Dukakis, Olympia 1931–

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DUKAKIS, Olympia 1931

PERSONAL

Born June 20 (some sources say June 21), 1931, in Lowell, MA; daughter of Constantine S. (a manager) and Alexandra (maiden name, Christos) Dukakis; sister of Apollo Dukakis (an actress); cousin of Michael Dukakis (a politician); married Louis Zorich (an actor), December 5, 1962; children: Christina, Peter, Stefan. Education: Sargent College, Boston University, B.A., physical therapy, 1953; Boston University, M.F.A., acting, 1957.

Addresses: Agent William Morris Agency, 151 El Camino Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90212. Manager Parseghian/Planco Management, 23 East 22nd St., Suite 3, New York, NY 10010.

Career: Actress and director. Charles Street Playhouse, Boston, MA, founder, 1957, member of company, 195760; Whole Theatre Company, Upper Montclair, NJ, founder, 1976, artistic director, director, and member of company, 197690; Edgartown Summer Theatre, Edgartown, MA, founding member; Voice of the Earth (theatre company), founding member; Williamstown Theatre Festival, Williamstown, MA, associate director. New York University, instructor, 196770, master teacher, 197483; Yale University, New Haven, CT, acting instructor, 1976. Member of the Adaptors Movement Theatre Company, Dear Knows Company, and the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Democratic National Convention, delegate, 1988. Previously worked as a physical therapist at the Hospital for Contagious Diseases, Boston, MA, and a hospital in Marmet, WV, and as a fundraiser.

Member: Actors' Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Broadway Cares, New Jersey Choice.

Awards, Honors: Obie Awards, 1963, for A Man's a Man, and 1985, for The Marriage of Bette and Boo; Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, New York Film Critics Award, Los Angeles Film Critics Award, National Board of Review Award, and Film Award, British Academy of Film and Television Arts, all best supporting actress, and American Comedy Award, funniest supporting female, all 1988, for Moonstruck; CableACE Award, 1991, for "The Last Act Is a Solo," General Motors Playwrights Theatre; Emmy Award nomination, outstanding supporting actress in a special or miniseries, 1991, for "Lucky Day," ABC Theatre; Golden Globe Award nomination, best supporting actress in a series, miniseries, or television movie, 1992, for Sinatra; TV Award nomination, best actress, British Academy of Film and Television Arts, 1994, for Tales of the City; Emmy Award nomination and Screen Actors Guild Award nomination, both outstanding lead actress in a miniseries or movie, 1998, Screen Actors Guild Award nomination, outstanding performance by a female actor in a TV movie or miniseries, Golden Satellite Award nomination, best performance by an actress in a miniseries or motion picture made for television, 1999, all for More Tales of the City; Emmy Award nomination, outstanding supporting actress in a miniseries or movie, 1999, for Joan of Arc; honorary doctorate, Boston University, 2000; Outer Critics Circle Award, outstanding solo performance, Drama Desk Award nomination, best solo performance, 2000, both for Rose; Grand Jury Award, L.A. Outfest, outstanding actress in a feature film, 2003, Genie Award nomination, best performance by an actress in a supporting role, 2004, both for The Event.

CREDITS

Film Appearances:

Young mother and commentator, Twice a Man, Gregory J. Markopoulous, 1964.

Patient, Lilith, Columbia, 1964.

John's mother, John and Mary, Twentieth CenturyFox, 1969.

(Uncredited) Stiletto, AvcoEmbassy, 1969.

Gig's mother, Made for Each Other, Twentieth Century Fox, 1971.

(Uncredited) Louise Wilanski, bakery shop employee "2, Sisters (also known as Blood Sisters ), American International Pictures, 1973.

(Uncredited) Cop at the precinct, Death Wish, Paramount, 1974.

The Rehearsal (also known as I dokimi ), 1974.

Lawyer, Rich Kids, United Artists, 1979.

Joey's mother, The Wanderers, Orion, 1979.

Mrs. Vacarri, The Idolmaker, United Artists, 1980.

Helena Naxos, "Success Wanters," National Lampoon Goes to the Movies (also known as National Lampoon's Movie Madness ), United Artists, 1981.

