Marisa Tomei was born on December 4, 1964 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. She is an Academy Award-winning American film and stage actress.

After her next major film, Oscar (1991), starring Sylvester Stallone, bombed, Tomei gave what appeared to be a bona fide star-making performance in the 1992 comedy My Cousin Vinny, costarring Joe Pesci and The Karate Kid’s Ralph Macchio.

She gave a good performance as the silent screen actress Mabel Normand in Chaplin (1992), starring Robert Downey Jr., but her first project as a romantic lead, in the weepy romance Untamed Heart (1993), costarring Christian Slater, was a critical and commercial disappointment. Tomei also appeared opposite Michael Keaton in The Paper and reteamed with Robert Downey Jr. in Only You (both 1994).

Tomei’s fortunes improved with a string of film roles in 2000, beginning with the small independent film Happy Accidents, costarring Vincent D’Onofrio, which screened at Sundance in 2001. She also costarred opposite Keanu Reeves and James Spader in the more mainstream thriller The Watcher, and had a featured role in the hit comedy What Women Want, starring Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt. In early 2001, she appeared as the sidekick of Ashley Judd’s character in the romantic comedy Someone Like You.

In 2001, Tomei emerged as a serious dramatic actress with an acclaimed performance in In the Bedroom, playing a mother of two whose estranged husband kills her younger lover. Though the film’s stars, Sissy Spacek and Tom Wilkinson, carry much of the movie on their shoulders, Tomei’s affecting supporting performance earned her rave reviews, and a second Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Her orher movies include Alfie (2004) and Wild Hogs (2007).

In the early 1990s, Tomei dated Robert Downey, Jr. In 1999, she dated actor Dana Ashbrook and had a relationship with Frank Pugliese. She usually likes to keep her personal life away from the media.

Filmography

• The Night Job (2007)
• The Rich Inner Life of Penelope Cloud (2007)
• War, Inc. (2007)
• Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007)
• Wild Hogs (2007)
• I Was a Network Star (2006)
• "Rescue Me" (4 episodes, 2006)
• Danika (2006)
• Factotum (2005)
• Loverboy (2005)
• Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing & Charm School (2005)
• Alfie (2004)
• "Game Over" (2004)
• Anger Management (2003)
• "The Simpsons" (1 episode, 2003)
• The Wild Thornberrys Movie (2002)
• The Guru (2002)
• Just a Kiss (2002)
• Jenifer (2001)
• Someone Like You... (2001)
• In the Bedroom (2001)
• What Women Want (2000)
• King of the Jungle (2000)
• The Watcher (2000)
• Happy Accidents (2000)
• Dirk and Betty (2000)
• Slums of Beverly Hills (1998)
• Only Love (1998)
• Since You've Been Gone (1998)
• My Own Country (1998)
• Welcome to Sarajevo (1997)
• A Brother's Kiss (1997)
• Unhook the Stars (1996)
• Four Rooms (1995)
• The Perez Family (1995)
• "Saturday Night Live" (1 episode, 1994)
• Only You (1994)
• The Paper (1994)
• Untamed Heart (1993)
• Chaplin (1992)
• Equinox (1992)
• My Cousin Vinny (1992)
• Zandalee (1991)
• Oscar (1991)
• Parker Kane (1990)
• "A Different World" (21 episodes, 1987-1988)
• "Leg Work" (1 episode, 1987)
• "ABC Afterschool Specials" (1 episode, 1987
• Playing for Keeps (1986)
• The Toxic Avenger (1985)
• "The Cosby Show" (1 episode, 1985)
• The Flamingo Kid (1984)
• "As the World Turns" (1956)

Awards

• ShoWest Supporting Actress of the Year 2002
• Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award Best Supporting Actress "In the Bedroom" 2001
• Southeastern Film Critics Association Award Best Supporting Actress "In the Bedroom" 2001
• MTV Movie Award Breakthrough Performance "My Cousin Vinny" 1993
• MTV Movie Award Best On-Screen Kiss "Untamed Heart" 1993
• Chicago Film Critics Association Award Most Promising Actress "My Cousin Vinny" and "Chaplin" 1992
• Oscar Best Supporting Actress "My Cousin Vinny" 1992
• Drama-Logue Award Best Actress "Beirut" 1987
• Theatre World Award "Daughters" 1986