Aidan Quinn is an Irish American actor born on 8 March, 1959, in Illinois, USA. His mother was a homemaker and his father was a literature professor. Quinn was bitten by the acting bug early in life and, at the age of 19, he joined the Chicago theatre.
Quinn got his first significant role in the film Reckless (1984) opposite Daryl Hannah. It was his next film that was his turning point. In Desperately Seeking Susan (1985) he played the role of Dez opposite Rosanna Arquette. The film also starred Madonna. His next film propelled him into the big league of Hollywood stars. In the TV movie An Early Frost Quinn played a young lawyer who was a victim of AIDS. The film had a stellar cast including Gena Rowlands, Ben Gazzara and Sylvia Sidney, and he received his first Emmy Award nomination for this film.
Quinn lost out on a major role playing Jesus Christ in The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) by Martin Scorsese, because Paramount Pictures decided against making the controversial film. Universal Pictures decided to go ahead with the project without Quinn and took Willem Dafoe instead.
Quinn was able to play sensitive, intelligent and strong characters, although he was often given supporting roles. Some of his memorable films include Legends of the Fall (1994) with Brad Pitt, Benny & Joon (1993) with Johnny Depp, Michael Collins (1996) with Liam Neeson, Practical Magic (1998) with Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock, and The Handmaid’s Tale (1989) with Robert Duvall.
In 1999, Quinn worked with his brother, Paul, who wrote and directed the Irish drama, This Is My Father. The film was also shot by his brother Declan. In 2000, Quinn played the singing legend Paul McCartney in Two of Us for VH1 television. When Quinn met McCartney coincidentally at the hotel they were staying in, they became good friends after sharing their movie experience.
In 2006, Quinn’s first regular television role in NBC’s drama The Book of Daniel was short-lived as the show was pulled off air within three weeks. But the next year Quinn acted in the TV movie Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee which led to his second Emmy nomination. Quinn is a member of the world renowned Goodman Theater Acting Company in Chicago, Illinois.
Quinn married actress Elizabeth Bracco, the sister of actress Lorraine Bracco. Quinn and Elizabeth met in 1984 at a restaurant and were married in 1987. He also starred in the film, Stakeout (1987), with Elizabeth. They have two daughters.
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