Dukakis made early screen appearances in films such as Lilith (1964) and John and Mary (1969), playing supporting roles. However, she rose to national prominence in 1987 with her Oscar-winning performance as Rose Castorini in the romantic comedy Moonstruck. Her portrayal brought her numerous accolades and widespread recognition.
Following her Hollywood success, Dukakis remained active in film, television, and theater. She appeared in well-known films including Steel Magnolias, Look Who’s Talking, Mr. Holland’s Opus, Dad, and The Cemetery Club. Her television work included impactful performances in Tales of the City and its sequels, as well as recurring roles in series such as Bored to Death.
In 1999, Dukakis starred in the one-woman play Rose, which debuted at London’s National Theatre before moving to Broadway. She continued to perform in stage productions into her later years, including roles in The Milktrain Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore and Vigil (both in 2011), as well as as “Prospera” in Shakespeare’s The Tempest (2012), and the title role in Mother Courage and Her Children (2013) with Shakespeare & Co.
Dukakis served as a master instructor at New York University for 14 years and also taught acting at Columbia and Yale Universities. Her educational legacy influenced a generation of performers and theater practitioners.
Her work in production included several plays and films. While not credited as a producer of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest or Kennedy’s Children, she was known for supporting innovative and thought-provoking works throughout her producing efforts.
In 2003, Olympia Dukakis published her autobiography, Ask Me Again Tomorrow: A Life in Progress. The book offered candid insights into her personal life, artistic journey, and views on social issues such as feminism, health conditions like diabetes and Alzheimer’s, and aging.
Throughout her distinguished career, Dukakis received numerous honors. These include two Obie Awards for her Off-Broadway performances in A Man’s a Man and The Marriage of Bette and Boo. She won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Moonstruck. Her one-woman show Rose earned her an Outer Critics Circle Award and a Drama Desk nomination.
In 2011, she was named a Master Teacher by the Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program. She later received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Greek America Foundation and, in 2013, she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
“IMDb Olympia Dukakis Biography” https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001156/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm
“Olympia Dukakis Verified Twitter account” https://twitter.com/olympiadukakis?lang=en
“Ask Me Again Tomorrow: A Life in Progress” https://www.amazon.com/Ask-Me-Again-Tomorrow-Progress/dp/0060934093/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
“Some Things You Probably Didn’t Know and Some Great Olympia Dukakis Moments to Celebrate Her Birthday” http://www.pappaspost.com/some-things-you-probably-didnt-know-and-some-great-olympia-dukakis-moments-to-celebrate-her-birthday/
“Turner Classic Movies Olympia Dukakis” http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/53935%7C119305/Olympia-Dukakis/
Return to the previous page| Birth Date: | 20 Jun, 1931 |
| Age: | 88 yrs |
| Occupations: | Television actor Film actor Stage actor |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | Lowell |
| Education: | Boston University College of Fine Arts |
| Gender: | Female |
| Description: | American actress |
| Spouse: | Louis Zorich [M. 1962] |
| Net Worth 2021: | 6 million |