Mary Flanagan, Flanagan (also known as Walls of Glass ), United Film Distributors, 1985.

Rose Castorini, Moonstruck, MetroGoldwynMayer, 1987.

Personnel director, Working Girl, Twentieth Century Fox, 1988.

Bette Tremont, Dad, Universal, 1989.

Rosie, Look Who's Talking (also known as Daddy's Home ), TriStar, 1989.

Claire Belcher, Steel Magnolias, TriStar, 1989.

Sue, In the Spirit, Castle Hill, 1990.

Rosie, Look Who's Talking Too, TriStar, 1990.

Doris Silverman, The Cemetery Club (also known as Looking for a Live One ), Buena Vista, 1993.

Rosie, Look Who's Talking Now, TriStar, 1993.

Alma Harris, Over the Hill (also known as Round the Bend ), New Line Home Video, 1993.

Jeannie, Peter's secretary, I Love Trouble, Buena Vista, 1994.

Bea, Digger, August Entertainment, 1994.

(Uncredited) Herself, Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult, 1994.

Mrs. Jay, Mother (also known as The Haunted Heart ), Overseas Film Group, 1995.

Mrs. Marcangelo, Jeffrey, Orion, 1995.

Jocasta, Mighty Aphrodite, Miramax, 1995.

Dead Badge, Cabin Fever Entertainment, 1995.

Principal Jacobs, Mr. Holland's Opus, Buena Vista, 1995.

Dr. Doris Rice, Dead Badge, Cabin Fever Entertainment, 1995.

Mrs. Gordon (mother), Jerusalem, First Look Pictures Releasing, 1996.

Rita Mosley, Picture Perfect, Twentieth CenturyFox, 1997.

Rose, Never Too Late, Allegro Distribution, 1997.

Goneril Plogg, Milk & Money, 1997.

Sophia, Jane Austen's Mafia (also known as Mafia! ), Buena Vista, 1998.

Charlotte Kiszko, A Life for a Life, 1998.

Narrator, Climb against the Odds (documentary), 1999.

Helen Manners, Brooklyn Sonnet (also known as Borough of Kings ), Avenue R Films, 2000.

Nora, Better Living, Goldheart Pictures, 2000.

Herself, The Papp Project (documentary), 2001.

Erina, The Intended, IFC Films, 2002.

Lila Shapiro, The Event, ThinkFilm, 2003.

Charlie, Charlie's War, 2003.

Sophia Vitello, Jesus, Mary and Joey, 2003.

Television Appearances; Series:

Dr. Barbara Moreno, Search for Tomorrow, NBC, 19831984.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

Anna Madrigal, "Tales of the City" (also known as "Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City"), Channel 4, 1993, then broadcast on American Playhouse, PBS, 1994.

Family member, A Century of Women (also known as A Family of Women ), TBS, 1994.

Anna Madrigal, More Tales of the City (also known as Armistead Maupin's More Tales of the City ), Show-time, 1998.

Mother Babette, Joan of Arc (also known as Jeanne d'Arc ), CBS, 1999.

Marguerite Capano, And Never Let Her Go, CBS, 2001.

Mrs. Anna Madrigal, Further Tales of the City (also known as Armistead Maupin's Further Tales of the City ), Showtime, 2001.

Amanda Patterson, Guilty Hearts, CSB, 2002.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Irene Kaminios, Nicky's World, CBS, 1974.

F.D.R.the Last Year, NBC, 1980.

Emily Miller, Fire in the Dark (also known as Aging Parent ), CBS, 1991.

Dolly Sinatra, Sinatra (also known as The Frank Sinatra Story ), CBS, 1992.

Rose Garaventi, Young at Heart (also known as Hoboken ), CBS, 1995.

Helen Rossi, A Match Made in Heaven, CBS, 1997.

Madam Chairwoman, The Pentagon Wars, HBO, 1998.

Dotty, Scattering Dad, CBS, 1998.

Dinah, The Last of the Blonde Bombshells, HBO and BBC, 2000.

Sara Stevens, Ladies and the Champ, ABC, 2001.

