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The American actress Laura San Giacomo, is perhaps best known for her appearance in the films “Sex, Lies, and Videotape” and “Pretty Woman”, and the TV sitcom series “Just Shoot Me!”
Age, Early Life, and Education Background
Laura San Giacomo hails from West Orange, New Jersey, and was born under the Scorpio zodiac sign on 14 November 1962, which makes her 60 years old as of mid-2023. She is the only child of the paper mill owner,John San Giacomo and his wife MaryJo San Giacomo; Laura is of Italian roots.
San Giacomo attended Morris Knolls High School, situated in Denville, New Jersey. She matriculated to Washington College, and later sharpened her acting skills at Carnegie Mellon School, Pittsburgh, from where she graduated with a Fine Arts degree in 1984.
Hobbies and Interest
Laura is a philanthropist who is keen on donating to charities that focus on children’s education and well-being. She’s the founder of CHIME Charter Elementary School, which is devoted to teaching children with developmental issues. For her philanthropic efforts, Laura has been honored by the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM) and Shane’s Inspiration, with their Humanitarian Award. In 2021, she was named a Board Secretary of the wheelchair-charity organization, Momentum Wheels for Humanity.
The “Sex, Lies, and Videotape” starlet is a fitness fanatic, who hits the gym frequently to maintain her body. She’s also very keen on her diet.
She loves outdoor adventures and is a big fan of riding horses, and is an ice-skater.
The New Jersey actress is also a sports fan who likes playing tennis and golf.
She also likes ballet dancing, and playing the piano.
Career Beginnings and Stage Appearances
After her graduation, San Giacomo relocated to New York where she appeared in various stage plays, including “Wrong Turn at Lung Fish,” “Italian American Reconciliation,” “The Tempest,” and “Romeo and Juliet,” among others.
TV Appearances
Laura made her TV debut as Sharon in an episode of the crime drama “Spenser: For Hire.” Subsequently, she made one-episode appearances in various TV series in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, and from 1994 to 1997, Laura voiced Fox in the Walt Disney TV Animation series “Gargoyles.”
She rose to stardom for her portrayal of the sassy and hot-tempered journalist Maya Gallo, in the NBC TV sitcom series “Just Shoot Me!” from 1997 to 2003, sharing the screen with David Spade, Wendie Malick and George Segal, who played her father. She appeared in all seven seasons, 148 episodes of the series, and received a Satellite Award nomination for her performance in 2001.
After the end of her stint in “Just Shoot Me!” Laura went on to appear in an episode or two of various comedies and animated series. In 2006, she landed the recurring role of Harmony Chase in the teen mystery drama “Veronica Mars”, and in the year that followed, she landed another recurring role, as Rhetta Rodriguez in the TNT crime drama “Saving Grace.” She appeared in the series for three years and shared the screen with Holly Hunter, Kenny Johnson, and Bailey Chase. Laura’s next notable roles were in the police procedural show “NCIS” (2016-2022) and the drama “Animal Kingdom” (2017-2018).
Film Appearances
Laura made her film debut with an uncredited role in the 1988 action thriller “Miles from Home.” In the year that followed, she landed one of the most important roles in her career, in the Steven Soderbergh-written and directed drama “Sex, Lies, and Videotape.” The 1989 film follows the story of Ann Mullany (played by Andie McDowell), who is trapped in an emotionally and sexually unfulfilling marriage with her husband, John Mullany (portrayed by Peter Gallagher), an accomplished but unpleasant attorney who is having an affair with her sister, Cynthia Bishop (San Giacomo). Tension rises when Graham Dalton (James Spader), a friend of her husband, returns to town and records Ann and her sister as they speak about their fantasies and sexualities. San Giacomo received numerous awards for her performance in the film, which had a box office collection of over $35 million against a budget of $1.2 million.
#Barry and #NCIS actress Laura San Giacomo has joined the upcoming Disney+ The Santa Clause series as a Christmas Witch. https://t.co/vROISnbGJS pic.twitter.com/gm8IgfpdXo
— Nerdist (@nerdist) August 8, 2022
Laura was seen in various other films in the ‘90s and early 2000s, before she appeared in the 2005 comedy “Checking Out,” which earned her a Palm Beach International Film Festival Award in the category of Best Actress. She appeared in five more films in the late 2000s and 2010s – her most recent appearance was in the 2021 drama “Violet.”
Awards and Nominations
As of mid-2023, San Giacomo has won six out of the 12 awards she has been nominated for. Her performance in “Sex, Lies, and Videotape” has seen her win two Chicago Film Critics Association Awards in 1990, a Film Independent Spirit Award in the same year, and a Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award in 1989, among others. Her performance in the same film saw her nominated for various awards including a BAFTA for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in 1990.
Personal Life
San Giacomo has married twice. In 1990, she walked the aisle with the American singer and actor, Cameron Dye, who is possibly best known for his appearance in the 1983 movie “Valley Girl.” The couple welcomed a son named Mason in 1996, born with cerebral palsy, which causes speech and physical development-related challenges. In 2016, San Giacomo appeared in the chat show “Oprah: Where Are They Now,” in which she stated, ‘Disability is natural. It has always been. It always will be. It’s part of the world and it’s part of life.’ She admitted that it’s her son who inspired her to begin working with charity organizations that help children living with learning disabilities. Laura and Cameron divorced in 1998.
Two years later, Laura exchanged vows with the American actor Matt D. Adler, who is best known for playing supporting roles in various teen movies in the ‘80s, including “White Water Summer,” “Dream a Little Dream,” and “Teen Wolf.” Adler was previously married to the American director and actress, Ria Pavia.
Laura is the cousin of the percussionist, Torry H. Castellano, who played drums for The Donnas rock band before she retired in 2010.
Height, Weight, and Physical Appearance
San Giacomo is White and has a pair of dark brown eyes and long light brown hair. She is slimly built, weighs around 130lbs (59kgs), is 5ft 2ins (1.57m) tall, with vital statistics of 39-25-35 – she wears dress and shoe sizes 4(US) and 6(US) respectively.
Net Worth
Laura has assumed starring roles in various hit films and TV series, which has made her famous and fairly wealthy. She is worth at least $4 million, as of 2023.
