Amy Carlson

Amy Carlson was raised in Glen Ellyn (Illinois) and spent the majority of her childhood living in Chicago. But when Amy was in junior high her family also lived in the Middle East where her parents, Bob and Barb, taught at the American School. Amy is the younger sister of Betsy, Lori, and brother Joe. Amy has backpacked all over Europe with her family and independently. Both of them were teachers and could travel and camp together each summer as a result of this. They have camped in every state except Alaska. Amy went to Rwanda in 1994 after the war to assist with relief efforts. Amy was a gifted actor in school plays and won writing contests. In high school, she was a star athlete taking part in the first ever 3200 meter relay for girls in Illinois track. After college, she suffered an injury, she returned the stage with a variety of roles on stage beginning with Lanford Wilson's "Fifth of July" and directing Wallace Shawn's "Aunt Dan and Lemon". Amy attended Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois where she earned her with a cum laude, an B.A. East Asian history with a particular focus on Theater. After graduating, she moved to Chicago and pursued a degree in Improv at the Improv Olympic. She also studied acting at The Actor's Center. Following her graduation, she was offered a permanent on the now-defunct soap drama Another World (1964). She was nominated for an Daytime Emmy Award in the category of "Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Daytime Drama Series". The most memorable characters were those played by women of strength, such as Alex Taylor in Third Watch (1999), Maggie Pistone ((2000)), Katie Owen and Tom Berenger in Peacemakers(2003) and Linda Reagan in Blue Bloods(2003). Carlson lives in New York City, with Syd Butler as her husband, and is the bassist for Les Savy Fav. She also owns Frenchkiss Records, an independent music label, and is employed as a part-owner. Amy continues to write as well as seek out diverse and unique films and roles.