Linda Fiorentino
Encyclopedia
Linda Fiorentino is an American actress. She is best known for her roles in the films Dogma
, Vision Quest
, Men in Black
, After Hours
and The Last Seduction
.
. Fiorentino is of Italian American
Catholic
background. She graduated from Washington Township High School, in Sewell, New Jersey
, and is a graduate of Rosemont College
in suburban Philadelphia. She has studied photography, off and on, since 1987 at the International Center of Photography
in New York City
. She was married to director John Byrum
for a time, but they divorced in 1993. She is still very close to Byrum's children. She splits her time between Westport, Connecticut
, and New York City
.
. It was not until 1994 that she became widely recognized, receiving accolades for her performance in a modern film noir
, The Last Seduction
, as the murderous femme fatale
, Bridget. Because The Last Seduction was first aired on HBO television, Fiorentino was ineligible for an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, despite glowing reviews.
She later worked again with director John Dahl
, who cast her in his film Unforgettable
. Her co-star from Gotcha!
, Anthony Edwards
, has also directed her in one of his films.
Fiorentino was placed 66th on a list of "100 Sexiest Stars in Film History" by Empire magazine.
Fiorentino played a woman threatened by a sniper in the 2002 film Liberty Stands Still
. She co-starred with Paul Newman
in the 2000 heist film Where the Money Is
and with Chazz Palminteri
in the 2009 film Once More with Feeling.
Dogma (film)
Dogma is a 1999 American adventure fantasy comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, who also stars in the film along with an ensemble cast that includes Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Linda Fiorentino, Alan Rickman, Bud Cort, Salma Hayek, Chris Rock, Jason Lee, George Carlin, Janeane Garofalo,...
, Vision Quest
Vision Quest
Vision Quest is a 1985 coming of age drama film starring Matthew Modine, Linda Fiorentino, and Ronny Cox. It is based on Terry Davis' novel of the same name. In some countries, it was released as Crazy for You to market on Madonna's emerging fame and the popularity of the song...
, Men in Black
Men in Black (film)
Men in Black is a 1997 science fiction comedy film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, starring Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith and Vincent D'Onofrio. The film was based on the Men in Black comic book series by Lowell Cunningham, originally published by Marvel Comics. The film featured the creature effects...
, After Hours
After Hours (film)
After Hours is a 1985 American black comedy film, written by Joseph Minion and directed by Martin Scorsese. Paul Hackett , a New Yorker, experiences a series of adventures and perils in trying to make his way home from SoHo.-Plot:...
and The Last Seduction
The Last Seduction
The Last Seduction is a neo-noir 1994 film directed by John Dahl.The movie features Linda Fiorentino as the femme fatale, Peter Berg as a small town man whose one night affair turns into more than he wanted, and Bill Pullman as Fiorentino's husband who is chasing her and running from loan sharks at...
.
Personal life
Fiorentino was born Clorinda Fiorentino in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. Fiorentino is of Italian American
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
background. She graduated from Washington Township High School, in Sewell, New Jersey
Sewell, New Jersey
Sewell is an unincorporated area within Mantua Township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. Sewell also refers to part of Washington Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey, which is not part of Mantua Township. Locals refer to the Sewell part of Mantua as Old Sewell...
, and is a graduate of Rosemont College
Rosemont College
Rosemont College is a coeducational college located in Rosemont in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania. It was originally founded as a women's college. A Catholic college, it is operated by the Society of the Holy Child Jesus...
in suburban Philadelphia. She has studied photography, off and on, since 1987 at the International Center of Photography
International Center of Photography
The International Center of Photography is a photography museum, school, and research center in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. She was married to director John Byrum
John Byrum
John Byrum is an American film director and writer known for The Razor's Edge, Heart Beat, Duets and Inserts....
for a time, but they divorced in 1993. She is still very close to Byrum's children. She splits her time between Westport, Connecticut
Westport, Connecticut
-Neighborhoods:* Saugatuck – around the Westport railroad station near the southwestern corner of the town – a built-up area with some restaurants, stores and offices....
, and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Career
Fiorentino got her first professional role in 1985 when she starred in Vision QuestVision Quest
Vision Quest is a 1985 coming of age drama film starring Matthew Modine, Linda Fiorentino, and Ronny Cox. It is based on Terry Davis' novel of the same name. In some countries, it was released as Crazy for You to market on Madonna's emerging fame and the popularity of the song...
. It was not until 1994 that she became widely recognized, receiving accolades for her performance in a modern film noir
Film noir
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...
