Amy Acker Bio

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Amy Louise Acker (born December 5, 1976) is an American actress. She is best known for her roles on the Joss Whedon television series Angel, portraying Winifred Burkle and the demon Illyria, along with her recurring role as Kelly Peyton in the 5th season on the television drama Alias which she was promoted to the main cast in the 2nd half of the season. She currently appears as Dr. Claire Saunders on the TV series Dollhouse, also created by Whedon. She will be starring in the upcoming ABC series Happy Town.

Amy Acker: Career

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 Thérí¨se 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.

Acker appeared 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. 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, a daughter, Ava Grace. In 2005, she joined the cast of Alias for its final season, playing the villainous Kelly Peyton. Acker graduated from guest star to fully credited cast member as the show entered the final episodes in April and May 2006.

Acker guest starred on fellow Buffyverse actress Alyson Hannigan's new 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 currently portrays Dr. Claire Saunders/Whiskey, a recurring character on Whedon's Dollhouse. She also co-stars in the upcoming ABC drama Happy Town.