Elizabeth Perkins

Birth Date:

November 18, 1960

Birth Name:

Elizabeth Ann Perkins

Birth Place:

Queens, New York, USA

Nick Name:

Mother

Film Debut:

About Last Night 1986

Breakthrough Film:

Big 1988

Biography

Elizabeth Perkins is an American actress whose career has spanned film, television, and theatre for more than four decades. She was born on November 18, 1960, in Queens, New York City, and was raised in Massachusetts after her parents divorced. Her father, James Perkins, was a businessman, farmer, and writer, while her mother, Jo Williams, was a concert pianist and drug treatment counselor. Perkins studied acting at the Goodman School of Drama at DePaul University in Chicago before moving to New York, where she developed her stage career. She made her Broadway debut in Neil Simon’s Brighton Beach Memoirs in 1984 and subsequently performed with several respected theatre companies.

Perkins made her film debut in 1986 as Joan in About Last Night…, a romantic comedy starring Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, and James Belushi. She followed the film with appearances in From the Hip and Sweet Hearts Dance before achieving her major film breakthrough in the 1988 comedy Big. In the movie, she played Susan Lawrence, a young woman who becomes romantically involved with Tom Hanks’ character. The success of Big significantly raised her profile and led to a series of prominent film roles. During the following years, Perkins appeared in Avalon, The Doctor, He Said, She Said, Indian Summer, The Flintstones, and Miracle on 34th Street, demonstrating her versatility across comedy, drama, and family entertainment.

In addition to her film career, Perkins became an accomplished television actress. She appeared in numerous television movies and miniseries before taking on one of her best-known roles as Celia Hodes in the Showtime comedy-drama series Weeds. Her performance earned her multiple award nominations and introduced her work to a new generation of viewers. Perkins has also appeared in programs including How to Get Away with Murder, This Is Us, GLOW, Sharp Objects, Truth Be Told, and The Morning Show. She has provided voice work for animated productions, including Finding Nemo, and has continued balancing film, television, and theatre throughout her career. Her performances have made her a familiar and respected figure in American entertainment.

Movie Portfolio