• Name: Aidan Quinn
  • Date of Birth: March 08, 1959
  • Place of Birth: Rockford, Illinois, USA
Mini-bio: Aidan Quinn is an Irish-American actor.

Aidan Quinn was born in Rockford, Illinois. He was raised in Chicago and Rockford by devoutly Catholic parents as well as in Dublin, Offaly, and other places...( read more) in Ireland. His father was a professor in literature and his mother a homemaker; he has an older brother, Declan Quinn, who is a noted cinematographer. Aidan Quinn got his start in the Chicago theatre at age 19. He trained at Piven Theatre Workshop. His first significant film role was in Reckless (1984), followed by a breakthrough role in Desperately Seeking Susan as the character "Dez" (the love interest of the character played by Rosanna Arquette). Quinn next starred in the controversial TV movie An Early Frost, about a young lawyer dying of AIDS (it was broadcast on NBC on November 11, 1985) and co-starred such luminaries as Gena Rowlands, Ben Gazzara and Sylvia Sidney.




Quinn lost a major role when Paramount Pictures dropped the controversial Martin Scorsese movie The Last Temptation of Christ. When Universal Pictures picked up the film, the role went to Willem Dafoe.

Since then, Quinn's roles have been mainly supporting roles in major studio films and leading roles in independent films, including appearances in The Handmaid's Tale (1990), Benny & Joon (1993), Michael Collins (1996), Practical Magic (1998) and Song For a Raggy Boy (2003). Quinn is married to the actress Elizabeth Bracco, sister of actress Lorraine Bracco.

Quinn was nominated in 1986 for an Emmy Award for lead actor in a miniseries or special for his performance in An Early Frost, but he lost to Dustin Hoffman, who won the award for his performance in Death of a Salesman.

In 2006, Quinn starred in the short lived drama The Book of Daniel which ran for 3 weeks on NBC (before being cancelled).
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I like the level of fame that I have. You get nice tables in restaurants sometimes, but fame isn`t something that I find comfortable.
~ Aidan Quinn~
Aidan Quinn Born in Chicago on 8 March 1959, Aidan Quinn spent most of the first two decades of his life living on both sides of the Atlantic; his parents - his dad a literature professor, his mum a housewife - had emigrated from Ireland to the States in the 1950s, where Aidan, as well as his sister and three brothers were born. Artistic blood obviously runs in the family, with his older brother Declan having made a name for himself as cinematographer in films such as Leaving Las Vegas and Vanya On 42nd Street, younger sister Marian working as an actress, and younger brother Paul having recently ventured into the world of writing/directing for their joint family effort This Is My Father in addition to working as an actor. Only one of the five siblings, another younger brother, James, hasstayed away from the limelight and is making a living as a landscaper in LA.Aidan was barely a toddler when the family went back to his parents' hometown of Birr, Co. Offaly in Ireland where he started pre-school, only to return to Illinois about a year and a half later. At the age of 13, Aidan and his family returned to Birr yet again, but Aidan soon left to go to school in Dublin, where he stayed for a year before returning to Rockford, Illinois, Chicago and then back to Dublin. "We got used to living in two different cultures and being able to go back and forth", he once said in an interview. "With Declan, Marian and myself it's always back and forth, Irish-American, American-Irish…". This being caught between two cultures has contributed a fair deal to the feeling of closeness in the Quinn family.Although a roofer by trade, Aidan discovered hislove for acting around 1978 when he was about 19 and living in Dublin.
Aidan QuinnOnce the decision was made and it became obvious that work wasn't so easy to come by in Ireland, he returned to Chicago, where he made his stage debut in The Man in 605. Some of his early stage experience includes plays such as Scheherazade and The Irish Hebrew Lesson. Moving on to New York, he made his stage debut there in a production of Fool for Love, followed by roles in A Lie of the Mind as well as the title role in a modern-day Hamlet directed by Robert Falls.In 1984 he made his cinema debut starring opposite Daryl Hannah in Reckless. His breakthrough however came a year later in the role of Dez alongside Rosanna Arquette and Madonna in Desperately Seeking Susan. He also starred in several television productions, including The Lies of The Twins opposite Isabella Rossellini (a double dose of Aidan - excellent!) and the NBC drama An Early Frost, the latter being the first film addressing the issue of AIDS & HIV. His portrayal of a gay man in this film earned him an Emmy nomination.Aidan has shown his versatility and talent as an actor by playing a wide range of roles, from heart throb/good guy in films such as Avalon, Desperately Seeking Susan and Benny & Joon, through to gay man in An Early Frost, missionary in At Play In The Fields Of The Lord and one of the world's most wanted terrorists in The Assignment.Although having starred alongside "big" names such as Anthony Hopkins, Ben Kingsley, Liam Neeson, Donald Sutherland, Johnny Depp, Madeleine Stowe, Sandra Bullock, Brad Pitt, and Robert DeNiro, and in some "big" films such as Legends of The Fall and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, The Mission and Michael Collins he has managed to keep a fairly low profile. This is not something he's unhappy about, since he likes to keep his private life private.



