Bio: Amy Frederica Brenneman was born in New London, Connecticut, to Frederica (Shoenfield), a judge in the Connecticut State Superior Court, and Russell Langdon Brenneman, Jr., an environmental lawyer. Amy's mother was one of the first women to graduate from Harvard. Amy is also a graduate of Harvard, where she majored in comparative religion. She spent one semester studying sacred dances in Nepal. While in college, she formed the Cornerstone Theater Company, a touring production company that takes classics to small towns and encourages locals to participate in them. After touring for five years, she moved to New York, where she became a teacher in Brooklyn. She landed her first TV role in 1992.
Tivia: Her parents were the first married couple at Harvard Law School, where they were both enrolled.Born to Russell L. Brenneman, an environmental lawyer, and his wife Frederica S. Brenneman, the first female Senior Judge on the Superior Court of the State of Connecticut.Graduated from Harvard University in 1986, majoring in comparative religion.Gave birth to her second child, a boy, Bodhi Russell Silberling, on 8 June 2005.After Tyne Daly had been her co-star on Judging Amy (1999), Tyne's brother Tim Daly currently appears with her on Private Practice (2007).Best friends with Maria Bello.One of the founding members of the Cornerstone Theater Company, Inc. in Los Angeles together with her husband Brad Silberling.On her father's side, she is of Swiss-German, German, English, Irish, and Scottish ancestry. On her mother's side, she is of Ashkenazi Jewish descent (from Germany, Russia, and Lithuania [where her maternal grandmother was born]). Amy's patrilineal ancestry can be traced back to Melchior Brenneman and Elizabeth Jane Stehman, who were emigrants from Bern, Switzerland to New Danville, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in the 1700s.Pro-choice activist.Daughter, Charlotte Tucker, was born weighing 7lbs 12oz, a special needs child with a rare chromosomal abnormality. (March 20, 2001)Amy has two older brothers. Matthew, a lawyer; and Andrew, an interactive software producer.Recently spoke at the March for Women's Lives rally in Washington, DC.Graduated from Glastonbury High School, Glastonbury, Connecticut, in 1982.Has played a character called "Amy" in two different shows: Judging Amy (1999) and in the Murder, She Wrote (1984) episode, A Christmas Secret (1992).Announced in January 2005 that she is expecting her second child in the spring.Entertaining us weekly as the quirky "Dr. Violet Turner" on ABC's Private Practice (2007) - the show was just picked up for a full season. (October 2007)Recently guest-starred on the Grey's Anatomy (2005) spin-off Private Practice (2007). The show is set to start in the regular ABC lineup in September 2007. (May 2007)Performing in Caryl Churchill's "Top Girls" January 11-15, 2006 with Theatre Works in Los Angeles. (January 2006)Starring in John Belluso's "A Nervous Smile" at The Williamstown Theatre Festival in Williamstown, MA with Gloria Reuben, Scott Cohen and Deirdre O'Connell. (August 2006)