Aidan Quinn - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/Aidan_Quinn
Aidan Quinn
Aidan Quinn (born March 8, 1959)[1] is an Irish-
American actor. He made his film debut in Aidan Quinn
Reckless (1984), and has starred in over 80
feature films, including Desperately Seeking
Susan (1985), The Mission (1986), Stakeout
(1987), All My Sons (1987), Avalon (1990), The
Handmaid's Tale (1990), Benny & Joon (1993),
Legends of the Fall (1994), Mary Shelley's
Frankenstein (1994), Michael Collins (1996),
Practical Magic (1998), Song for a Raggy Boy
(2003), Wild Child (2008) and Unknown (2011).
He also played Captain Thomas "Tommy"
Gregson on the CBS television series Elementary
(2012–19).
Quinn has received two Primetime Emmy Award
nominations for his performances in the
television films An Early Frost (1985) and Bury
My Heart at Wounded Knee (2007). Highly active
in Irish cinema as well as in the United States,
Quinn at the premiere of Handsome Harry at
Quinn is a four-time Irish Film and Television
the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival
(IFTA) Award nominee, winning Best Supporting
Born March 8, 1959
Actor in a Film for the Conor McPherson film The
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Eclipse (2009).
Occupation Actor
Years active 1979–present
Early life Spouse Elizabeth Bracco (m. 1987)
Children 2
Quinn was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Irish
Catholic parents.[2][3] He was raised in Chicago
and Rockford, Illinois, as well as in Dublin and Birr, County Offaly, Ireland. His mother, Teresa,
was a homemaker, but also worked as a bookkeeper and in the travel business, and his father,
Michael Quinn, was a professor of English literature at Rock Valley College.[4][5][6] When he
was nineteen and working as a roofer, Quinn realized he wanted to become an actor. He trained
at the Piven Theatre Workshop.[7][8]
He has three brothers and a sister. His older brother, Declan Quinn, is a cinematographer, and
his younger sister, Marian, is an actress, director and writer.[9] His brother Paul, an actor and
director, died in 2015 at the age of 55.[10]
Career
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Aidan Quinn - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aidan_Quinn
His first significant film role was in Reckless, followed by a breakthrough role in Desperately
Seeking Susan as the character "Dez" (the love interest of the character played by Rosanna
Arquette). Quinn next starred in the controversial television film An Early Frost, about a young
gay lawyer dying of AIDS (it was broadcast on NBC on November 11, 1985, and co-starred Gena
Rowlands, Ben Gazzara and Sylvia Sidney). He received his first Emmy Award nomination for
the role. He made a short, well received[11][12] contribution as Robert De Niro's brother in The
Mission. He played escaped convict Richard "Stick" Montgomery in the action comedy Stakeout
opposite Richard Dreyfuss and Emilio Estevez.
In 1988, Quinn lost the role of Jesus Christ when Paramount Pictures dropped the distribution
rights to the Martin Scorsese movie The Last Temptation of Christ. When Universal Pictures
picked up the film, the role went to Willem Dafoe. In the meantime, Quinn starred as the
protagonist in the film Crusoe, finished in 1989.
During the 1990s, he appeared in Legends of the Fall, Benny & Joon, The Handmaid's Tale,
Haunted and Practical Magic. He also starred in Michael Collins, Song for a Raggy Boy, This
Is My Father, and Evelyn. He had a cameo appearance as the captain of a doomed Arctic vessel
in the Francis Ford Coppola-produced adaptation of Frankenstein.
In 2000, Quinn portrayed Paul McCartney in the VH1 television drama Two of Us.
Quinn played Kerry Max Cook in the 2005 movie The Exonerated, a true story about people on
death row who had been freed.
Quinn played the main character on the NBC drama The Book of Daniel in 2006. After the first
three weeks of its run, the show was canceled, and its last five episodes never aired. In 2007,
Quinn received his second Emmy nomination for the television movie Bury My Heart at
Wounded Knee.
In 2010, he played a cameo role as William Rainsferd in the French-made film Sarah's Key, set
during World War II.
He starred as Dermot opposite Taylor Schilling (Abby) in the Canadian-Irish drama film Stay
(2013).
Quinn co-starred in the CBS Television series Elementary.
