Monica Potter
Encyclopedia
Monica Potter is an American film and television actress.
, to an Irish American
Roman Catholic family. Her father, Paul Brokaw, was the inventor of the first flame-resistant car wax, and her mother, Nancy, was a secretary. During her childhood, she was a part of the St. Jerome Parish in Cleveland, and attended the local elementary school, as well as Villa Angela Catholic School for Girls, before graduating from Euclid High School
. She also spent part of her early years in Arab, Alabama
. Potter had wanted to be an actress since childhood, as well as a nun
.
, before deciding to pursue an acting career. Her first role on television was as a "Dalina" in the English version of the Peruvian TV show Nubeluz
. Then she found a role on the daytime soap opera
The Young and the Restless
as Sharon Newman in 1994.
She has appeared in several feature films, including Con Air
(playing the wife of Nicolas Cage
's character) and starring opposite Robin Williams
in Patch Adams
. In 1998, she played the love interest of doomed distance runner Steve Prefontaine
in the movie Without Limits
.
In 2001, she had two major roles, co-starring with Freddie Prinze Jr. in Head Over Heels, and in the thriller Along Came a Spider
with Morgan Freeman
, based on the James Patterson
best-seller
. She was a cast member of the television series Boston Legal
but left during the second season. In 2004, Potter played the role Alison Gordon in the first Saw
film. In 2009, Potter became a cast member of the new TNT series Trust Me
which was cancelled after the first season due to low ratings. Potter currently plays the role of Kristina Braverman in NBC's comedy-drama Parenthood
.
The song "Mrs. Potter's Lullaby
" by Counting Crows
was inspired by Monica. Adam Duritz
saw her in a movie and wrote the song in response.
She's the aunt of MC Firebox
She married Daniel Christopher Allison, an orthopedic surgeon, in June 2005. Potter and Allison had their first child, a daughter named Molly Brigid Allison, on August 3, 2005.
Potter was named "Best Movie Star Loyal to Cleveland" by ClevelandScene.com for her insistence on keeping her family in the Ohio city even after Hollywood success. "It's a great place to raise kids. I had a very happy childhood there, growing up on a special street where everyone knew everyone," said Potter in an interview with Maxim magazine in March 2001.
Early life
Potter, one of four daughters, was born in Cleveland, OhioCleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, to an Irish American
Irish American
Irish Americans are citizens of the United States who can trace their ancestry to Ireland. A total of 36,278,332 Americans—estimated at 11.9% of the total population—reported Irish ancestry in the 2008 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau...
Roman Catholic family. Her father, Paul Brokaw, was the inventor of the first flame-resistant car wax, and her mother, Nancy, was a secretary. During her childhood, she was a part of the St. Jerome Parish in Cleveland, and attended the local elementary school, as well as Villa Angela Catholic School for Girls, before graduating from Euclid High School
Euclid High School
The Euclid High School is a public high school located in Euclid, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio in the northeast corner of Cuyahoga County. Originally named Euclid Senior High School, it was constructed in 1949 to replace the Euclid Central High School and Shore High School facilities...
. She also spent part of her early years in Arab, Alabama
Arab, Alabama
Arab is a city in both Cullman County, Alabama and Marshall County, Alabama in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Alabama, located ten miles from Guntersville Lake and Guntersville Dam, and is included in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area...
. Potter had wanted to be an actress since childhood, as well as a nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
.
Career
At the age of twelve, Potter started modeling and appearing in commercials in Chicago and MiamiMiami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, before deciding to pursue an acting career. Her first role on television was as a "Dalina" in the English version of the Peruvian TV show Nubeluz
Nubeluz
Nubeluz was a Peruvian children's show airing from 1990 to 1996. The show was produced by Panamericana Televisión and aired through Perú's Channel 5, was directed by Luis Carrizales Stoll and written by Alonso Alegria, Maritza Kirchhausen, Catalina Lohmann, Clara María Cavagnaro and Fernando...
. Then she found a role on the daytime soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
The Young and the Restless
The Young and the Restless
The Young and the Restless is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS. The show is set in a fictional Wisconsin town called Genoa City, which is unlike and unrelated to the real life village of the same name, Genoa City, Wisconsin...
as Sharon Newman in 1994.
She has appeared in several feature films, including Con Air
Con Air
Con Air is an Academy Award–nominated 1997 American action-thriller film directed by Simon West and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. It stars Nicolas Cage, John Cusack and John Malkovich...
(playing the wife of Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage is an American actor, producer and director, having appeared in over 60 films including Raising Arizona , The Rock , Face/Off , Gone in 60 Seconds , Adaptation , National Treasure , Ghost Rider , Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans , and...