Esther Lipman, My Beautiful Son (also known as Strange Relations ), Showtime, 2001.

Rose Dellarusso, Mafia Doctor, CBS, 2003.

Mrs. Anna Madrigal, Babycakes (also known as Armistead Maupin's Babycakes ), CBS, 2003.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Pauline, The Seagull, PBS, 1975.

Mama Nicola, "King of America," American Playhouse, PBS, 1982.

America Picks the AllTime Favorite Movies, 1988.

Laura Cunningham, "The Last Act Is a Solo," General Motors Playwrights Theatre, Arts and Entertainment, 1991.

Katherine Campbell, "Lucky Day," ABC Theatre, ABC, 1991.

Host, Cured! Secrets of Alternative Healing (also known as Miracle Cures ), NBC, 1994.

The Greek Americans (documentary), PBS, 1998.

Narrator, A Paralyzing Fear: The Story of Polio in America (documentary), PBS, 1998.

Intimate Portrait: Olympia Dukakis, Lifetime, 1999.

Narrator, Crimes of Honour (documentary; also known as Crimes of Honor ), Cinemax, 2000.

Herself, Still Cher (documentary), BBC, 2002.

Narrator, The Armenians: A Story of Survival (documentary), PBS, 2002.

(In archive footage) Rose Castorini, Cher: The Farewell Tour, NBC, 2003.

Television Appearances; Awards Presentations:

The 60th Annual Academy Awards Presentation, ABC, 1988.

The Second Annual American Comedy Awards, 1988.

The 15th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1989.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

The Neighborhood (also known as Breslin's Neighbor-hood ), NBC, 1982.

Rachel's Dinner, 1991.

Diana Trent, Heaven Will Wait, CBS, 1997.

Center of the Universe, CBS, 2004.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Ioana Chiriac, "Frieda," The Nurses, CBS, 1962.

Anna Nieves, "The Legacy," Dr. Kildare, NBC, 1962.

One of the Boys, NBC, 1982.

Judge Paula G. Walsh, "Shades of Darkness," The Equalizer, CBS, 1986.

Clara, "A Joyful Noise," Touched by an Angel, CBS, 1996.

Herself, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, 1997.

Herself, Ruby, BBC, 1999.

Herself, So Graham Norton, Channel 4, 2001.

Voice of Zelda, "The Old Man and the Key," The Simpsons (animated), Fox, 2002.

Voice, "Frasier Has Spokane," Frasier, NBC, 2002.

Colleen O'Neil, "Thanks, But No Thanks," It's All Relative, ABC, 2003.

Herself, The View, ABC, 2003.

Also appeared in CBS Workshop, CBS; The Ed Sullivan Show (also known as Toast of the Town ), CBS; The Universe.

Stage Appearances:

Madelena, The Breaking Wall, St. Mark's Playhouse, New York City, 1960.

The New Tenant, Royal Playhouse, New York City, 1960.

The Opening of a Window, Theatre Marquee, New York City, 1961.

The Aspern Papers, Playhouse Theatre, New York City, 1962.

Widow Leocadia Begbick, A Man's a Man, Masque Theatre, New York City, 1962.

Mary Tyrone, Long Day's Journey into Night, McCarter Theatre, Princeton, NJ, 1962.

Henriette, Crime and Crime, Cricket Theatre, New York City, 1963.

Anne Dowling, Abraham Cochrane, Belasco Theatre, New York City, 1964.

Chrysothemis, Electra, New York Shakespeare Festival, Delacorte Theatre, New York City, 1964.

Six Characters in Search of an Author, Charles Street Playhouse, Boston, MA, 1964.

The Rose Tattoo, Studio Arena Theatre, Buffalo, NY, 1964.

Madonna Irma, The Balcony, Charles Street Playhouse, 1967.

Gertrude, Hamlet, Charles Street Playhouse, 1967.

Mother Courage, Mother Courage and Her Children, Charles Street Playhouse, 1967.

Tamora, Titus Andronicus, New York Shakespeare Festival, Delacorte Theatre, 1967.

Mrs. BethnalGreen, the mother, Stepney Green, and Debden, Father Uxbridge Wants to Marry, American Place Theatre, Theatre at St. Clement's Church, New York City, 1967.

