Amy Frederica Brenneman (born June 22, 1964) is a
Golden Globe- and
Emmy-nominated
American actress, perhaps best known for her roles in the television series
NYPD Blue,
Judging Amy and
Private Practice.
Early life
Brenneman was born in
New London, Connecticut, the daughter of Frederica S., a judge of the Connecticut State
Superior Court, and Russell L. Brenneman, an environmental lawyer.
[Amy Brenneman Biography (1964-)][Amy Brenneman Biography - Yahoo! Movies] Brenneman was raised in
Glastonbury, Connecticut, where she participated in theatre as a teenager, both in school and with a local theater group. She graduated from
Harvard University, where she majored in
comparative religion, in 1987. While at Harvard, she co-founded
Cornerstone Theatre Company, which she traveled with for several years after graduation.
[Julia Collins, "Brennemans on the Bench," Harvard Law School Alumni Bulletin.]
Career
In her first major television role, Brenneman played
mob-connected uniform officer
Janice Licalsi on the police
drama NYPD Blue. Her
story arc, which included a romantic relationship with
David Caruso's character, ran through the show's first season (1993–1994) and the first few episodes of the second season. She was nominated for an
Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 1994 and for
Outstanding Guest Actress the following year.