Amy Morton

Amy Morton
Morton in 2007
BornJanuary 1, 1958
Oak Park, Illinois
OccupationActress
Years active1983–present

Amy Morton (born in 1958) is an American actress and director, best known for her work in theatre. Morton was nominated two times for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her performances in August: Osage County and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. On screen, she is known for her performances in films Rookie of the Year (1993), Up in the Air (2009), The Dilemma (2011) and Bluebird (2013). Since 2014, Morton began starring as Sergeant Trudy Platt in the NBC drama series Chicago P.D.

Early life and education

Amy Morton was born in 1958 or 1959[1] in Oak Park, Illinois, and attended Oak Park and River Forest High School in Oak Park. She attended both Triton College and Clarke University, but did not graduate.[2]

Career

Stage

A member of Steppenwolf Theater's core group of actors since 1997, Morton has spent most of her career working in the Chicago theater scene.[3] She has appeared in many stage productions, include Clybourne Park, American Buffalo, Dublin Carol, The Pillowman, Love-Lies-Bleeding and Awake and Sing.[3]

Morton made her Broadway debut as Nurse Ratched, starring opposite Gary Sinise in the Tony Award winning 2001 revival of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.[4] She originated the role of Barbara in both the original Chicago production and the original Broadway production of Tracy Letts' August: Osage County. For her portrayal she was nominated for both a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award.[4] Morton reprised the role in the fall 2008 London production at the National Theatre.[5]

She received her second Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play nomination for her leading performance in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (2012–13).[4][6]

In 2015, she made her Off-Broadway directing debut with play Guards at the Taj.[7][8]

Screen

Morton has appeared in a number of films. She made her feature film debut in a supporting role in 1992 comedy, Straight Talk starring Dolly Parton. In 1993 she had main role as mother of the lead character in Rookie of the Year. The film had a box office success, grossing more than $56 million worldwide.[9] Her next screen role was in the 1999 crime thriller 8mm directed by Joel Schumacher. Ten years later, Morton landed her breakthrough role as George Clooney's character's sister in the critically acclaimed drama film Up in the Air directed by Jason Reitman.[10][1]

In 2011 she appeared in the comedy-drama film The Dilemma, and in 2013, had the leading role in the critically acclaimed independent film, Bluebird.[11]

On television, Morton guest starred on Crime Story, The Equalizer, ER, Private Practice, and Homeland. From 2011 to 2012, she had the recurring role of Catherine Walsh, the Republican candidate for governor, in the Starz political drama, Boss. From 2013 to 2014, she had another recurring role as Erin Reagan's new boss, Amanda Harris, on the CBS drama, Blue Bloods. In 2014, Morton was cast in the recurring role as Sergeant Trudy Platt in the NBC dramas Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D.[12] Morton was promoted from recurring guest star to series regular from the second season on Chicago P.D.[13]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1992 Straight Talk Ann
1993 Falling Down Mom at Back Yard
1993 Rookie of the Year Mary Rowengartner
1999 8mm Janet Mathews
2009 The Greatest Lydia
2009 Up in the Air Kara Bingham Central Ohio Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble
Nominated – Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble
Nominated – Denver Film Critics Society Award for Best Acting Ensemble
Nominated – Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble
2011 The Dilemma Diane Popovich
2013 Bluebird Lesley Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Award for Best Actress
2024 It Ends With Us Jenny Bloom

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1983 Through Naked Eyes Karen Television film
1986–1987 Crime Story Brenda Mahoney/Pregnant Girl 3 episodes
1988–1989 The Equalizer Linda Wilhite / Gina Rox Episodes: "Eighteen with a Bullet" and "Endgame"
1993 Kiss of a Killer Reba Television film
2009 ER Mrs. Walters Episode: "Shifting Equilibrium"
2011 Private Practice Leni Episode: "Who We Are"
2011–2012 Boss Catherine Walsh Recurring role, 9 episodes
2013 Homeland Erin Kimball Episode: "Tin Man Is Down"
2013–2014 Blue Bloods Amanda Harris Recurring role, 5 episodes
2014 Girls Sissy Episode: "Flo"
2014–present Chicago Fire Sergeant Trudy Platt Recurring role, 28 episodes
2014–present Chicago P.D. Recurring role (season 1)
Main role (season 2–present)
2017, 2019–2020 Chicago Med Recurring role, 3 episodes
2017 Chicago Justice Episode: "Uncertainty Principle"
2022 The Bear Nancy Chore Episode: "Hands"

Awards

Tony Awards

Drama Desk Awards

Joseph Jefferson Awards (Chicago, IL)

  • Nominated – 1984 – Actress in a Principal Role in a Play – Life and Limb (Wisdom Bridge Theatre)
  • Winner – 1986 – Actress in a Supporting Role in a Play – You Can't Take It with You (Steppenwolf Theatre Company)
  • Nominated – 1986 – Actress in a Principal Role in a Play – Puntila and his Hired Man (Remains Theatre)
  • Nominated – 1987 – Actress in a Principal Role in a Play – Higher Standard of Living (Remains Theatre)
  • Nominated – 1988 – Actress in a Supporting Role in a Play – Big Time (Remains Theatre)
  • Nominated – 2002 – Director of a Play – Glengarry Glen Ross (Steppenwolf Theatre Company)
  • Nominated – 2002 – Actress in a Principal Role in a Play – The Royal Family (Steppenwolf Theatre Company)
  • Nominated – 2003 – Actress in a Principal Role in a Play – Homebody/Kabul (Steppenwolf Theatre Company)
  • Nominated – 2007 – Actress in a Principal Role in a Play – August: Osage County (Steppenwolf Theatre Company)

Helen Hayes Awards (Washington DC)

  • Nominated - 2012 - Outstanding Lead Actress, Non-Resident Production - Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf

References

  1. ^ a b Phillips, Michael (December 11, 2009). "From Chicago play to Clooney's co-star". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 25, 2024. 50-year-old actress
  2. ^ "Subscription Center". Chicago Business. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Amy Morton". Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Archived from the original on April 13, 2015. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c "Amy Morton – IBDB: The official source for Broadway Information". Retrieved October 17, 2014.
  5. ^ "Broadway.com". Retrieved October 17, 2014. [dead link‍]
  6. ^ "Cicely Tyson, Best Actress In A Play: 'The Trip to Bountiful' Actor Wins Tony". The Huffington Post. June 10, 2013. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
  7. ^ David Rooney. "Rajiv Joseph's 'Guards at the Taj': Theater Review – Hollywood Reporter". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  8. ^ Marilyn Stasio. "'Guards at the Taj' Review: Rajiv Joseph's New Play at the Atlantic – Variety". Variety. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  9. ^ "Rookie of the Year (1993) – Box Office Mojo". Retrieved October 17, 2014.
  10. ^ "Talking Pictures: Amy Morton". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
  11. ^ "Bluebird". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
  12. ^ "Steppenwolf Theatre vet Amy Morton joins police force on 'Chicago PD'". Voices. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
  13. ^ "Chicago P.D.'s Amy Morton Addresses Fans' Love-Hate for Sgt. Platt". TV Guide. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
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