's character) and starring opposite Robin Williams
Robin Williams
Robin McLaurin Williams is an American actor and comedian. Rising to fame with his role as the alien Mork in the TV series Mork and Mindy, and later stand-up comedy work, Williams has performed in many feature films since 1980. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance...
in Patch Adams
Patch Adams (film)
Patch Adams is a 1998 comedy-drama film starring Robin Williams. Directed by Tom Shadyac, it is based on the life story of Dr. Hunter "Patch" Adams and the book Gesundheit: Good Health is a Laughing Matter by Adams and Maureen Mylander. The film is generally considered a box-office success,...
. In 1998, she played the love interest of doomed distance runner Steve Prefontaine
Steve Prefontaine
Steve Roland "Pre" Prefontaine was an American middle and long-distance runner. Prefontaine once held the American record in the seven distance track events from the 2,000 meters to the 10,000 meters...
in the movie Without Limits
Without Limits
Without Limits is a 1998 biographical film about the relationship between record-breaking distance runner Steve Prefontaine and his coach Bill Bowerman, who later co-founded Nike, Inc....
.
In 2001, she had two major roles, co-starring with Freddie Prinze Jr. in Head Over Heels, and in the thriller Along Came a Spider
Along Came a Spider (film)
Along Came a Spider is a 2001 American mystery film directed by Lee Tamahori. The screenplay by Marc Moss was adapted from the 1993 novel of the same title by James Patterson, but many of the key plot elements of the book were eliminated...
with Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman is an American actor, film director, aviator and narrator. He is noted for his reserved demeanor and authoritative speaking voice. Freeman has received Academy Award nominations for his performances in Street Smart, Driving Miss Daisy, The Shawshank Redemption and Invictus and won...
, based on the James Patterson
James Patterson
James B. Patterson is an American author of thriller novels, largely known for his series about American psychologist Alex Cross...
best-seller
Along Came a Spider
Along Came A Spider is the first novel in a series of books written by James Patterson, about forensic psychologist Alex Cross. It was adapted into a movie of the same name in 2001, starring Morgan Freeman as Cross.-Plot Summary:...
. She was a cast member of the television series Boston Legal
Boston Legal
Boston Legal is an American legal dramedy created by David E. Kelley, which was produced in association with 20th Century Fox Television for the ABC...
but left during the second season. In 2004, Potter played the role Alison Gordon in the first Saw
Saw (film)
Saw is a 2004 American independent horror film directed by James Wan. The screenplay, written by Leigh Whannell, is based on a story by Wan and Whannell. The film stars Cary Elwes, Danny Glover, Monica Potter, Michael Emerson, Ken Leung, Whannell and Tobin Bell...
film. In 2009, Potter became a cast member of the new TNT series Trust Me
Trust Me (TV series)
Trust Me is an American drama series that began airing on TNT on January 26, 2009 at 10 p.m Eastern/ 9 P.M Central. In Canada, Trust Me can be seen on Super Channel.Trust Me premiered with 3.4 million viewers....
which was cancelled after the first season due to low ratings. Potter currently plays the role of Kristina Braverman in NBC's comedy-drama Parenthood
Parenthood (2010 TV series)
Parenthood is an American comedy-drama television series developed by Jason Katims and produced by Imagine Television and Universal Media Studios. The first season premiered on March 2, 2010 on NBC...
.
Personal life
Potter was married to Tom Potter from 1990 to 1998, and they have two sons.The song "Mrs. Potter's Lullaby
Mrs. Potter's Lullaby
"Mrs. Potter's Lullaby" is a single by the American rock band Counting Crows. It is the second track on their third album This Desert Life .This song was written after singer/songwriter Adam Duritz saw actress Monica Potter in a film....
" by Counting Crows
Counting Crows
Counting Crows is an American rock band originating from Berkeley, California. Formed in 1991, the group gained popularity following the release of its debut album in 1993, August and Everything After, which featured the hit single "Mr. Jones"...
was inspired by Monica. Adam Duritz
Adam Duritz
Adam Fredric Duritz is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and film producer. He is best known for his role as frontman and vocalist for the rock band Counting Crows, in which he is a founding member and principal composer of their catalogue of songs.Duritz has recorded solo...
saw her in a movie and wrote the song in response.
She's the aunt of MC Firebox
She married Daniel Christopher Allison, an orthopedic surgeon, in June 2005. Potter and Allison had their first child, a daughter named Molly Brigid Allison, on August 3, 2005.
Potter was named "Best Movie Star Loyal to Cleveland" by ClevelandScene.com for her insistence on keeping her family in the Ohio city even after Hollywood success. "It's a great place to raise kids. I had a very happy childhood there, growing up on a special street where everyone knew everyone," said Potter in an interview with Maxim magazine in March 2001.