Helena, The Memorandum, Public Theatre, New York City, 1968.

Ingrid, Peer Gynt, Delacorte Theatre, 1969.

Goya, Baba Goya, American Place Theatre, New York City, 1973, produced as Nourish the Beast, Cherry Lane Theatre, New York City, 1973.

Ilse, Who's Who in Hell, LuntFontanne Theatre, New York City, 1974.

The Rose Tattoo, Whole Theatre, Upper Montclair, NJ, 1976.

Title role, Mother Ryan, New Dramatists Theatre, New York City, 1977.

Ella, Curse of the Starving Class, Public Theatre, 1978.

Nurse Ratched, One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest, Whole Theatre, 1978, also produced at the Delaware Summer Festival.

Madame Ranevskaya, The Cherry Orchard, Whole Theatre, 1981.

Filumena, Snow Orchid, Circle Repertory Company, New York City, 1982.

Blithe Spirit, Whole Theatre, 1984.

Ghosts, Whole Theatre, 1985.

Soot Hudlocke, The Marriage of Bette and Boo, New York Shakespeare Festival, Public Theatre, 1985.

Sophie Greengrass, Social Security, Ethel Barrymore Theatre, New York City, 1986.

The Seagull, Whole Theatre, 1986.

Better Living, Whole Theatre, 1989.

Happy Days, Whole Theatre, 19891990.

Host, Babes in Arms, State Theatre, New Brunswick, NJ, 1990.

Countess Wilhelmena Leach, The Hope Zone, Trinity Repertory Company, Upstairs Theatre, Providence, RI, 1991.

Title role, Hecuba, American Conservatory Theatre, San Francisco, CA, 1995.

Countess Wilhelmena Leach, The Hope Zone, Circle Repertory Theatre, 19951996.

Grace, Singer's Boy, Geary Theater, San Francisco, CA, 1997.

Queen Lear, The Lear Project, Orpheum Theater, Fox-borough, MA, 1998.

Breathe Normally, Margaret Jenkins Dance Co., Joyce Theater, New York, NY, 1999.

(London debut) Title role, Rose, Royal National Theatre, London, 1999, then Lyceum Theatre, New York City, 2000.

Petra Karagy, Credible Witness, London, 2001.

The Cherry Orchard, Golden Bough Playhouse, Carmel, CA, 2001.

A Mother, American Conservatory Theatre, 20032004.

Clytemnestra, Agamemnon, Aquila Theatre Company, John Jay College Theater, New York City, 2004.

Also appeared as Mrs. ClevedenBrooks, Outward Bound, produced in Rangeley, ME; appeared in the Whole Theatre productions of The Trojan Women and Waiting for Godot; appeared in King of America and The Night of the Iguana; appeared in summer productions at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, Williamstown, MA, and with the Second City Company.

Major Tours:

Toured with the Phoenix Theatre Company, U.S. cities, 1960.

Stage Director:

One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest, Whole Theatre, Upper Montclair, NJ, 1978, also produced at the Delaware Summer Festival.

Talley's Folly, Whole Theatre, 1984.

Social Security, Ethel Barrymore Theatre, New York City, 1986.

Also directed Arms and the Man, The House of Bernarda Alba, Orpheus Descending, Uncle Vanya, and U.S.A., all Whole Theatre; Six Characters in Search of an Author and A Touch of the Poet, both Williamstown Theatre Festival, Williamstown, MA; and Kennedy's Children, Commonwealth Stage.

WRITINGS

Stage Writings:

Adapted plays for the Whole Theatre Company, Upper Montclair, NJ, including Edith Stein, The House of Bernarda Alba, Mother Courage and Her Children, The Trojan Women, and Uncle Vanya.

Books:

(With Emily Heckman; memoir) Ask Me Again Tomorrow: A Life in Progress, HarperCollins, 2003.

OTHER SOURCES

Books:

Newsmakers 1996, Issue 4, Gale, 1996.

Periodicals:

American Theatre, September, 1995, p. 10.

People Weekly, October 5, 1992, p. 123; March 11, 1996, p. 116.

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