, The Last Seduction
The Last Seduction
The Last Seduction is a neo-noir 1994 film directed by John Dahl.The movie features Linda Fiorentino as the femme fatale, Peter Berg as a small town man whose one night affair turns into more than he wanted, and Bill Pullman as Fiorentino's husband who is chasing her and running from loan sharks at...
, as the murderous femme fatale
Femme fatale
A femme fatale is a mysterious and seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers in bonds of irresistible desire, often leading them into compromising, dangerous, and deadly situations. She is an archetype of literature and art...
, Bridget. Because The Last Seduction was first aired on HBO television, Fiorentino was ineligible for an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, despite glowing reviews.
She later worked again with director John Dahl
John Dahl
John Dahl is an American film director and screenwriter, best known for his work in the neo-noir genre.-Life and career:John Dahl was born in Billings, Montana, the second of four children . Dahl spent his young life in and around Montana all the way up through his college years...
, who cast her in his film Unforgettable
Unforgettable (film)
Unforgettable is a 1996 thriller with science fiction elements, directed by John Dahl and starring Ray Liotta and Linda Fiorentino. The movie is about a man named David Krane , who is obsessed with finding out who murdered his wife....
. Her co-star from Gotcha!
Gotcha! (1985 film)
Gotcha! is a 1985 action film, starring Anthony Edwards and Linda Fiorentino. The movie is directed by Jeff Kanew, who also directed Anthony Edwards in Revenge of the Nerds in 1984....
, Anthony Edwards
Anthony Edwards
Anthony Charles Edwards is an American actor and director. He has appeared in various movies and television shows, including Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Top Gun, Zodiac, Revenge of the Nerds, Northern Exposure and ER.-Early life:Edwards was born in Santa Barbara, California, the son of Erika...
, has also directed her in one of his films.
Fiorentino was placed 66th on a list of "100 Sexiest Stars in Film History" by Empire magazine.
Fiorentino played a woman threatened by a sniper in the 2002 film Liberty Stands Still
Liberty Stands Still
Liberty Stands Still is a 2002 film starring Wesley Snipes and Linda Fiorentino. Directed by Kari Skogland, it is a thriller about a man seeking revenge for his daughter's death.-Plot:...
. She co-starred with Paul Newman
Paul Newman
Paul Leonard Newman was an American actor, film director, entrepreneur, humanitarian, professional racing driver and auto racing enthusiast...
in the 2000 heist film Where the Money Is
Where the Money Is
Where the Money Is is a 2000 film directed by Marek Kanievska, written by E. Max Frye, and starring Paul Newman, Linda Fiorentino, and Dermot Mulroney.-Plot:...
and with Chazz Palminteri
Chazz Palminteri
Calogero Lorenzo "Chazz" Palminteri is an American actor and writer, best known for his performances in The Usual Suspects, A Bronx Tale, and his Academy Award nominated role for Best Supporting Actor in Bullets Over Broadway....
in the 2009 film Once More with Feeling.
Filmography
- Vision QuestVision QuestVision Quest is a 1985 coming of age drama film starring Matthew Modine, Linda Fiorentino, and Ronny Cox. It is based on Terry Davis' novel of the same name. In some countries, it was released as Crazy for You to market on Madonna's emerging fame and the popularity of the song...
(1985) - Carla - Gotcha!Gotcha! (1985 film)Gotcha! is a 1985 action film, starring Anthony Edwards and Linda Fiorentino. The movie is directed by Jeff Kanew, who also directed Anthony Edwards in Revenge of the Nerds in 1984....
(1985) - Sasha - After HoursAfter Hours (film)After Hours is a 1985 American black comedy film, written by Joseph Minion and directed by Martin Scorsese. Paul Hackett , a New Yorker, experiences a series of adventures and perils in trying to make his way home from SoHo.-Plot:...
(1985) - Kiki Bridges - Wildfire (1988 film) (1988) - Kay
- The ModernsThe ModernsThe Moderns is a 1988 film by Alan Rudolph, which takes place in 1926 Paris during the period of the Lost Generation and at the height of modernist literature...
(1988) - Rachel - Strangers (1991) - Helen
- ShoutShout (film)Shout is a 1991 film starring John Travolta as a music teacher who introduces rock and roll to a west Texas home for boys in 1955. Travolta was nominated for a Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor....
