This page uses content from the Laura Dern biography page on the English version of Wikipedia and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. This list of authors can be seen in the page history. Rotten Tomatoes disclaims any and all warranties as to the accuracy or reliability of the content.

Laura Elizabeth Dern (born February 10, 1967 in Los Angeles, California) is an American actress. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in the movie Rambling Rose. Her other movies include Jurassic Park, Jurassic Park III, Blue Velvet, A Perfect World, Wild at Heart, October Sky (based on the book Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam), Mask, and We Don't Live Here Anymore, for which she received the award for Best Supporting Actress from the Boston Society of Film Critics. Dern and her mother Diane Ladd were the first and only mother and daughter ever to be nominated for an Academy Award for acting in the same film in Rambling Rose. They, however, did not play a mother and daughter in the film. Dern also starred as Ruth in the satire Citizen Ruth, the directorial debut of Alexander Payne. Dern may also reprise her role as Ellie Sattler in Jurassic Park IV

Dern has also done much work on television, most notably Afterburn, for which she received a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Mini-Series or Movie. She has also guest-starred on The West Wing, as a voice on King of the Hill, and as a lesbian who coaxes Ellen DeGeneres out of the closet in the infamous "Puppy Episode" of the television series Ellen.

Dern is also known as an out-spoken activist and supporter of many charitable causes, such as The Children's Health Environmental Coalition, which aims to raise awareness about toxic substances that can affect a child's health.

Personal

Dern is the daughter of Bruce Dern and Diane Ladd and the great-granddaughter to former Utah governor George H. Dern. She married Ben Harper on December 23, 2005 after dating for five years. They have two children: son Ellery and daughter Jaya.

Before she was married to Harper, Dern had high-profile romances with Kyle MacLachlan, Renny Harlin, Jeff Goldblum and Billy Bob Thornton, who ended their relationship abruptly by marrying Angelina Jolie.

Laura, according to Hugh Grant, also happened to have dinner with him and Jeff Goldblum on the night of Hugh's infamous arrest in which he solicited a prostitute.

Filmography

• Jurassic Park IV (2008) .... Dr. Ellie Sattler
• Tenderness (2007)
• Year of the Dog (2007) .... Bret
• Inland Empire (2006) .... Nikki/Sue
• Lonely Hearts (2006) .... Rene
• The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio (2005) .... Dortha Schaefer
• Happy Endings (2005) .... Pam Ferris
• We Don't Live Here Anymore (2004) .... Terry Linden
• King of the Hill (2003) TV Episode (voice) .... Katherine & (2002) TV Episode (voice) .... Serving Wench
• Damaged Care (2002) (TV) .... Linda Peeno (also produced)
• The West Wing (2002) TV Episode .... U.S. Poet Laureate Tabatha Fortis
• I Am Sam (2001) .... Randy Carpenter
• Focus (2001) .... Gertrude 'Gert' Hart
• Novocaine (2001) .... Jean Noble
• Within These Walls (2001) (TV) .... Sister Pauline Quinn
• Jurassic Park III (2001) .... Dr. Ellie Sattler
• Daddy and Them (2001) .... Ruby Montgomery
• Dr. T & the Women (2000) .... Peggy
• A Season for Miracles (1999) (TV) .... Berry Thompson
• October Sky (1999) .... Miss Frieda Riley
• The Baby Dance (1998) (TV) .... Wanda LeFauve
• Ellen (1997) TV Episode .... Susan
• Bastard Out of Carolina (1996) (voice) .... Narrator
• The Siege at Ruby Ridge (1996) (TV) .... Vicki Weaver
• Citizen Ruth (1996) .... Ruth Stoops
• Frasier (1995) TV Episode (voice) .... June
• Down Came a Blackbird (1995) (TV) .... Helen McNulty (also executive producer)
• The Gift (1994) (TV) (Director)
• A Perfect World (1993) .... Sally Gerber
• Fallen Angels (1993) TV Episode .... Annie Ainsley
• Jurassic Park (1993) .... Dr. Ellie Sattler
• Afterburn (1992) (TV) .... Janet Harduvel
• Rambling Rose (1991) .... Rose
• Wild at Heart (1990) .... Lula Fortune
• Industrial Symphony No. 1: The Dream of the Broken Hearted (1990) (TV)
• Fat Man and Little Boy (1989) .... Kathleen Robinson
• Nightmare Classics (1989) TV Episode .... Rebecca
• Haunted Summer (1988) .... Claire Clairmont
• Predator: The Concert (1987)
• Blue Velvet (1986) .... Sandy Williams
• Smooth Talk (1985) .... Connie
• Mask (film) (1985) .... Diana Adams
• The Three Wishes of Billy Grier (1984) (TV) .... Crissy
• Teachers (1984) .... Diane
• Happy Endings (1983) (TV) .... Audrey Constantine
• Shannon (1981) TV Episode
• Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains (1981) .... Jessica McNeil
• Foxes (1980) .... Debbie
• Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974) (uncredited) .... Girl Eating Ice Cream Cone
• White Lightning (1973) (uncredited) .... Sharon Anne, Maggie's Daughter

External links

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