Laura Innes, who stepped into a recurring role as Dr. Kerry Weaver during the second season of 'ER,' became a series regular during the third season and has received three Emmy nominations for her portrayal of the fiercely independent doctor. In addition, she has received four nominations for Best Supporting Actress from Viewers for Quality Television. Innes also made her directorial debut with the ER episode "Power" in the fifth season and went on to direct the highly talked about episode "Be Still My Heart" in the sixth season. She also directed two episodes of the series The West Wing.
The youngest of six children, Innes was born in Pontiac, Michigan, and raised in Birmingham, Michigan. She remembers her father, a college English instructor, taking the family to the famous Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario when she was small. It was there that she got her first taste of professional theater and decided to follow her father�s advice to 'do what you love.'
After graduating from high school, Innes attended Northwestern University, where she earned a bachelor�s degree in theater. Work in Chicago theater followed, including a role at the renowned Goodman Theater playing Stella opposite John Malkovich in 'A Streetcar Named Desire.' She continued working in Chicago for four years and originated the lead role of Glenna in David Mamet�s 'Edmund' before traveling with the production to New York City.
Innes� other theater credits include 'Two Shakespearean Actors' opposite Eric Stoltz at Lincoln Center, 'Our Town' with Campbell Scott at the Seattle Repertory Theater and 'Three Sisters' at the La Jolla Playhouse, which also starred Nancy Travis, Phoebe Cates and Jon Lovitz.
She has guest-starred on television series such as My So-Called Life, Party of Five and Brooklyn Bridge, and appeared in the Emmy Award-winning cable movie And the Band Played On. Innes also starred in the comedy series Louie, starring comedian Louie Anderson.
She was seen on the big screen co-starring with T�a Leoni, Morgan Freeman and Vanessa Redgrave in the hit action-adventure film Deep Impact, which was directed by former ER producer/director Mimi Leder and in Can�t Stop Dancing with ER co-star Noah Wyle.
Innes is no stranger to medical crises: at age 1, she swallowed an acorn shell which required three tracheotomies to remove. In 1987, her appendix burst just days after meeting her husband, David Brisbin. In 1990, she had a three month hospital stay when her son Cal was born. He was three months premature and weighed only three pounds, four ounces.
She originally auditioned for the role of Diane Leeds on ER, the love interest for George Clooney's Dr. Ross, but the part went to Lisa Zane.
Innes lives in Los Angeles with her husband and son. Her birthday is August 16.
And here's a nifty tidbit for you:
**All In The Family (episode #6.14)**
He also appeared in a guest starring role on an episode of the West Wing --
This site is unofficial and is in no way affiliated with Laura Innes, ER, Warner Brothers or NBC.
Did you know that Laura's husband, David Brisbin, has guest starred on ER
not once, but numerous times? Here's a listing of the episodes he's appeared in as
anesthesiologist Dr. Babcock:
**Be Still My Heart (episode #6.13)**
**How The Finch Stole Christmas (episode #6.9)**
**Great Expectations (episode #6.8)**
[note: in my mind, I will always remember him
as "the epidural man", as Carol called him]
**Good Luck, Ruth Johnson (episode #5.9)**
**The Good Fight (episode #5.8)**
**Hazed and Confused (episode #5.7)**
**Split Second (episode #5.2)**
**A Hole in the Heart (episode #4.22)**
the same episode that Laura directed. In addition, he has guest starred on
many television shows (including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Party of Five, Seinfeld,
Home Improvement, Grace Under Fire and the X-Files) and has appeared in
many hit movies, including Erin Brockovich, Forrest Gump, Leaving Las Vegas,
and The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle. Quite a resume!
This site is simply a show of fan appreciation and support.
