Amy Carlson

Amy Carlson was born in Glen Ellyn in Illinois and was raised in Chicago. However, when Amy was in junior high, she and her family also resided in the Middle East where her parents, Bob and Barb, taught at the American School. Amy has two sisters, Betsy and Lori, as well as a brother Joe. Amy has traveled across Europe with her family and independently. Because her parents worked as teachers and teachers, they could spend every summer together traveling and camping all across the United States. They have camped in every state except Alaska. Amy also went to Rwanda following the 1994 war to assist in relief efforts. Amy was a talented actor in school plays and won writing contests. In high school, she excelled in athletics, placing in the first ever 3200 meter relay for girls in the Illinois track. After suffering an injury, Amy returned to school and played many parts on the stage, beginning with Lanford Wilson's "Fifth Of July” and then directed Wallace Shawn's "Aunt Daniel and Lemon. Amy attended Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois and graduated with a cum laude, an B.A. in East Asian history and a concentration in Theater. Following graduation, she relocated to Chicago where she studied Improv at The Improv Olympics and Acting at The Actor's Center. A contract role on the now-defunct soap series Another World (1964) moved her to NYC immediately following her graduation. She was nominated in the "Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Daytime Drama Series" category for the Daytime Emmy Award. The most memorable characters are those played by women of strength, such as Alex Taylor in Third Watch (1999), Maggie Pistone ((2000)), Katie Owen and Tom Berenger in Peacemakers(2003) and Linda Reagan in Blue Bloods(2003). Carlson lives in New York City, with Syd Butler, her husband and Bassist of Les Savy Fav. She also runs Frenchkiss Records, an independent music label, and is employed as a partner in the company. Amy continues to write as well as seek out diverse and unique roles in the world of film.