Patricia Clarkson   

Known for her impressive range of emotion and roles, Patricia Clarkson is considered a desirable character actor who is continually challenging herself in both role choice and genre.

Patricia Davies Clarkson was born December 29, 1959 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her mother was Jackie Clarkson, and her father was Arthur Clarkson, a politician and school administrator respectively. Clarkson pursued acting at Fordham University before obtaining her Masters of Fine Arts at the Yale School of Drama.

After appearing briefly in several television episodes, she made her big screen debut in 1987 with the highly popular Brian De Palma film, The Untouchables. Beginning with some of the biggest names in acting, she costarred with Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Andy Garcia, and Robert De Niro.

Although the film was incredibly successful and Clarkson received a lot of commercial attention, she did not break into the mainstream until the mid-90s. She worked steadily, punctuating her time with standout performances such as that in Pharaoh’s Army opposite Chris Cooper and Kris Kristofferson, but the roles tended to be more artistic, independent, and less commercial. While this was a good stretch for her acting skills, it did little to help her star status.

That changed, however, in 1995. Taking a role in the children’s fantasy comedy Jumanji, Clarkson finally earned a highly commercial role. The film’s success was aided by a stellar cast including Robin Williams, Kirsten Dunst, Bonnie Hunt, Bebe Neuwirth, and David Alan Grier. 1995 also proved a profitable year for Clarkson when she won a twenty-episode stint on the television drama Murder One with costars Mary McCormack, Stanley Tucci, and Vanessa Williams.

Quickly returning to the independent genre, 1998 brought the Ally Sheedy and Radha Mitchell film High Art. Opting for ensemble pieces as well, her comedy Playing by Heart contained an impressive cast list, including Angelina Jolie, Gena Rowlands, Gillian Anderson, Madeleine Stowe, Anthony Edwards, Ellen Burstyn, Jay Mohr, and others.

Clarkson won wide acclaim for her role in the Stephen King adaptation of The Green Mile with Tom Hanks and Michael Clarke Duncan, as well as Far From Heaven with leads Julieanne Moore and Dennis Quaid.

But it was 2003 that would really prove to be her breakout year. The successful run began with All the Real Girls, a touching and hauntingly real film starring Paul Schneider, Zooey Deschanel, and Shea Whigham. She followed with her Oscar nominated performance in Pieces of April opposite Katie Holmes and Oliver Platt. She also pleased her independent fans with a starring role in The Station Agent and a supporting part in the dark melodrama Dogville with all star cast Nicole Kidman, Lauren Bacall, Paul Bettany, James Caan, and Philip Baker Hall.

Adding to her accolades, she won an Emmy in 2002 and again in 2006 for her guest spot on the television series Six Feet Under.

Establishing herself as a talented and desired character actor, Clarkson also took part in Good Night, and Good Luck, All the King’s Men, and No Reservations.

In her personal life, Clarkson is rumored to have dated fellow actor Campbell Scott. She has never been married, nor does she have any children.