Personal life
In 1987, Quinn married his Stakeout co-star Elizabeth Bracco (sister of actress Lorraine
Bracco). They have two daughters: Mia (b. 1998) and Ava Eileen (b. 1989), who has autism.[13]
[14] Ava appeared as the baby "David" in Avalon,[15] and Mia played a ghost in The Eclipse.[16]
He has controversially suggested that the MMR vaccine led to his daughter's autism diagnosis.
[17] Former residents of Englewood, New Jersey, Quinn and his family now live in Palisades,
Rockland County, New York,[18] and Marbletown in the Catskills / Woodstock region of Ulster
County, New York.[19][20]
As an avid sports fan, Quinn supports the Chicago Cubs, the Green Bay Packers, Michael
Jordan, Rory McIlroy, and Roger Federer.[21]
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Quinn is also an outspoken critic of Donald Trump.[22]
Philanthropy
Quinn has participated in charity golf events for the East Lake
Foundation, a community redevelopment program,[23] and Samuel L.
Jackson's "One for the Boys" campaign about testicular cancer
awareness.[24] In 2010, Quinn attended a premiere benefit screening of
A Shine of Rainbows for the International Children's Media Center Elizabeth Bracco and
(ICMC) and The American Ireland Fund (AIF).[25] In 1991, he read a Quinn, 2009
segment from Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis as part of MTV's
"Books: Feed Your Head" literacy promotion PSAs.[26]
Quinn spoke at the 2003 "Night of Too Many Stars" gala benefiting The Autism Coalition.[27]
He was an honorary board member of the National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR),
which merged with Autism Speaks.[28][29]
Filmography
Film
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Aidan Quinn - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aidan_Quinn
Year Title Role Notes
My Favorite Year behind Bologna 1/2 hour
1982
in
1984 Reckless Johnny Rourke
Desperately Seeking Susan Dez
1985
An Early Frost Michael Pierson
1986 The Mission Felipe Mendoza
1987 Stakeout Richard 'Stick' Montgomery
1989 Crusoe Crusoe
The Handmaid's Tale Nick
1990 The Lemon Sisters Frankie McGuinness
Avalon Jules Kaye
1991 At Play in the Fields of the Lord Martin Quarrier
1992 The Playboys Tom Casey
1993 Benny & Joon Benjamin 'Benny' Pearl
Blink Det. John Hallstrom
1994 Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Cpt. Robert Walton
Legends of the Fall Alfred Ludlow
The Stars Fell on Henrietta Don Day
Haunted Prof. David Ash
1995
Short film: "John
Lumière and Company Himself
Boorman"
Looking for Richard Richmond
1996
Michael Collins Harry Boland
Commandments Seth Warner
1997 Lt. Cmdr. Annibal Ramirez /
The Assignment
Carlos
Also executive
This Is My Father Kieran O'Day
1998 producer
Practical Magic Officer Gary Hallet
In Dreams Paul Cooper
1999
Music of the Heart Brian Turner
2000 Songcatcher Tom Bledsoe
Stolen Summer Joe O'Malley '
2002
Evelyn Nick Barron
2003 Song for a Raggy Boy William Franklin
2004 Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius Harry Vardon
Shadow of Fear Detective Scofield
Return to Sender Frank Nitzche
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Aidan Quinn - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aidan_Quinn
Proud Commodore Alfred Lind
2005 Nine Lives Henry
Dark Matter Prof. Jacob Reiser
2007
32A Frank Brennan
2008 Wild Child Gerry Moore
A Shine of Rainbows Alec O'Donnell
2009 The Eclipse Nicholas Holden
Handsome Harry Prof. Porter
Flipped Richard Baker
Festival of Lights Adem
Jonah Hex President Ulysses S. Grant
Sarah's Key William Rainsferd
2010
Across the Line: The Exodus of Charlie
Charlie Wright
Wright
The 5th Quarter Steven Abbate
The Pilgrims: The Journey to a New World
Himself Documentary
for Autism
Unknown Martin B.