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1996 | Bulletproof Bulletproof (1996 film) Bulletproof is a 1996 American action-comedy film directed by Ernest Dickerson, and starring Damon Wayans, James Caan and Jeep Swenson.-Plot:... |
Biker's Woman | |
| 1997 | Con Air Con Air Con Air is an Academy Award–nominated 1997 American action-thriller film directed by Simon West and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. It stars Nicolas Cage, John Cusack and John Malkovich... |
Tricia Poe | |
| 1998 | A Cool, Dry Place A Cool, Dry Place A Cool, Dry Place is a 1999 movie adapted by Matthew McDuffie from the novel Dance Real Slow by Michael Grant Jaffe. It was directed by John N. Smith... |
Kate Durrell | |
| Martha, Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence Martha, Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence Martha, Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence is a 1998 British romantic comedy directed by Nick Hamm... |
Martha | Alternative title: The Very Thought of You | |
| Without Limits Without Limits Without Limits is a 1998 biographical film about the relationship between record-breaking distance runner Steve Prefontaine and his coach Bill Bowerman, who later co-founded Nike, Inc.... |
Mary Marckx | ||
| 1998 | Patch Adams Patch Adams (film) Patch Adams is a 1998 comedy-drama film starring Robin Williams. Directed by Tom Shadyac, it is based on the life story of Dr. Hunter "Patch" Adams and the book Gesundheit: Good Health is a Laughing Matter by Adams and Maureen Mylander. The film is generally considered a box-office success,... |
Carin Fisher | |
| 1999 | Heaven or Vegas Heaven or Vegas Heaven or Vegas was a 1999 movie which was a romantic drama that starred Yasmine Bleeth and Richard Grieco.-Plot:Rachel is a woman looking for a way out of her dead-end existence... |
Lilli | |
| 2001 | Head Over Heels | Amanda Pierce | |
| Along Came a Spider Along Came a Spider (film) Along Came a Spider is a 2001 American mystery film directed by Lee Tamahori. The screenplay by Marc Moss was adapted from the 1993 novel of the same title by James Patterson, but many of the key plot elements of the book were eliminated... |
Jezzie Flannigan | ||
| 2002 | I'm With Lucy I'm With Lucy I'm With Lucy is a 2002 romantic comedy starring Monica Potter in the title role, with Henry Thomas, David Boreanaz, Anthony LaPaglia, Harold Ramis, Julie Christie and John Hannah.- Plot :... |
Lucy | |
| 2004 | Saw Saw (film) Saw is a 2004 American independent horror film directed by James Wan. The screenplay, written by Leigh Whannell, is based on a story by Wan and Whannell. The film stars Cary Elwes, Danny Glover, Monica Potter, Michael Emerson, Ken Leung, Whannell and Tobin Bell... |
Alison Gordon | |
| 2008 | Lower Learning Lower Learning Lower Learning is a 2008 comedy film starring Jason Biggs, Eva Longoria, Rob Corddry, Ryan Newman, Monica Potter, and Andy Pessoa. It was directed by Mark Lafferty and written by Lafferty and Shahin Chandrasoma... |
Laura Buchwald | |
| 2009 | The Last House on the Left The Last House on the Left (2009 film) The Last House on the Left is a 2009 American film directed by Dennis Iliadis and written by Carl Ellsworth and Adam Alleca. It is a remake of the 1972 film of the same name, and stars Monica Potter, Tony Goldwyn, Garret Dillahunt, and Sara Paxton... |
Emma Collingwood | |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1994 | The Young and the Restless The Young and the Restless The Young and the Restless is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS. The show is set in a fictional Wisconsin town called Genoa City, which is unlike and unrelated to the real life village of the same name, Genoa City, Wisconsin... |
Sharon Newman #1 | Unknown episodes |
| 2003 | The Lunchbox Chronicles | Kate | Television movie |
| 2004 | Reversible Errors Reversible Errors (film) Reversible Errors is a 2004 2 episode television miniseries based on the novel of the same name by Scott Turow.It was directed by Mike Robe, who previously directed Scott Turow's The Burden of Proof. Filming was done in and around Halifax, Nova Scotia, and featured shots of Halifax City Hall and... |
Muriel Wynn | Miniseries |
| 2004–2005 | Boston Legal Boston Legal Boston Legal is an American legal dramedy created by David E. Kelley, which was produced in association with 20th Century Fox Television for the ABC... |
Lori Colson | 21 episodes |
| 2007 | Protect and Serve | Lizzie Borelli | Television movie |
| 2009 | Trust Me Trust Me (TV series) Trust Me is an American drama series that began airing on TNT on January 26, 2009 at 10 p.m Eastern/ 9 P.M Central. In Canada, Trust Me can be seen on Super Channel.Trust Me premiered with 3.4 million viewers.... |
Sarah Krajicek-Hunter | 13 episodes |
| 2010–present | Parenthood Parenthood (2010 TV series) Parenthood is an American comedy-drama television series developed by Jason Katims and produced by Imagine Television and Universal Media Studios. The first season premiered on March 2, 2010 on NBC... |
Kristina Braverman | Main Character |