Laura Innes, who stepped into the recurring role of Dr. Kerry Weaver during the second season of "ER," became a series regular during the third season and has received two Emmy Award nominations for her portrayal of the fiercely independent doctor. In addition, she has received four nominations for Best Supporting Actress from Viewers for Quality Television. Innes has twice stepped behind the camera to direct episodes of "ER," including the critically acclaimed "Be Still My Heart," in which Kellie Martin's character, Lucy Knight, was fatally stabbed. She has also directed an episode of NBC's "The West Wing." Before joining television's top-rated drama, Innes was perhaps best known for her comic turn as Bunny, the promiscuous but sweet ex-wife of Lowell (Thomas Hayden Church) on NBC's "Wings." One of six children, Innes was born in Pontiac, Michigan, and raised in nearby Birmingham. She remembers her father, a college English instructor, taking the family to the famous Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario when she was small. It was there that she got her first taste of professional theater and decided to follow her father's advice to "Do what you love." After graduating from high school, Innes attended Northwestern University where she earned a bachelor's degree in theater. Work in Chicago theater followed, including a role at the renowned Goodman Theatre, playing Stella opposite John Malkovich in "A Streetcar Named Desire." She continued working in Chicago for four years and originated the lead role of Glenna in David Mamet's "Edmund" before traveling with the production to New York City. Innes' other theater credits include "Two Shakespearean Actors" opposite Eric Stoltz at Lincoln Center, "Our Town" with Campbell Scott at the Seattle Repertory Theatre, and "Three Sisters" at the La Jolla Playhouse which also starred Nancy Travis, Phoebe Cates and Jon Lovitz. She has guest-starred on television series such as "My So-Called Life," "Party of Five" and "Brooklyn Bridge," and appeared in the Emmy Award-winning cable movie "And the Band Played On." Innes also starred in the comedy series "Louie," starring comedian Louie Anderson. In 1998, Innes was seen on the big screen co-starring with Téa Leoni, Morgan Freeman and Vanessa Redgrave in the hit action-adventure film "Deep Impact," which was directed by former "ER" producer/director Mimi Leder and in "Can't Stop Dancing" with "ER" co-star Noah Wyle. Innes lives in Los Angeles with her family. Her birthday is August 16. Source: tv.com