Felicity Huffman Bio

This Felicity Huffman biography contains information believed to be accurate as extracted from sources around the internet including Wikipedia. If you believe there are errors or omissions in this Felicity Huffman bio, please let us know so that we can correct any inaccuracies.

Felicity Huffman Pictures

The Putney School

New York University Occupation
Actress, director Years active
1978-present Spouse
William H. Macy (1997-present) Children
2

Felicity Kendall Huffman (born December 9, 1962) is an American film, stage, and television actress. She is known for her role as executive producer Dana Whitaker on the ABC television show Sports Night (1998-2000), which earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination, and as hectic supermom Lynette Scavo on the ABC show Desperate Housewives (2004-2012), which has earned her an Emmy Award.

In 2005, her critically acclaimed role as a trans woman in the independent film Transamerica earned her a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination. She has also starred in films such as Reversal of Fortune, The Spanish Prisoner, Magnolia, Path to War, Georgia Rule and Phoebe in Wonderland.

Felicity Huffman: Early life

Huffman was born in Bedford, New York, the daughter of Grace Valle (née Ewing), an actress, and Moore Peters Huffman, a banker and partner at Morgan Stanley. Her parents divorced a year after her birth, and she was raised mostly by her mother. She has six sisters (Mariah, Betsy, Jane, Grace, Isabel, Jessie) and a brother (Moore Jr.). She attended The Putney School, a private boarding high school in Putney, Vermont and graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan in 1980. After high school she went on to New York University where she graduated in 1984 from Circle In The Square, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama.

Felicity Huffman: Career

Huffman started her career in theater in the early eighties. In 1988, she debuted on Broadway in the title role in the formulation Speed the Plow. In the same year, she began her career in film, she starred in the roles of the second plan in the movies Things Change and Lip service.

In 1991, she played her first leading role on the television mini-series based on the novel by Stephen King's Golden Years. In 1997, she starred in the film The Spanish Prisoner. From 1998 to 2000, she played a lead role in the critically acclaimed series Sports Night, for which she received several awards and nominations, including a Golden Globe.

On television, she starred as Dana Whitaker in the dramedy Sports Night, and has had guest starring roles on Frasier, The X-Files, The West Wing, Early Edition, and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.

Huffman at the The Heart Truth in 2010.

After completion of the show, she gave birth to her first child and returned to work. She starred in a controversial statement about the proximity of women in the Boston Marriage and other theatrical productions. In 2001, she made a pilot of the TV series Heart Department for the CBS. In 2002, she played Lady Bird Johnson in the HBO movie Path to War. In 2001, she appeared in the made for TV movie Snap Decision with Mare Winningham. Huffman has appeared in films such as Raising Helen and Christmas with the Kranks. In 2003, she starred in Showtime's miniseries Out of Order.

Huffman won an Emmy for her work on Desperate Housewives (Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series), as well as two 2006 Screen Actors Guild Awards (Best Actress - Comedy Series and part of Best Ensemble - Comedy Series). Huffman's performance in the film Transamerica was praised by many critics and garnered her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress as well as nominations for the Best Actress (Screen Actors Guild) and Best Actress (Academy Awards). Huffman is now a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Huffman is also the co-author of the self-help book, A Practical Handbook for the Boyfriend.

She played in dramedy Georgia Rule in 2007, and the independent drama Phoebe in Wonderland in 2008.

Huffman and her husband William H. Macy each received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on March 7, 2012.

She made a film, Lesster, as a writer, director and actress in 2010. In 2012, Huffman plays in the film Come Back to Sorrento directed by David Mamet, and features in the drama Keep Coming Back with William H. Macy. A report in November 2010 suggested that Huffman, along with co-star Teri Hatcher, would be quitting Desperate Housewives, but ABC denied the claim.

Felicity Huffman: Personal life

Huffman with William H. Macy at a ceremony for each to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in March 2012

Huffman is married to actor William H. Macy, with whom she has two daughters, Sophie Grace (born August 1, 2000) and Georgia Grace (born March 14, 2002). They married on September 6, 1997. She has appeared on television, in movies, and on stage many times with her husband, on the TV show Sports Night and in the movie Magnolia.

In 2005, Huffman revealed that she had suffered from both anorexia and bulimia in her late teens and twenties.

Huffman identifies as pro-choice, and has been seen campaigning for women's rights on behalf of NARAL. She also identifies as a Democrat.

Felicity Huffman: Theatre

Felicity Huffman: Other awards and nominations

OBIE Award