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Jill Hennessy Biography Quotes 8 Report mistakes

Jill Hennessy, Actress
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8 Quotes
Born asJillian Noel Hennessy
Occup.Actress
FromCanada
BornNovember 25, 1968
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Age57 years
Early Life and Family
Jillian Noel Hennessy was born on November 25, 1968, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and grew up in Kitchener, Ontario. She is an identical twin; her sister, Jacqueline Hennessy, became a journalist and television host. The sisters began performing together as teenagers and later appeared side by side on screen early in their careers. Jill Hennessy's upbringing in Canada and early exposure to performance shaped a career that would span film, television, and music.

Early Career
Hennessy's first notable screen appearance came in David Cronenberg's Dead Ringers (1988), where she appeared with her twin sister. She worked on stage in Canada and later in New York, building a résumé that mixed theater with independent film. A prominent early film role arrived with RoboCop 3 (1993), in which she played Dr. Marie Lazarus, showcasing a poised, intelligent screen presence that would become a hallmark of her work.

Breakthrough on Law & Order
Hennessy gained wide recognition as Assistant District Attorney Claire Kincaid on Dick Wolf's Law & Order, joining the series in 1993. Working alongside Sam Waterston, Jerry Orbach, S. Epatha Merkerson, and other franchise mainstays, she brought a grounded intensity to the role over multiple seasons. Her character's moral clarity and resilience made her one of the show's most memorable prosecutors and established Hennessy as a dramatic lead on network television.

Film and Television: Range and Reinvention
Following Law & Order, Hennessy expanded her screen work in both film and television:
- She starred opposite Keenen Ivory Wayans and Jon Voight in the action thriller Most Wanted (1997).
- She appeared with Steven Seagal and DMX in Exit Wounds (2001).
- She portrayed Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in the television miniseries Jackie, Ethel, Joan: The Women of Camelot (2001), earning praise for a nuanced, empathetic performance.

Her longest-running starring role came as Dr. Jordan Cavanaugh on NBC's Crossing Jordan (2001, 2007). As a brilliant, headstrong Boston medical examiner, Hennessy led an ensemble that included Miguel Ferrer, Kathryn Hahn, Steve Valentine, and Ravi Kapoor; Ken Howard portrayed Jordan's father, Max. The series blended forensic investigation with character-driven storytelling and cemented Hennessy's reputation as a versatile lead.

Hennessy continued to mix mainstream and independent projects. She appeared in the comedy feature Wild Hogs (2007) as Kelly, the wife of Tim Allen's character. On television, she drew critical notice in the limited series Shots Fired (2017) as Alicia Carr, a grieving mother, and later co-starred in Showtime's City on a Hill (2019, 2022) as Jenny Rohr, acting opposite Kevin Bacon and Aldis Hodge in a gritty Boston crime drama.

Music Career
A singer-songwriter as well as an actor, Hennessy released the album Ghost in My Head in 2009, followed by I Do in 2015. Her music, rooted in folk, country, and rock influences, highlights her storytelling sensibility and warm, lived-in vocals. She has performed at clubs and festivals across North America, often interspersing touring with her screen work.

Personal Life
Hennessy married Paolo Mastropietro in 2000. They have two sons, Marco (born 2003) and Gianni (born 2007). Her twin sister, Jacqueline Hennessy, remains an active presence in Canadian media, and the siblings have occasionally collaborated or appeared together publicly, reflecting a close family bond that has been part of Jill Hennessy's public narrative since the beginning of her career.

Recognition and Philanthropy
Hennessy was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in 2007, an acknowledgment of her cultural impact at home and abroad. In addition to her professional work, she has participated in charitable events and concerts, supporting causes related to education, health, and the arts.

Legacy
Across decades on screen and stage, Jill Hennessy has been associated with smart, resilient, and empathetic characters, from a principled prosecutor on Law & Order to the brilliant, emotionally complex medical examiner at the center of Crossing Jordan. Her parallel life as a songwriter has broadened her artistic footprint, while collaborations with figures such as Sam Waterston, Jerry Orbach, Miguel Ferrer, Kathryn Hahn, Kevin Bacon, and Aldis Hodge have placed her at the heart of influential ensembles. Hennessy's range and steady presence have made her a distinctive and enduring voice in North American film and television.

Our collection contains 8 quotes who is written by Jill, under the main topics: Writing - Live in the Moment - Parenting - Mental Health - Confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
  • Jill Hennessy twin: Identical twin sister, Jacqueline Hennessy, a Canadian TV host/journalist.
  • Jill Hennessy & husband: Married to Paolo Mastropietro since 2000; two sons, Marco and Gianni.
  • Jill Hennessy height: About 5 ft 8 in (173 cm).
  • What is Jill Hennessy net worth? Public estimates are around $12 million.
  • Jill Hennessy young: Canadian-born (1968); early roles include Dead Ringers (1988); breakout on Law & Order in the early ’90s.
  • Paolo Mastropietro: Jill Hennessy’s husband (m. 2000), an Italian‑American restaurateur; they have two sons.
  • Jill Hennessy movies and TV shows: Law & Order, Crossing Jordan, City on a Hill; films include Dead Ringers, RoboCop 3, Autumn in New York, Exit Wounds, Most Wanted.
  • How old is Jill Hennessy? She is 57 years old
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