RATINGS: Cast & Crew

DOB: May 16, 1959

Background: Winningham was born in Phoenix, Arizona, and raised in Northridge, California, where her father was chairman of the Department of Physical Education at California State University. Her favorite activities in school where drama and music classes. In her senior year at Chatsworth High School, she starred in the musical "The Sound of Music" with classmate Kevin Spacey.

Filmography: Her acting career began with television appearances on "The Gong Show," "James at 15," "The Young Pioneers," "Police Woman," "Starsky and Hutch," and other programs. In 1980, she won an Emmy Award for her supporting role in the TV movie "Amber Waves" starring Dennis Weaver. Other TV projects that followed were "The Thorn Birds," "Helen Keller: The Miracle Continues," "The Boys Next Door" and "Love is Never Silent." Her film career took off starting in 1983 with "One Trick Pony," and included roles in "St. Elmo's Fire," "Nobody's Fool," "Shy People," "Miracle Mile," "Turner and Hooch," "Wyatt Earp," "The War," "Swing Vote," and "Brothers." She received an Oscar nomination for her supporting role in the 1996 film "Georgia," which starred Jennifer Jason Leigh. While working on film projects, she has continued to return to TV with movies including another Emmy win for her supporting role in "George Wallace" followed by "Sally Hemmings: An American Scandal," "Tru Confessions," "The Magic of Ordinary Days," and her Emmy-nominated role in "Mildred Pierce." Her starring and guest roles on TV series have included "Mad About You," "E.R.," "Six Feet Under," "Touched by an Angel," "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit," "Clubhouse," "Boston Legal," "Grey's Anatomy," "Cold Case," and "24."
 

Academy Awards:

Best Supporting Actress Nomination
"Georgia" (1996); lost to Mira Sorvino ("Mighty Aphrodite")

Emmy Awards: Wins - Best TV Movie/Miniseries Supporting Actress ("Amber Waves," 1980); Best TV Movie/Miniseries Supporting Actress ("George Wallace," 1998)

Best TV Movie/Miniseries Actress Nomination
"Love is Never Silent" (1986); lost to Marlo Thomas ("Nobody's Child")

Best TV Movie/Miniseries Supporting Actress Nominations
"Hatfields and McCoys" (2012); lost to Jessica Lange ("American Horror Story")
"Mildred Pierce" (2011); lost to Maggie Smith ("Downton Abbey")
"The Boys Next Door" (1996); lost to Greta Scacchi ("Rasputin")

Best Drama Guest Actress Nomination
"Law and Order: Special Victims Unit" (2004); lost to Sharon Stone ("The Practice")

Golden Globe Awards:

Best TV Supporting Actress Nomination
"George Wallace" (1998); lost to Angelina Jolie ("George Wallace")

SAG Awards:

Best Film Supporting Actress Nomination
"Georgia" (1996); lost to Kate Winslet ("Sense and Sensibility")

Best TV Movie/Miniseries Actress Nomination
"George Wallace" (1998); lost to Alfre Woodard ("Miss Evers' Boys")