Karen Sillas
Encyclopedia
Karen Sillas is an American
stage and film actress. She graduated from the Acting Conservatory of the State University of New York. She is also a speech coach.
and graduated from the Acting Conservatory of the State University of New York at Purchase (SUNY Purchase).
's 1992 film Simple Men
. She kicked off the 1998-99 prime-time television season with a double dose of family viewing during premiere week, appearing on two of CBS's most acclaimed TV series, Touched by an Angel
and Promised Land.
Sillas also appeared on the hit HBO series The Sopranos
, which happened to garner the most Emmy nominations of that season.
In 1994, What Happened Was... won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival
and launched Sillas into prime-time television. With CBS's critically acclaimed detective series Under Suspicion
, Sillas broke through the tough female cop stereotype with her portrayal of Rose "Phil" Phillips, the only female detective in an otherwise male-dominated squad room. Sillas has also starred in several miniseries for television, including Peter Benchley's The Beast
with William Petersen
.
but is now divorced. They have a daughter, Kelly.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
stage and film actress. She graduated from the Acting Conservatory of the State University of New York. She is also a speech coach.
Early life
Karen Sillas was born in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
and graduated from the Acting Conservatory of the State University of New York at Purchase (SUNY Purchase).
Career
Karen Sillas appeared in Hal HartleyHal Hartley
Hal Hartley is an American film director, screenwriter, producer composer, who became a key figure in the American independent film movement of the 1980s and 1990s...
's 1992 film Simple Men
Simple Men
Simple Men is a 1992 American film written and directed by Hal Hartley, starring Robert John Burke, Bill Sage, Karen Sillas and Martin Donovan. It was the debut film of actress Holly Marie Combs in a supporting role...
. She kicked off the 1998-99 prime-time television season with a double dose of family viewing during premiere week, appearing on two of CBS's most acclaimed TV series, Touched by an Angel
Touched by an Angel
Touched by an Angel is an American drama series that premiered on CBS on September 21, 1994 and ran for 211 episodes and nine seasons until its conclusion on April 27, 2003. Created by John Masius and produced by Martha Williamson, the series stars Roma Downey, as an angel named Monica, and Della...
and Promised Land.
Sillas also appeared on the hit HBO series The Sopranos
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
, which happened to garner the most Emmy nominations of that season.
In 1994, What Happened Was... won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
and launched Sillas into prime-time television. With CBS's critically acclaimed detective series Under Suspicion
Under Suspicion (TV series)
Under Suspicion was an American television police drama set in Portland, Oregon. It was created by Jacqueline Zambrano. Its episodes were broadcast on the CBS network from September 16, 1994 to March 10, 1995...
, Sillas broke through the tough female cop stereotype with her portrayal of Rose "Phil" Phillips, the only female detective in an otherwise male-dominated squad room. Sillas has also starred in several miniseries for television, including Peter Benchley's The Beast
The Beast (1996 film)
The Beast is a 1996 made for TV movie starring William Petersen, Karen Sillas and Charles Martin Smith. The movie is based on the 1991 novel Beast by Jaws author Peter Benchley. The film is about a giant squid that attacks and kills several people when its food supply becomes scarce and its...
with William Petersen
William Petersen
William Louis Petersen is an American actor and producer, best known for playing Dr. Gilbert "Gil" Grissom on the hit CBS series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. He portrayed President John F...
.
Personal life
She was married to Peter StormarePeter Stormare
is a Swedish film, stage, voice and television actor as well as a theatrical director, playwright and musician.- Early life :...
but is now divorced. They have a daughter, Kelly.
Films
- Bad Money (1999) .... Jan Wells
- Reach the RockReach the RockReach the Rock is a 1998 film directed by William Ryan.-Plot:A small town troublemaker , directionless and alienated, ends up spending a night in a jail cell, where he and the police chief engage in a battle of wills and wit.The soundtrack featured a compilation of Chicago-based Post-Rock artists,...
(1998) .... Donna - Female PerversionsFemale PerversionsFemale Perversions is a 1996 drama film, directed by Susan Streitfeld and starring Tilda Swinton, Amy Madigan, Karen Sillas, Frances Fisher, Paulina Porizkova and Clancy Brown. It draws its inspiration by Louise Kaplan's book of the same name....
(1996) .... Renee - Flirt (1995) .... Doctor Clint
- Risk (1994) .... Maya
- What Happened Was... ... (1994) .... Jackie Marsh
- Simple MenSimple MenSimple Men is a 1992 American film written and directed by Hal Hartley, starring Robert John Burke, Bill Sage, Karen Sillas and Martin Donovan. It was the debut film of actress Holly Marie Combs in a supporting role...
(1992) .... Kate - LiebestraumLiebestraum (film)Liebestraum is a 1991 mystery film directed by Mike Figgis, with Kim Novak, Kevin Anderson, Alicia Witt and Taina Elg.-Plot:Two affairs, a generation apart...
(1991) .... Nurse #3 - Trust (1990) .... Nurse Paine
- The Cartographer's Girlfriend (1987)
- Kid (1984) .... Patsy
Television
- WantedWanted (TV series)Wanted is a 2005 American primetime police drama television series broadcast on the TNT network. The series was created by Louis St. Clair and Jorge Zamacona, and executive produced by Aaron Spelling, E...
(2005) (TV movie and series) .... Mariah Belichek - Law & Order: Criminal IntentLaw & Order: Criminal IntentLaw & Order: Criminal Intent is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it was also primarily produced. Created and produced by Dick Wolf and René Balcer, the series premiered on September 30, 2001, as the second spin-off of Wolf's successful crime drama...
(TV series)- "ConsumedConsumed (Law & Order: Criminal Intent episode)"Consumed" is the third season finale episode of the television series Law & Order: Criminal Intent.-Plot summary:Three Hispanic men are found dead, all shot within a 10-minute period in an apparent hate crime...
" (2004) .... Beth Landau
- "Consumed
- The SopranosThe SopranosThe Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
(TV series)- "Nobody Knows Anything" (1999) .... Debbie
- Lies He Told (1997) (TV movie) .... Alyson Haywood
- Night Sins (1997) (TV movie) .... Dr. Hannah Garrison
- The BeastThe Beast (1996 film)The Beast is a 1996 made for TV movie starring William Petersen, Karen Sillas and Charles Martin Smith. The movie is based on the 1991 novel Beast by Jaws author Peter Benchley. The film is about a giant squid that attacks and kills several people when its food supply becomes scarce and its...
(1996) (TV movie) .... Lt. Kathryn Marcus - Under SuspicionUnder Suspicion (TV series)Under Suspicion was an American television police drama set in Portland, Oregon. It was created by Jacqueline Zambrano. Its episodes were broadcast on the CBS network from September 16, 1994 to March 10, 1995...
(1994) (TV series) .... Det. Rose "Phil" Phillips (1994–1995) - Law & OrderLaw & OrderLaw & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,...
(TV series) .... Cynthia Thomas (1 episode, 1994)