Bio
Jill Hennessy is a Canadian actress best known for her television roles as A.D.A. Claire Kincaid on Law & Order (1993-1996) and as Dr. Jordan Cavanaugh in Crossing Jordan, from 2001-2007.
She also had starring roles in the HBO horse racing series Luck (2012) and the French-British police procedural Jo, in 2013.
Although best known for her roles on Law & Order and Crossing Jordan, Hennessy is also a singer/songwriter and self-released her debut album, Ghost In My Head. Jill wrote all the music and lyrics for her album and it was recorded in Austin, Texas at Bismeaux Studios.
Jill received great reviews from Dave Marsh, Greg Quill and many others comparing her voice and music to a range of artists from Lucinda Williams, Mary Gauthier, Natalie Merchant, Joan Armatrading to Eddie Veder and the Counting Crows.
Jill performed at 2010's Lilith Tour with Sarah McLachlan, The Indigo Girls and the Court Yard Hounds (Dixie Chicks) and was featured on The Indigo Girls' live album "Staring Down The Brilliant Dream" singing "Closer To Fine."
Hailing from Edmonton, Canada, Hennessy began her acting career in Toronto appearing in the feature film Dead Ringers. She studied improvisational comedy with the famed Second City and also worked with a Toronto-based improv comedy troupe before landing a role in the Broadway-bound production of The Buddy Holly Story.
Once in New York, Hennessy starred in Ron Howard's feature film The Paper, and her additional film credits include I Shot Andy Warhol, Chutney Popcorn, Dead Broke, Row Your Boat, The Florentine, Two Ninas, Autumn in New York, Exit Wounds, Love in the Time of Money, Wild Hogs and Lymelife with Alec Baldwin, Rory and Kieran Culkin which won the International Film Critics Award at the Toronto Film Festival.
Hennessy can be seen in the films Roadie, written and directed by Michael Cuesta (L.I.E.) with Ron Eldard and Bobby Cannavale; and Small Town Murder Songs directed by Ed Gass-Donelly with Martha Plimpton and Peter Stormare. Roadie features Jill playing music from her album "Ghost In My Head".
Television audiences first came to know Hennessy from the years (1993-96) she spent playing Claire Kincaid on Law & Order. Her twin sister Jacqueline once appeared in courtroom scenes for Law & Order while Jill was unavailable for filming.
She then played Jacqueline Kennedy in the miniseries Jackie, Ethel, Joan: Women of Camelot.
In her first season of Crossing Jordan, Hennessy received a People's Choice Award nomination for Best Actress in a Drama Series. She has also received a Golden Satellite Award (Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television) from the International Press Academy for her work in the TNT cable movie Nuremberg.
Hennessy won a Gracie Award (Lead Actor in a Drama Series) and received a star on the Canada Walk of Fame.
Jill also appears in the films Dawn Rider with Christian Slater and Donald Sutherland; and Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town with Gordon Pinsent and Donal Logue, featuring an original song written and performed by Jill.
Hennessy can also be seen on the HBO series Luck, starring Dustin Hoffman, written by David Milch and produced and directed by Michael Mann.
Hennessy, her husband, Paolo Mastropietro and their two sons Marco and Gianni, divide their time between Manhattan and Los Angeles.