(1991) - Molly - Queens LogicQueens LogicQueens Logic is a 1991 comedy from Seven Arts Pictures starring Kevin Bacon, Linda Fiorentino, Joe Mantegna, Jamie Lee Curtis, John Malkovich, Ken Olin, Chloe Webb and Tom Waits...
(1991) - Carla - Chain of DesireChain of DesireChain of Desire is an American 1992 drama - romance film directed by Temístocles López. The film was presented at the Turin Film Festival in November 1992 and was released in the USA on June 25, 1993.-Cast:* Mickey Cottrell - Procurer...
(1992) - Alma D'Angeli - Beyond the Law (1992) - Renee Jason
- Acting on ImpulseActing on Impulse (film)Acting on Impulse is a 1993 film starring Linda Fiorentino, Nancy Allen and C. Thomas Howell. The film is also known under the alternate titles Secret Lives and Eyes of a Stranger...
(1993) - Susan Gittes - The Last SeductionThe Last SeductionThe Last Seduction is a neo-noir 1994 film directed by John Dahl.The movie features Linda Fiorentino as the femme fatale, Peter Berg as a small town man whose one night affair turns into more than he wanted, and Bill Pullman as Fiorentino's husband who is chasing her and running from loan sharks at...
(1994) - Bridget Gregory/Wendy Kroy - The Desperate Trail (1994) - Sarah O'Rourke
- JadeJade (film)Jade is a 1995 erotic thriller film written by Joe Eszterhas, produced by Robert Evans, directed by William Friedkin and starring David Caruso, Linda Fiorentino, Chazz Palminteri, Richard Crenna and Michael Biehn. The original music score was composed by James Horner...
(1995) - Trina Gavin - UnforgettableUnforgettable (film)Unforgettable is a 1996 thriller with science fiction elements, directed by John Dahl and starring Ray Liotta and Linda Fiorentino. The movie is about a man named David Krane , who is obsessed with finding out who murdered his wife....
(1996) - Dr. Martha Briggs - Larger than LifeLarger Than Life (film)-Plot:Jack Corcoran is a motivational speaker for the masses in mini-malls and rented halls across the country. Jack's advice is, "if life isn't all that you expected, put aside all those wouldas, couldas and shouldas and Get over it!" Jack's dad was a circus clown and just passed on, leaving his...
(1996) - Terry Bonura - Men in BlackMen in Black (film)Men in Black is a 1997 science fiction comedy film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, starring Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith and Vincent D'Onofrio. The film was based on the Men in Black comic book series by Lowell Cunningham, originally published by Marvel Comics. The film featured the creature effects...
(1997) - Dr Laurel Weaver ("L") - Kicked in the HeadKicked in the HeadKicked in the Head were a ska punk band founded in Boston, Massachusetts in the mid-1990s. They appeared on the Warped Tour in 1998 and opening for the band The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Kicked in the Head disbanded in 2005. Known for Halloween shows with Big D and The Kids Table....
(1997) - Megan - Body Count (1998) - Natalie
- DogmaDogma (film)Dogma is a 1999 American adventure fantasy comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, who also stars in the film along with an ensemble cast that includes Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Linda Fiorentino, Alan Rickman, Bud Cort, Salma Hayek, Chris Rock, Jason Lee, George Carlin, Janeane Garofalo,...
(1999) - Bethany Sloane - Ordinary Decent CriminalOrdinary Decent CriminalOrdinary Decent Criminal is a 2000 crime/comedy film, directed by Thaddeus O'Sullivan, written by Gerard Stembridge. The film is loosely based on the story of Martin Cahill, a famous Irish crime boss.- Plot :...
(2000) - Christine Lynch - What Planet Are You From?What Planet Are You From?What Planet Are You From? is a 2000 comedy film starring Garry Shandling and Annette Bening. It was directed by Mike Nichols.-Plot:A denizen of a faraway planet occupied only by highly evolved males is ordered to find a female human, impregnate her and bring the baby back to the planet...
(2000) - Helen Gordon - Where the Money IsWhere the Money IsWhere the Money Is is a 2000 film directed by Marek Kanievska, written by E. Max Frye, and starring Paul Newman, Linda Fiorentino, and Dermot Mulroney.-Plot:...
(2000) - Carol MacKay - Liberty Stands StillLiberty Stands StillLiberty Stands Still is a 2002 film starring Wesley Snipes and Linda Fiorentino. Directed by Kari Skogland, it is a thriller about a man seeking revenge for his daughter's death.-Plot:...
(2002) - Liberty Wallace - Once More with Feeling (2009) - Lydia