The Stand Up Sandy Hardwick
2011
The Greening of Whitney Brown Henry Brown
Muide Éire Himself Documentary
If I Were You Derek
2012
Allegiance Lieutenant Colonel Owens
The Last Keepers John Carver
2013 Rushlights Cameron Brogden
Stay Dermot Fay
2014 Journey to Sundance Himself Documentary
2018 Change in the Air Moody
2021 Spiked John Wilson
2022 Blacklight Gabriel Robinson
2023 Daughter of the Bride Bruce
TBA Cry from the Sea TBA
Television
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Aidan Quinn - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aidan_Quinn
Year Title Role Notes
1981 American Dream Scooter Episode: "Casey's Romance"
1985 An Early Frost Michael Pierson
1987 All My Sons Chris Keller
1989 Perfect Witness Sam Paxton
Television movie
James McEwen/
1991 Lies of the Twins
Jonathan McEwan
1992 A Private Matter Bob Finkbine
1994 Baseball Himself/Various 2 episodes
The Irish in America
1995 Out of Ireland: The Story of Narrator
Irish Emigration to America
Forbidden Territory: Stanley's TV movie
1997 Henry Morton Stanley
Search for Livingstone
The Prince and the Pauper Miles Hendon
2000 Two of Us Paul McCartney
The Young Messiah Narrator Voice; TV movie
2001 Night Visions Jeremy Bell Episode: "The Passenger List"
Benedict Arnold: A Question
Gen. Benedict Arnold TV movie
of Honor
2003 Mob Member/
Freedom: A History of US Philadelphia Press 2 episodes
Editorial
See You in My Dreams Joe F. Brown
Plainsong Tom Guthrie
2004 TV movie
Cavedweller Clint Windsor
Miracle Run Douglas Thomas
2004– Lieutenant/Captain
Third Watch 5 episodes
2005 John Miller
The Exonerated Kerry Max Cook TV movie
2005 Empire Falls David Roby 2 episodes
Mayday John Berry TV movie
2006 The Book of Daniel Daniel Webster 8 episodes
Bury My Heart at Wounded
Henry L. Dawes TV movie
Knee
2007
Law & Order: Special Victims
Ben Nicholson Episode: "Savant"
Unit
Canterbury's Law Matthew 'Matt' Furey 5 episodes
2008
The Prince of Motor City Charlie Hamilton Pilot
2010 White Collar Prof. George Oswald Episode: "Copycat Caffrey"
2011 Weeds Foster 'Chuck' Klein 4 episodes
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Prime Suspect Lt. Kevin Sweeney Recurring role
2012 The Horses of McBride Matt Davidson TV movie
2012– Captain Thomas
Elementary Main role
2019 'Tommy' Gregson
From Tee to Green: The Story
2014 Narrator Voice; 3 episodes
of Irish Golf
2019 The American Guest Theodore Roosevelt Main role
Episodes: "The Five Hundredth
Law & Order: Special Victims
2021-2022 Burton Lowe Episode" & "Confess Your Sins to be
Unit
Free"
Episode: "The Heart of a Saturday
2024 Blue Bloods Detective Gus Vanderlip
Night"
TBA The Walsh Sisters Jack Walsh Upcoming comedy drama series[30]
Theatre
Year Production Role Venue
1979 The Man in 605 Jerry Green Piven Theatre Workshop
Scheherazade
Chicago
The Irish Hebrew Lesson
1984 Fool for Love Eddie Douglas Fairbanks Theater
1985 Hamlet Prince Hamlet Wisdom Bridge Theatre
1985–1986 A Lie of the Mind Frankie Promenade Theatre
1988 A Streetcar Named Desire Stanley Kowalski Circle in the Square Theatre
45 Bleecker Theater
2003 The Exonerated Kerry Max Cook
Curran Theatre
2004 Trumbo: Red, White and Blacklisted Dalton Trumbo Westside Theatre
2005 Queen's Hall
The Exonerated Kerry Max Cook Riverside Studios
2006
Dublin Theatre Festival
2008 Conversations in Tusculum Brutus The Public Theater
Awards and nominations
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Aidan Quinn - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aidan_Quinn
Year Award Work Result
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a
1986 An Early Frost Nominated
Miniseries or Special
A Streetcar Named
1988 Theatre World Award Won
Desire
1993 CableACE Award for Supporting Actor in a Movie or Miniseries A Private Matter
Irish Film and Television Award for Best Actor in a Male Role This Is My Father
Nominated
1999 Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actor – Comedy
Practical Magic
/ Romance
Sundance Film Festival – Special Jury Prize For Ensemble
2000 Songcatcher Won
Cast (shared with cast)
Irish Film & Television Award (IFTA) for Best Actor in a Film –
—
Public Vote
2003
Irish Film & Television Award (IFTA) for Best Actor in a Film –
Song for a Raggy Boy
Jury Award
Irish Film & Television Award (IFTA) for Best Actor in a Feature Return to Sender (aka
Film Convicted)
2005
Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male Cavedweller
Nominated
Gotham Award for Best Ensemble Cast (shared with cast) Nine Lives
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a
Miniseries or Movie
Online Film & Television Association (OFTA) Award for Best Bury My Heart at
2007
Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Wounded Knee
Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion
Picture Made for Television
Irish Film & Television Award (IFTA) for Best Actor in a
2010 The Eclipse Won
Supporting Role – Film
References
1. "Famous birthdays for March 8: Camryn Manheim, Aidan Quinn" (https://www.upi.com/amp/
Entertainment_News/2021/03/08/Famous-birthdays-for-March-8-Camryn-Manheim-Aidan-Q
uinn/7931615132811/). United Press International. March 8, 2021. Retrieved December 16,
2024.
