Actor Aidan Quinn was born on March 8, 1959 in Rockford, Illinois. Born to Irish parents, he spent part of his childhood in Ireland. He trained at Piven Theatre Workshop, and eventually began his acting career at age 19, initially appearing in plays staged at Chicago theatres.
Quinn later made the move to film, making his film debut in the 1984 romantic film Reckless. There, he already played the lead, the rebellious outcast Johnny Rourke. This was followed by a role in Desperately Seeking Susan, as the male lead Dez; it is considered as his breakthrough role. He gained further recognition in the television movie An Early Frost, playing the lead role of an attorney who is homosexual and has been diagnosed with AIDS. In earned him his first Emmy nomination.
A setback to Quinn’s career came in 1988, when he was originally pegged for the lead role in the controversial film The Last Temptation of Christ. The film, which depicted Jesus Christ is a different way, was dropped by Paramount Pictures after outcry from several Christians. When Universal Pictures picked up the film, he lost the role to Willem Dafoe. Regardless, he continued to star in films into the 1990s, getting success in releases such as Legends of the Fall, Benny & Joon and The Handmaid’s Tale. He would also appear in films paying homage to his Irish roots, such as Michael Collins and Evelyn.
Quinn would later find fame in television programs. After playing Paul McCartney in the television film Two of Us, he took a recurring role in Third Watch, appearing as police lieutenant John Miller in the show’s sixth season. He then starred in the controversial drama The Book of Daniel, which attracted attention because of its portrayal of certain aspects of the Christian faith; it was dropped after only three episodes, probably because of affiliated refusing to air the program. In 2007, he took his second Emmy nomination for his role in the television film Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. This was followed by a role in the short-lived legal drama Canterbury’s Law, playing law professor Matthew Furey.