Olympia Dukakis was born on June 20, 1931 in Lowell, Massachusetts. She is an Academy Award-winning American actress.

She made her television debut with a guest appearance on the hit series Dr. Kildare in 1962 and made her feature film debut playing a young mother in Twice a Man (1963).

A wide variety of roles followed, and Dukakis was able to prove her abilities as a character actress. In 1983 she landed a regular role on the soap opera Search for Tomorrow.

Dukakis has starred in films, including Steel Magnolias (1989), Mr. Holland's Opus (1995), The Thing About My Folks (2005), and Moonstruck (1987), for which she won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

Her last credits include Away from Her (2006), Day on Fire (2006) and In the Land of Women (2007).

Dukakis has been married to actor Louis Zorich since 1962.

Filmography

• Poor Things (2008)
• In the Land of Women (2007)
• The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines (2006)
• Day on Fire (2006)
• Away from Her (2006)
• "Numb3rs" (1 episode, 2006)
• Jesus, Mary and Joey (2006)
• Whiskey School (2005)
• 3 Needles (2005)
• The Thing About My Folks (2005)
• The Great New Wonderful (2005)
• "Center of the Universe" (12 episodes, 2004-2005)
• The Librarian: Quest for the Spear (2004)
• "It's All Relative" (1 episode, 2003)
• Charlie's War (2003)
• Mafia Doctor (2003)
• The Event (2003)
• The Intended (2002)
• "Frasier" (1 episode, 2002)
• "The Simpsons" (1 episode, 2002)
• Guilty Hearts (2002)
• My Beautiful Son (2001)
• "Further Tales of the City" (2001)
• Ladies and the Champ (2001)
• And Never Let Her Go (2001)
• The Last of the Blonde Bombshells (2000)
• Brooklyn Sonnet (2000)
• Joan of Arc (1999)
• Better Living (1998)
• Jane Austen's Mafia! (1998)
• "More Tales of the City" (1998)
• The Pentagon Wars (1998)
• Scattering Dad (1998)
• A Life for a Life (1998)
• A Match Made in Heaven (1997)
• Picture Perfect (1997)
• Heaven Will Wait (1997)
• Never Too Late (1997)
• Milk & Money (1996)
• "Touched by an Angel" (1 episode, 1996)
• Jerusalem (1996)
• Mother (1996)
• Mr. Holland's Opus (1995)
• Mighty Aphrodite (1995)
• Jeffrey (1995)
• Young at Heart (1995)
• Dead Badge (1995)
• I Love Trouble (1994)
• Look Who's Talking Now (1993)
• "Tales of the City" (1993)
• The Cemetery Club (1993)
• Digger (1993)
• Sinatra (1992)
• Over the Hill (1992)
• Fire in the Dark (1991)
• The Last Act Is a Solo (1991)
• Lucky Day (1991)
• Look Who's Talking Too (1990)
• In the Spirit (1990)
• Steel Magnolias (1989)
• Dad (1989)
• Look Who's Talking (1989)
• Working Girl (1988)
• Moonstruck (1987)
• "The Equalizer" (1 episode, 1986)
• Walls of Glass (1985)
• "Search for Tomorrow" (1951)
• The Neighborhood (1982)
• National Lampoon Goes to the Movies (1982)
• King of America (1982)
• The Idolmaker (1980)
• F.D.R.: The Last Year (1980)
• Rich Kids (1979)
• The Wanderers (1979)
• "The Andros Targets" (1 episode, 1977)
• The Seagull (1975)
• Death Wish (1974)
• Nicky's World (1974)
• The Rehearsal (1974)
• Sisters (1973)
• Made for Each Other (1971)
• John and Mary (1969)
• Stiletto (1969)
• Lilith (1964)
• Twice a Man (1964)
• "Dr. Kildare" (1 episode, 1962)
• "The Nurses" (1 episode, 1962)

Awards

• Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Solo Performance "Rose" 2000
• CableACE Award Actress (Drama Series) "The Last Act Is a Solo" 1991
• American Comedy Award Funniest Female in a Supporting Role--Motion Picture "Moonstruck" 1988
• Golden Globe Award Best Supporting Actress "Moonstruck" 1987
• Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award Best Supporting Actress "Moonstruck" 1987
• National Board of Review Award Best Supporting Actress "Moonstruck" 1987
• Oscar Best Supporting Actress "Moonstruck" 1987
• OBIE Award Ensemble Performance "The Marriage of Bette and Boo" 1984 - 85
• OBIE Award Distinguished Performance "Mann ish Mann/A Man's a Man" 1962 - 63