2. "Aidan Quinn" (https://web.archive.org/web/20180315225150/https://www.biography.com/pe
ople/aidan-quinn-16472533). Biography.com. Archived from the original (http://www.biograp
hy.com/people/aidan-quinn-16472533) on March 15, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
3. Hasted, Nick (April 9, 2004). "Aidan Quinn: The quiet man" (https://www.independent.co.uk/
arts-entertainment/films/features/aidan-quinn-the-quiet-man-55228.html). The Independent.
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20150924152425/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-
entertainment/films/features/aidan-quinn-the-quiet-man-55228.html) from the original on
September 24, 2015.
4. Fischer, Paul. "Aidan Quinn" (https://web.archive.org/web/20100131135844/http://crankycriti
c.com/qa/pf_articles/aidanquinn.html). Cranky Critic. Archived from the original (http://www.c
rankycritic.com/qa/pf_articles/aidanquinn.html) on January 31, 2010. Retrieved October 12,
2010.
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Aidan Quinn - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aidan_Quinn
5. "Death Notice: TERESA QUINN" (https://www.chicagotribune.com/obituaries/teresa-quinn-i
l/). Chicago Tribune. October 6, 2009. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
6. "Aidan Quinn's ode to Ireland of the Seventies" (https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/
movies/aidan-quinns-ode-to-ireland-of-the-seventies-26476804.html). Irish Independent.
September 14, 2008. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
7. "Piven Theatre Workshop - Alumni" (https://web.archive.org/web/20171130004813/http://piv
entheatre.org/alumni/). Archived from the original (http://piventheatre.org/alumni/) on
November 30, 2017. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
8. Drew, April (April 30, 2010). "Aidan Quinn talks up his Irish heritage" (http://www.irishcentra
l.com/culture/entertainment/aidan-quinn-talks-up-his-irish-heritage-92522949-237693401.ht
ml). Irish Central. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
9. "Marian Quinn" (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0703922/?ref_=tt_cl_t4). IMDb.
10. Holmes, Mannie (September 3, 2015). "Director Paul Quinn, Brother of Aidan Quinn, Dies at
55" (https://variety.com/2015/film/obituaries-people-news/director-paul-quinn-brother-of-aida
n-quinn-dies-at-55-1201585568/). Variety. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
11. Benson, Sheila (November 14, 1986). "MOVIE REVIEW : A DILEMMA OF CONSCIENCE
AT HEART OF 'THE MISSION' " (https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-11-14-ca-2
9420-story.html). Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
12. Canby, Vincent (October 31, 1986). "SCREEN: 'THE MISSION,' WITH DeNIRO AND
IRONS" (https://www.nytimes.com/1986/10/31/movies/screen-the-mission-with-deniro-and-ir
ons.html). The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331 (https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0362-433
1). Retrieved March 29, 2023.
13. McGoldrick, Debbie (18 September 2008). "The Mighty Quinn" (https://web.archive.org/we
b/20120604165532/http://www.irishabroad.com/news/irish-voice/entertainment/Articles/migh
ty-quinn180908.aspx). IrishAbroad. Archived from the original (http://www.irishabroad.com/n
ews/irish-voice/entertainment/Articles/mighty-quinn180908.aspx) on 4 June 2012. Retrieved
20 September 2008.
14. Garcia, Rikkie (November 2001). "Biography (Aidan Quinn)" (http://members.tripod.com/~rik
kie_g/bio.htm). Tripod.com.
15. "Ava Eileen Quinn" (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0703764/?ref_=fn_al_nm_6). IMDb.
16. "Mia Quinn (I)" (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4048700/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1). IMDb.