Aidan in Practical Magic

Aidan Quinn Information
Full Name: Aidan T Quinn
Eye color: Blue.
Height: 5' 11½" (1.82 m)

Notable feature(s): His Eyes (His big blue eyes helped viewers see into the "soul" of his Characters.
Education:
Graduated from Rockford West High School in Rockford, Illinois. Graduated from the prestigous DePaul University / Goodman Theater B.F.A. acting program.
Family:
Brother: Declan Quinn filmed "Leaving Las Vegas" (1995) and "This Is My Father" (1998)

Brother: James Quinn Younger

Brother: Paul Quinn Born c. 1960; helmed "This Is My Father" (1998) starring Aidan

Sister: Marian Quinn Younger


Sister In-Law: Lorraine Bracco Best known for her roles as Karen Hill in "Goodfellas" (1990) and Dr. Jennifer Melfi on the hit HBO series, "The Sopranos"

Quinn is married to the actress Elizabeth Bracco, sister of actress Lorraine Bracco. The two met in 1984 at a restaurant and later co-starred in Stakeout. They married in 1987 and have two daughters, one diagnosed with autism. Ava Quinn was a perfectly normal baby, according to her father, until she was vaccinated. “So we had a normal child that was walking, talking, doing everything way faster than she was supposed to. Then, after an MMR, she got a 106 fever and turned blue and woke up the next day with dark circles and not knowing who she was. And uncoordinated. And her arm lifted up. Of course the doctors are all saying, ‘Oh, that’s normal.’”
Awards: Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 8 nominations
Resides in:
Religious affiliations: Roman Catholic
Political affiliation:
Personal interests/hobbies:

Aidan on the panel discussion for "Book of Daniel" 2005

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JULY 25:
Actor Aidan Quinn attends the panel discussion for 'Book Of Daniel' during the NBC 2005 Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 25, 2005 in Beverly Hills, California.
(Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)


On the Movie The Assignment:
  • "Well, when I first got sent the script to The Assignment (1997), I thought, 'Why don't they offer this to Andy Garcia?' And it turned out they did. I said, 'Oh, OK'. I had a little bit of a question of 'How the hell am I gonna be believable?' Or 'Will it be that much of a question in the audience's mind that I'm supposed to be Venezuelan?' So, we went with the brown contacts for Carlos and darkened my skin, worked with a good dialogue coach. And then when I heard Andy Garcia was playing an Irish cop in Sidney Lumet's movie [Night Falls on Manhattan (1996)], I stopped worrying about it. But that's one of the great things about being an actor. We get to play dress up. And that's what this movie was for me. Wigs, beards, mustaches, dialogues. Intrigue. It was a tremendous amount of hard work, but fun work for me".


  • There was one moment in high school where I thought, "Maybe I'll take an acting class." And I walked in and saw all the quote unquote theatre people and I went, "Oh God," and walked out. But later, when I was 19, I actually took an acting class and I was very much smitten with it.


  • I'm not a city kind of guy. I'm happiest when I'm tromping through the woods. That's why I don't live in Los Angeles. Being physically away from Hollywood probably loses me a few jobs, but the best ones seek me out.


  • I think my being such a nomad let me into acting. I was always having to create a new image whenever we moved.


  • I'm not particularly a career-oriented guy. I'm lucky. I can make really interesting films much of the time with interesting people yet be anonymous, have a private life. But, I'd like to have the choice of the better roles.


  • I don`t care about my career particularly. And the more I don`t, the more work comes my way.

  • I was on this remote island a thousand miles off the coast of Kenya. The island didn't have electricity, but some people had generators, and I went to someone's house and there was a video of Desperately Seeking Susan playing. I think it was the only frigging television on the whole island. That was very bizarre.




Did you know ?
The Quinn family's 2nd home is a 18th century cottage in upstate New York.

Aidan decided that he wanted to be an actor in 1978. He was 19 years old and living in Ireland at that point. It was hard getting acting jobs in Ireland, so he moved to Chicago US.

In 2000, Aidan & co. won the Special Jury Prize for outstanding ensemble performance - Dramatic at the Sundance Film Festival for: Songcatcher (2000).

