Annabeth Gish 

While not yet a household name, Annabeth Gish is a prolific actress who has stood out in many television and film roles. The actress who was born Anne Elizabeth Gish on March 13, 1971, has been impressing audiences with her versatility since she was thirteen. For her role in the film Desert Bloom (1986), she gained the compliment of giving a performance “of stunning power” from film critic Roger Ebert. She has been giving similar performances ever since.  Annabeth Gish is the daughter of two university professors, Robert and Judy Gish.

There is an ongoing rumor that she is also the granddaughter of the famous silent film star Lillian Gish, but the rumor is false. Her grandmother’s name is in fact Lillian Gish; however, she is not the film star. Annabeth Gish is the youngest of three children and the only one to go into show business. After her performance in Desert Bloom, Gish had roles in such movies as Mystic Pizza (1989) with a pre-Pretty Woman Julia Roberts, and Shag with Bridget Fonda. No doubt influenced by the academic nature of her home life, Annabeth Gish then took four years off to attend Duke University where she earned her BA in English and minored in Women’s Studies.  After completing her degree, Annabeth Gish returned to acting with roles in the western movie Wyatt Earp (1994) and the TV mini-series Scarlet. She has had a steady string of acting roles ever since. She has had supporting roles in movies such as Nixon (1995), Beautiful Girls (1996), Double Jeopardy (1999), and Buying the Cow (2002).  

However, Annabeth Gish is probably most recognized for her television work over the past decade. In 2001 she joined the cast of the science fiction classic The X-Files as Special Agent Monica Reyes. It was intended that she take over as the lead actress when Gillian Anderson left the show, but that never occurred. Gish also had a recurring role as Martin Sheen’s oldest daughter in the critically acclaimed television show The West Wing. Other television credits include guest appearances on Chicago Hope and CSI: Miami.  

In October of 2003, Annabeth Gish married stuntman and fight trainer Wade Allen. Allen has trained Angelina Jolie and Leonardo DiCaprio for film roles they must fight in, and he has also been a stunt man himself in movies such as Terminator 3, Troy, Batman Begins, and Mission Impossible III. The couple has no children. Annabeth Gish currently is involved with several projects.

 In 2006 she filmed Desperation, a TV mini-series based on some of Stephen King’s writings. She is also starring in the Showtime’s television series Brotherhood, which debuted in the summer of 2006. Her latest film, Mojave Phone Booth, is currently in post-production and will be released in late 2006 or early 2007.