17. "How Hollywood Stars, Trump and Scientologists Inflame the Vaccine Wars: "It's Spurious
but Effective" " (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/how-vaccines-au
tism-battle-continues-despite-scientific-consensus-924080/). The Hollywood Reporter.
August 31, 2016.
18. David, Mark (May 24, 2013). "Al Pacino Sells Palisades Guest House" (https://variety.com/2
013/dirt/real-estalker/al-pacino-sells-palisades-guest-house-1201235848/). Variety.
19. Rohan, Virginia (October 31, 2013). "Aidan Quinn talks about his role on "Elementary" " (htt
p://www.northjersey.com/arts-and-entertainment/tv/aidan-quinn-talks-about-his-role-on-elem
entary-aidan-quinn-relishing-his-support-role-1.703584). NorthJersey.com.
20. Van Buskirk, Leslie (April 12, 2013). "Daniel Craig, Anne Hathaway, The Clintons: Is Hippie
Town Woodstock the New High-End NYC Getaway?" (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/ne
ws/daniel-craig-anne-hathaway-homes-436892). The Hollywood Reporter.
21. Ouzounian, Richard (November 2, 2012). "Aidan Quinn: Elementary star says you have to
learn to live with life's jokes" (https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2012/11/02/ai
dan_quinn_elementary_star_says_you_have_to_learn_to_live_with_lifes_jokes.html).
Toronto Star.
22. "Aidan Quinn on Trump: "It is absolutely frightening." " (https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/202
4/1019/1476332-aidan-quinn-on-trump-it-is-absolutely-frightening/). RTÉ.ie. October 19,
2024. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
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Aidan Quinn - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aidan_Quinn
23. Joe the Cigartainer (August 26, 2014). "Tag Archives: East Lake Foundation – Cigar Host"
(https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035722/http://blog.cigartainment.com/?tag=east-lak
e-foundation). Archived from the original (http://blog.cigartainment.com/?tag=east-lake-foun
dation) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
24. "One For The Boys Charity Golf Match" (http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/aida
n-quinn-attends-the-one-for-the-boys-charity-golf-match-news-photo/477103040). Getty
Images. June 12, 2015.
25. "Premiere Benefit Screening with actor Aidan Quinn : April 15 2010" (https://web.archive.or
g/web/20160610180032/https://www.ammado.com/nonprofit/51167/articles/21401).
ammado.com. The Ireland Funds. February 25, 2011. Archived from the original (https://ww
w.ammado.com/nonprofit/51167/articles/21401) on June 10, 2016. Retrieved August 12,
2015.
26. "Books Feed Your Head Commercial 1991 with Aidan Quinn" (https://web.archive.org/web/2
0190114023509/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Pf71m6zACg). YouTube. Keith
Richardson. November 22, 2014. Archived from the original (https://www.youtube.com/watc
h?v=4Pf71m6zACg) on January 14, 2019.
27. "Night Of Too Many Stars Benefit For Autism Coalition" (http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/
news-photo/actor-aidan-quinn-speaks-at-the-night-of-too-many-stars-a-news-photo/182018
2). Getty Images. Mark Mainz. February 27, 2003.
28. "Aidan Quinn Stars in Miracle Run" (https://web.archive.org/web/20161219051352/https://w
ww.autismspeaks.org/news/news-item/aidan-quinn-stars-miracle-run). Autism Speaks. April
23, 2007. Archived from the original (https://www.autismspeaks.org/news/news-item/aidan-q
uinn-stars-miracle-run) on December 19, 2016. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
29. "Autism Speaks and The National Alliance for Autism Research Complete Merger" (https://w
ww.autismspeaks.org/about-us/press-releases/autism-speaks-and-national-alliance-autism-r
esearch-complete-merger). Autism Speaks. February 13, 2006.
30. "Cast unveiled for new comedy drama The Walsh Sisters, led by Louisa Harland, Caroline
Menton and Aidan Quinn" (https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2025/bbc-marian-keyes-wals
h-sisters-cast). bbc.co.uk/mediacentre. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
External links
Aidan Quinn (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001644/) at IMDb
Aidan Quinn (https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/56759) at the Internet Broadway
Database
Aidan Quinn (https://web.archive.org/web/http://www.iobdb.com/CreditableEntity/10558) at
the Internet Off-Broadway Database (archived)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aidan_Quinn&oldid=1292236804"
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