| Born | Amy Louise Acker December 5, 1976 Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Spouse | James Carpinello (m. 2003–present) |
| Website | |
| www.amyackeronline.com | |
In her junior year of college, Acker enjoyed a short stint of modeling work for the J. Crew clothing catalog. In 1999, she was nominated for a Leon Rabin award for "Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role" for her performance in the play Thérèse Raquin. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in the same year. She worked as a stage actress for several seasons, including a stint at American Players Theatre in Spring Green, Wisconsin.
Career
Acker made her major television debut when she starred as Winifred "Fred" Burkle on the second through fifth seasons of Angel and also as the character of Illyria for part of the show's fifth and final season. She won the 2003 Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television for her portrayal.
In 2005, she joined the cast of Alias for its final season, playing the villainous character Kelly Peyton. Acker graduated from guest star to fully credited cast member as the show entered the final episodes in April and May 2006.
Also in 2005, Acker provided voice acting for the character of Huntress on the animated series Justice League Unlimited.
Acker guest starred on fellow Buffyverse actress Alyson Hannigan's show How I Met Your Mother, in which she was reunited with Angel co-star Alexis Denisof (Hannigan's real-life husband), who had a recurring role on the show.
She portrayed Dr. Claire Saunders/Whiskey, a recurring character on Joss Whedon's Dollhouse. Acker guest starred in ten out of the thirteen episodes of the first season and three episodes of the second season
In 2010, she began to co-star as a series regular in the ABC drama Happy Town, portraying the character Rachel Conroy. She will also co-star in Whedon's upcoming comedy/horror movie The Cabin in the Woods in 2011, which will be her first appearance in a 3-D movie. Also in 2010, she starred in FOX series Human Target Season One finale as the mysterious Katherine Walters. On May 25, 2010 she appeared on CBS's The Good Wife.
Personal life
On April 25, 2003, Acker and actor James Carpinello were married in California. On January 22, 2005 she gave birth to a son, Jackson James Carpinello, and on September 1, 2006 to a daughter, Ava Grace.
Filmography
Movies
Title | Year | Role |
|---|---|---|
| The Accident | 2001 | Nina |
| Groom Lake | 2002 | Kate |
| Catch Me If You Can | 2002 | Miggy |
| The Novice | 2004 | Jill |
| Mr. Dramatic | 2005 | Jodi |
| Crossroads | 2006 | Jill |
| A Near Death Experience | 2008 | Ellie/Elly |
| Fire and Ice: The Dragon Chronicles | 2008 | Princess Luisa |
| 21 and a Wake-Up | 2008 | Caitlin Murphy |
| Sironia | 2010 | Molly |
| The Cabin in the Woods | 2011 | Wendy Lin |
Television
| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wishbone | 1995–1997 | Catherine Morland / Priscilla / Venus | 3 episodes |
| To Serve and Protect | 1999 | Melissa Jorgensen | |
| Special Unit 2 | 2001 | Nancy | 1 episode "The Invisible" |
| Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt | 2003 | Bonney Lindsey (Mrs. Burt Ward) | |
| Angel | 2001-2004 | Winifred "Fred" Burkle / Illyria | 71 episodes |
| Supernatural | 2005 | Andrea Barr | 1 episode "Dead in the Water" |
| Justice League Unlimited | 2005-2006 | Huntress | 4 episodes (voiceover) |
| How I Met Your Mother | 2006 | Penelope | 1 episode "Come On" |
| Alias | 2005-2006 | Kelly Peyton | 13 episodes |
| Drive | 2007 | Kathryn Tully | 3 episodes |
| Law & Order: Criminal Intent | 2007 | Leslie LeZard | 1 episode- "Smile" |
| Ghost Whisperer | 2007 | Tessa | 1 episode - "Weight of What Was" |
| October Road | 2008 | Girl in Blue Uniform / Jenny Bristol | 2 episodes |
| Private Practice | 2008 | Molly | 1 episode - "A Family Thing") |
| Dollhouse | 2009-2010 | Dr. Claire Saunders / Whiskey | 14 episodes |
| Happy Town | 2010 | Rachel Conroy | 8 episodes |
| The Good Wife | 2010 | Trish Arkin | 1 episode - "Running" |
| No Ordinary Family | 2010 | Amanda | 2 episodes |
| CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | 2011 | Sandy Colfax | 1 Episode -"Man up" |
