actor
Grandmother
Movie
2007

The Complete Tales of the City

Actor
Show
2006

Day on Fire

Actor
Dr. Mary Wade
Movie
2006

Jesus, Mary and Joey

Actor
Sophia Vitello
Movie
2006

The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines

Actor
Margie Carsen
Movie
2006

Away from HerStream

Actor
Marian
Movie
2006
94%

NUMB3RSStream

Guest Star
Series
2005

The Great New Wonderful

Actor
Judie
Movie
2005

3 Needles

Actor
Hilde the Missionary Nun
Movie
2005

Intervention

Actor
Movie
2005

The Thing About My Folks

Actor
Muriel Kleinman
Movie
2005

Center of the Universe

Actor
Marge Barnett
Show
2004

The Librarian: Quest for the Spear

Actor
Margie Carsen
Movie
2004

It's All Relative

Guest Star
Show
2003

Family Doctor

Actor
Rose
Movie
2003

Mafia Doctor

Actor
Rose
Movie
2003

The Event

Actor
Lila
Movie
2003

Guilty Hearts

Actor
Amanda Patterson
Show
2002

My Beautiful Son

Actor
Esther Lipman
Movie
2002

The Intended

Actor
Erina
Movie
2002

Armistead Maupin's Further Tales of the City

Actor
Anna Madrigal
Show
2001

And Never Let Her Go

Actor
Marguerite Capano
Show
2001

Further Tales of the City

Actor
Mrs. Anna Madrigal
Movie
2001

Borough of Kings

Actor
Helen Manners
Movie
2001

Ladies and the Champ

Actor
Sara Stevens
Movie
2001

The Last of the Blonde Bombshells

Actor
Dinah
Movie
2000

Better Living

Actor
Nora
Movie
2000

A Life for a Life: The True Story of Stefan Kiszko

Actor
Show
1999

Law & Order: Special Victims UnitStream

Guest Star
Debby Marsh
Series
1999
78%

Joan of Arc

Actor
Show
1999

Joan of Arc

Actor
Mother Babette
Miniseries
1999

Armistead Maupin's More Tales of the City

Actor
Show
1998

More Tales of the City

Actor
Anna Madrigal
Show
1998

Scattering Dad

Actor
Dotty
Movie
1998

The Pentagon Wars

Actor
Madam Chairwoman
Movie
1998

Mafia!Stream

Actor
Sophia
Movie
1998
14%

Jerusalem

Actor
Mother (Mrs. Gordon)
Show
1997

Milk and Money

Actor
Goneril Plogg
Movie
1997

A Match Made in Heaven

Actor
Helen Rosner
Movie
1997

Picture PerfectStream

Actor
Rita Mosley
Movie
1997
47%

Mother

Actor
Mrs. Jay
Movie
1996

Never Too Late

Actor
Rose
Movie
1996

The Haunted Heart

Actor
Mrs. Jay
Movie
1996

Jerusalem

Actor
Mother (Mrs. Gordon)
Movie
1996

Young at Heart

Actor
Rose Garaventi
Movie
1995

Jeffrey

Actor
Mrs. Marcangelo
Movie
1995

Mighty AphroditeStream

Actor
Jocasta
Movie
1995
78%

Mr. Holland's OpusStream

Actor
Principal Helen Jacobs
Movie
1995
75%

Touched by an AngelStream

Guest Star
Series
1994

A Century of Women

Actor
Show
1994

La Marca de los Asesinos

Actor
Movie
1994

I Love Trouble

Actor
Jeannie
Movie
1994

Dead Badge

Actor
Dr. Doris Rice
Movie
1994

Tales of the CityStream

Actor
Anna Madrigal
Miniseries
1993
100%

FrasierStream

Guest Voice
Caller 3
Series
1993
95%

Look Who's Talking Now

Actor
Rosie
Movie
1993

Digger

Actor
Bea
Movie
1993

Sinatra

Actor
Show
1992

Over the Hill

Actor
Alma Harris
Movie
1992

Sinatra

Actor
Dolly Sinatra
Movie
1992

The Cemetery Club

Actor
Doris Silverman
Movie
1992

Lucky Day

Actor
Katherine Campbell
Movie
1991

Fire in the Dark

Actor
Emily Miller
Movie
1991

In the Spirit

Actor
Sue
Movie
1990

Destinos Cruzados

Actor
Movie
1990

Look Who's Talking Too

Actor
Rosie
Movie
1990

Il y a des jours comme ça

Actor
Movie
1990

The SimpsonsStream

Guest Voice
Zelda
Series
1989
85%

Look Who's TalkingStream

Actor
Rosie
Movie
1989
55%

DadStream

Actor
Bette Tremont
Movie
1989

Steel MagnoliasStream

Actor
Clairee Belcher
Movie
1989
67%

Working GirlStream

Actor
Personnel Director
Movie
1988
83%

MoonstruckStream

Actor
Rose Castorini
Movie
1987
92%

The Equalizer

Guest Star
Judge Paula G. Walsh
Series
1985

King of America

Actor
Mama Nicola
Movie
1982

The IdolmakerStream

Actor
Mrs. Vacarri
Movie
1980
90%

The Wanderers

Actor
Joey's Mom
Movie
1979

The Seagull

Actor
Pauline
Show
1975

The Rehearsal

Actor
Movie
1974

Nicky's World

Actor
Irene Kaminios
Movie
1974

KojakStream

Guest Star
Series
1973

Canada AM

Guest
Show
1972

Made for Each Other

Actor
Gig's Mother
Movie
1971

John and Mary

Actor
John's Mother
Movie
1969
38%

Twice a Man

Actor
Young mother
Movie
1964

Dr. Kildare

Guest Star
Series
1961

Today

Guest
News
1952

News aboutOlympia Dukakis