Margaret Colin

Margaret Colin
source
Name	Margaret Colin
Birth date	26 May 1957
Birth place	Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1978–present
Spouse	Justin Deas (m. 1988)

Margaret Colin. An American actress renowned for her versatile work across television, film, and Broadway. She gained prominence for her roles in the CBS soap opera The Edge of Night and later achieved wider recognition as Eleanor Waldorf on The CW's Gossip Girl and as Janet Gable in the NBC sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun. Her career is distinguished by a blend of prime time television series, independent films, and acclaimed stage performances.

Early life and education

Born in Brooklyn, she was raised in a Roman Catholic family of Irish descent. She attended St. Agnes Academic School in College Point, Queens, before pursuing higher education at Hofstra University in Hempstead. During her time at Hofstra University, she studied drama and began to cultivate her craft, which led to her professional debut on the New York City stage shortly after her studies.

Career

Colin's professional career began on the daytime television circuit with a significant role on the Procter & Gamble-produced soap opera The Edge of Night, where she played the character of Paige Madison. This role provided a springboard to prime time, leading to a co-starring role opposite Michael Murphy in the short-lived ABC series Foley Square. She later achieved notable success in the science fiction sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun, portraying the human love interest of John Lithgow's character. Her television work expanded to include series such as Chicago Hope, Law & Order, and a memorable arc on Gossip Girl. In film, she has appeared in projects like John Sayles's The Brother from Another Planet, the action film Die Hard: With a Vengeance alongside Bruce Willis, and the political thriller Independence Day. Her career is marked by consistent work in both mainstream and independent projects, including roles in The Missing Person and Blue Bloods.

Personal life

Colin married fellow actor Justin Deas in 1988, after meeting him on the set of The Edge of Night where Deas also starred. The couple has two sons and maintains a residence in New York City. She has been involved with various charitable organizations and maintains a relatively private life away from the spotlight, focusing on her family and continued work in the arts.

Filmography

A selected list of her screen credits includes the film The Brother from Another Planet (1984), Pretty in Pink (1986), Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995), Independence Day (1996), and The Missing Person (2009). Her extensive television work features series regular roles on Foley Square (1985–1986), 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996–2001), and recurring parts on Now and Again (1999–2000), Gossip Girl (2007–2012), and Blue Bloods (2013–2014). She has also guest-starred on numerous shows including Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and The Good Wife.

Stage work

Colin has maintained a strong presence in New York theatre, making her Broadway debut in the 1988 revival of Arsenic and Old Lace. She received critical acclaim for her performance in the 2007 production of The Elephant Man at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Other notable stage credits include performances in Old Money at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater and Jackie at the Lucille Lortel Theatre. Her theatrical work demonstrates her range in both classical and contemporary plays.

Awards and nominations

For her work on The Edge of Night, Colin received a Soap Opera Digest Award nomination. Her performance in the Williamstown Theatre Festival production of The Elephant Man was met with significant critical praise. While she has not won major industry awards, her consistent performances across multiple mediums have been recognized by critics and peers within the entertainment industry.

Category:American television actresses Category:American film actresses Category:American stage actresses Category:Actresses from New York City Category:1957 births Category:Living people