Aidan was born on same day as Lucie Vondrackova.

Aidan auditioned at least twice for the Coen Bros. without being hired, so from then on, he said he refuses their audition requests.

Aidan is a Member of the world renowned Goodman Theater Acting Company in Chicago, Illinois.

After portraying Paul McCartney in a television movie, Aidan met Paul by chance while staying at the same hotel and they have since became friends.

Was Paramount's choice to play Jesus Christ in their production of The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) before a storm of controversy forced them to cancel their plans for the movie. Soon after, Universal picked up the movie with Willem Dafoe playing Christ.

He was seriously considered for the lead role of Jake Brigance in A Time to Kill but the role went to Matthew McConaughey instead.

Aidan was listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1986" in John Willis' Screen World, Vol. 38.

Comments

  • Liloh
    LMAO Nawi I aint angry. Yeah you are right Gab has beautiful eyes, but Aidan s are just Wuf Wuf. LMAO

    Is it me or he is seriously wearing an earing?????!! If yes. Gaawwd it even doesnt suite him.
    Flixster - Share Movies
    posted 371 days ago
  • Liloh
    I dont know about other Irish guys, but Aidan has Beautiful eyes.
    posted 380 days ago
  • Liloh
    A while ago, I thought I saw his pic, looking strange. But he is still our Hero. I loved him in the Practical Magic. Nawia the Movie you talkin abt is the The Assignment I guess. It was refreshing seeing him playing bad and a good guy in a same Movie. Really great Movie.
    posted 386 days ago
  • BoomerHot
    Aidan Quinn Fans will be interested to know that Aidan is on the Boomer Hot 100 Male list. Would you help us in letting his fans know, so they can support Aidan by voting for him to be the Number One Boomer Hot Man? He is the epitome of being fabulously 'Boomer Hot.'

    They can vote at http://boomerhot.art.officelive.com/default.aspx

    Our definition of Boomer Hot: The whole package—smart, charismatic, successful, happy, a sense of humor, beauty—inner and outer, have an opinion, creating something bigger than themselves, and living life full throttle.

    Also, check out the slide shows of each Boomer Hot Man and Woman to see how Boomer Hot they are. Enjoy the show and the music.
    We're rooting for Aidan!

    Blessings,
    Sara Dawn Schneider
    PR Coordinator
    Living Life…Boomer Style Magazine

    www.LivingLifeBoomerStyle.com
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    BoomerHot@yahoo.com
    posted 433 days ago
  • Mir66
    ive always been a fan of aidan quinn, as well as the irish connection (im irish)he is extremely talented. i try to see everything he works on but could not bring myself to watch song for a raggy boy. whether it is the shame that it happened in ireland and was allowed to happen, or the fact that i have a young son and would find it much too emotional.
    anyways if you do read this aidan keep up the good work,you keep many entertained and happy. thank you
    miriam strong
    posted 661 days ago
  • Altea
    lol your Gym teacher must be looking good
    posted 896 days ago
  • Liloh
    I just love his eyes.
    posted 908 days ago
  • parasyte420
    Lol, he looks ALOT like my gym teacher!!
    ^_^
    posted 912 days ago
  • madstuff
    This man is so FINE! But I try to watch whatever he is in, and I must admit I've not seen that much. But wasn't he in that little movie "Songcatcher" about a music teach who went into the Appalachians to capture some songs? I also remember him in a movie where his dad was a stubburn guy who had a printing or publishing business. Is it one of those already listed? He has real hunk appeal & need to find a vehicle.
    posted 930 days ago
  • roxannebaroldy
    I must say that Aidan Qinn is one of the best actors I have seen in a long time! I absolutely loved him in "Practial Magic" and "Evelyn"!
    posted 1114 days ago

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Aidan Quinn Trivia

  • What film has this cast: Johnny Depp, Mary Stuart Masterson, Aidan Quinn, Julianne Moore, Oliver Platt, CCH Pounder ,Joe Gifasi ?  Answer »
  • What 1987 movie starred Richard Dreyfuss, Emilio Estevez, Madeleine Stowe, and Aidan Quinn?  Answer »
  • Someone's wrong question: Which actor played Benny in the movie Benny and Joon? Answer:Johnny Depp Nope it was Aidan Quinn   Answer »
  • Which actor played Benny in the movie Benny and Joon? You Chose: Aidan Quinn (Incorrect - 0 pts) Correct Answer: Johnny Depp just got this, aidan quinn was joon's brother benny and johnny depp's character was Sam!!  Answer »

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