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Jill Hennessy Profile |
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Birth Date: November 25, 1968
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Birth Place: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Birth Name: Jillian Hennessy
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Height: 5'8"
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Biography |
Jill Hennessy is a Canadian
actress, known for her television roles on Law & Order and
Crossing Jordan.
Hennessy was born in Edmonton, Alberta. Her father, John
Hennessy, was a meat salesman, a job that required
considerable travel and resulted in frequent moves for the
family. Her mother, Maxine, left the family in 1982, leaving
her daughter to be partially raised by her paternal
grandmother, Eleanor, in Kitchener, Ontario. She has a
younger brother, John Hennessy Jr., and an identical twin
sister, Jacqueline, who is a magazine writer and TV show
host in Canada. Hennessy has Irish, French, Swedish and
Italian ancestry on her father's side, and mostly Gypsy
Ukrainian, as well as Austrian, ancestry on her mother's.
She graduated from Grand River Collegiate Institute in
Kitchener, Ontario and used to busk in the Toronto Subway.
Hennessy and her sister played twin call girls in 1988's
Dead Ringers. She was short-listed for the role of Dana
Scully, on The X-Files. Hennessy is famous for playing
Claire Kincaid on Law & Order (1993 – 1996) and the lead
role as Jordan Cavanaugh on Crossing Jordan. In 1999 she
played Lisa in Chutney Popcorn. In 2000, Hennessy wrote,
produced, and co-directed an independent film called The
Acting Class. Inspired by a true story, the comedic faux
documentary looks at the trials and tribulations of a
dysfunctional acting class. The film co-starred her sister,
and included cameos by a number of Hennessy's former Law &
Order co-stars. In 2001 she portrayed Jackie Kennedy in the
film Jackie, Ethel, Joan: The Women of Camelot. In 2003 she
made a cameo appearance in the film Abby Singer. She also
appeared on Broadway in the musical Buddy - The Buddy Holly
Story in 1990.
Most recently, she portrayed Tim Allen's wife in the 2007
movie Wild Hogs.
On June 9, 2007, she received a star on Canada's Walk of
Fame.
Hennessy is multi-lingual, being able to speak Italian,
French, Spanish, and German. She married Paolo Mastropietro,
a former bartender and sometime actor, on October 1, 2000.
Her husband opened a tavern in Northvale, New Jersey in
1999, and named it Hennessy Tavern, after his wife. The
tavern is located next to the former bowling alley where the
television series Ed was filmed. Hennessy also enjoys riding
motorcycles with her husband. They also had a second
marriage ceremony in January 2001, which took place at New
York City Hall with Mayor Rudolph Giuliani officiating.
Their son, Marco, was born on September 17, 2003.
Hennessy is a fan of the Indigo Girls and a poster of the
act hangs in the kitchen of Jordan's on-screen apartment.
She sometimes makes appearances at music events as a guest
guitarist where she usually performs barefoot.
The Minneapolis-based band Mollycuddle wrote the song "The
Ballad of Jill Hennessy" in honor of the actress. Hennessy
was reportedly very pleased, and offered to perform with the
band on rhythm guitar. |
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Other
Information |
Her grandmother, Eleanor Hennessy, was a huge influence in
her early life. At fifteen, Jill began modeling in Toronto.
Her grandmother drove her all over town.
Her father, John, was a meat salesman, which required
considerable travel and resulted in frequent moves. Her
mother, Maxine, left the family when Jill was small. She
also has a younger brother, John Jr.
Described by Miguel Ferrer as being a non-angry version of
her "Crossing Jordan" (2001) character Jordan Cavanaugh.
Voted one of the "Fun and Fearless Females" by Cosmopolitan
Magazine (2002.)
Had a second marriage ceremony in January 2001 at New York
City Hall with Rudolph W. Giuliani officiating.
She used to busk (play the guitar and sing for money) in the
New York City subway.
Sometimes makes appearances at music events as a guest
guitarist where she usually performs barefoot.
She is such a fan of the folk duo Indigo Girls that a poster
of the act hangs in the kitchen set of her character in
"Crossing Jordan" (2001).
She and Paolo welcomed a son, Marco, on 17 September 2003.
Finalist for role of Dana Scully on "The X Files" (1993).
Speaks Italian, French, Spanish and German
Has a song named after her: "The Ballad of Jill Hennessy" by
Mollycuddle.
Barely graduated from Kitchener, Ontario, Canada's Grand
River Collegiate (high school), while her twin sister,
Jacqueline Hennessy, has a Master's degree in French
Literature.
Her mother, Maxine, is a secretary in Montréal and a
fantastic cook. Jill's father, John Paul Sr., is a meat
salesman and a sales & marketing executive in Canada. She
has a twin sister, Jacqueline Hennessy, who is an actress
and a journalist, and a younger brother, John Paul Jr.
Loves riding motorcycles with her husband.
Has Irish, Italian, Swedish, French and Ukrainian ancestry.
She loves to cook, and opened Hennessy's Tavern in
Northvale, New Jersey in 1999. The Tavern serves "comfort
food."
Has a twin sister named Jacqueline with whom she used to
perform in an act named (what else?) "Jack and Jill".
Shares the same three initials with Jeff Hardy, a
professional wrestler of the World Wrestling Entertainment.
Expecting second child with husband Paolo Mastropietro in
late 2007.
Son Marco, born 17 September 2003. |
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