Olympia Dukakis

Born: Lowell, Massachusetts
Where: June 20, 1931

Olympia Dukakis had racked up hundreds of credits on stage in a thirty year career before becoming an "overnight success" as Cher's knowing mother in Norman Jewison's Moonstruck, although her feature debut with in Lilith in 1964.

A founding member of the Charles Playhouse in Boston, Olympia spent years on stage, supporting herself by working as a physical therapist and drama teacher.

In 1989 Olympia has a featured role in the ensemble of Steel Magnolias, and in the same year she was cast as Kirstie Alley's mother in Look Who's Talking - a part which she reprised in two sequels.

It was in 1994 that she was cast as Anna Madrigal in the hit TV series Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City, a role which she played in three series - from 1994 - 2001.

Another of her most critically acclaimed roles was that of tough principal who mentors Richard Dreyfuss' music teacher in Mr. Holland's Opus.

Olympia also appeared as Jennifer Aniston's mother in Picture Perfect, and more recently has starred in the comedy romance Jesus, Mary & Joey.