Carolyn Hennesy, a Los Angeles native, has been in over 100 theatrical productions spanning the LA., regional and international theatre scenes. Having trained at American Conservatory Theatre and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London as well as earning a dramatic scholarship to the California State University at Northridge, she has played such distinguished houses as the Mark Taper Forum, Arizona Theatre Company, Odyssey Theatre, Lobero Theatre and Geary Stage. She also studied with the Groundlings in the early ‘90s and became a member of the Sunday Company.
From there she moved to the main company at the ACME Comedy Theatre where she performed for 5 years to critical acclaim. Carolyn is the 2000 recipient of the prestigious Natalie Schafer Award for Outstanding Comedic Actress given by the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle and has been featured as an Actor's Actor in the industry publication Backstage-West. She recently won the Ovation Award for her work in The Fan Maroo (Theatre of NOTE) and was an NAACP Award nominee for her ensemble work in Uncle Tom's Cabin (Sacred Fools). Notable theatre credits include: the long running and critically acclaimed It's Just Sex (Zephyr Theatre), Equinox (Odyssey Theatre), Two Rooms (Santa Barbara Theatre Company), View of the Dome (Egyptian Arena Stage), Tongue of a Bird and Nothing Sacred (Mark Taper Forum), The Heidi Chronicles (Arizona Theatre Company), Dangerous Liaisons, Julius Caesar, and The Lion In Winter (Knightsbridge), and her one-woman show Carolyn Hennesy's Big Leap (HBO Workspace). Films include Terminator 3, Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde, The Cougar Club, Sublime, the Believers and Click.
Television work includes many regular, guest star and recurring roles in everything from episodics to sit-coms, but she can now regularly be seen on ABC's daytime drama General Hospital in the role of Diane Miller, Port Charles' smart and sassy mob lawyer. In addition to a full-time acting career, Carolyn is also an author, proud shop-a-holic, unabashed foodie, teaches improvisational comedy, speaks American Sign Language (fairly well!) and studies the flying trapeze. But more important than any of this: she is the fabulously happy new wife of actor Donald Agnelli.
December 13, 2006 to Present
Drake & Josh
Mrs. Abernathy
2006
Commander in Chief
TV Interviewer
2006
Girlfriends
Melora Stewart
2006
Barbershop
Mrs. Kane
2005
That '70s Show
Patty Ryals
2004
What I Like About You
Dr. Judith Haven
2003
Recipe for Disaster
Mrs. Devries
2003
Half & Half
Mrs. Scranton
2003
Kôkaku kidôtai: Stand Alone Complex
Kago's Mother
2002
Bram and Alice
Patricia
2002
Judging Amy
Louise Rodericks
2002
The Young and the Restless
Penelope Quinlan
2002
Any Day Now
Phyllis
2002
Reba
2001
Dawson's Creek
Mrs. Valentine
2000-2001
Strip Mall
Caroline Cantwell
2001
Moesha
Dr. Miller
2000
The Big O
Vera Ronstadt
1999
Thanks
Henrietta Randolph
1999
That '70s Show
Sharon Singer
1999
It's Like, You Know...
Cathy
1999
Encore! Encore!
Barbara
1998
Jenny
Chase Gardner
1997-1998
The Naked Truth
Flight Attendant
1997
Party of Five
Alice
1997
Wings
Flight Attendant
1997
Grace Under Fire
Gloria
1995
Deadly Invasion: The Killer Bee Nightmare
USDA Representative
1995
PLACE OF BIRTH: Los Angeles, California
DATE OF BIRTH: June 10, 1962