A native of Dallas, Texas, Amy Acker studied acting at Southern Methodist University, where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. In 1998, she appeared in the first of several episodes of the PBS children’s series, “Wishbone,” which shot in Dallas, beginning a successful career which includes both film and television work, as well as stage work.
In 2001, she began a longstanding professional relationship with writer Joss Whedon, who cast her as Fred Burkle in The CW’s “Angel,” in which she appeared for all five seasons, even morphing into the role of an ancient demon, Illyria, who inhabited Fred’s body in the final season. Acker appeared in the last season of J.J. Abrams’ hugely popular ABC series, “Alias,” as well as performing guest roles for such shows as “The Unit,” “Supernatural,” “Private Practice” and “Grimm.” She rejoined Whedon in 2009 for his Fox sci fi series, “Dollhouse,” before creating the role of the cunning “Root” in CBS’s “Person of Interest,” a role which became a regular fixture in the show’s third season.
Acker has also starred in a number of theatrical films, appearing in 2002 in Steven Spielberg’s Leonardo DiCaprio starrer, “Catch Me If You Can.” In 2012, she once again teamed with Whedon and with Lionsgate, first for his thriller, “Cabin in the Woods” and then for his version of Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing,” reprising her role of Beatrice from her earlier theater days at the American Players Theater.
