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Alyssa Jayne Milano (born December 19, 1972) is an American actress and singer. She is perhaps best known for her roles in the sitcom "Who's the Boss?" and Phoebe Halliwell on the supernatural series "Charmed".
Milano was born in Brooklyn, New York to Italian American parents Lin, a former fashion designer and talent manager, and Thomas M. Milano, a film music editor. She has a younger brother, Cory (born 1982), who is also an actor. Milano grew up on Staten Island and was raised Catholic. She began her career at the age of eight when she won a part in an open audition for a national tour of Annie. She appeared in television commercials and off-Broadway productions. At the age of 11, she earned her first major role in the television program Who's the Boss?, alongside Tony Danza, Judith Light, Danny Pintauro and Katherine Helmond. She starred as Samantha Micelli, the daughter of Danza's character, Tony Micelli. When Alyssa won the role, her family relocated from Staten Island to Hollywood. Alyssa produced a teen workout video in 1988 called Teen Steam. Alyssa also appeared in the Josie music video by blink-182. And later in life she was in Charmed. Won Kids' Choice Awards in 1988, '89, and '90 for her role on "Who's the Boss?"... nominated for an "Annie" Award (not the orphan this time) for her work on Lady and the Tramp II.
At the beginning of her career, Milano was known mainly for her role as Samantha Micelli on Who's the Boss? (1984-1992). She tried to shed her "nice girl" image by appearing in several films targeted at adults, such as Casualties of Love: The Long Island Lolita Story (1992), Embrace of the Vampire (1994), Confessions of a Sorority Girl (1994), Deadly Sins (1995), and Poison Ivy II: Lily (1995), where she starred opposite Johnathon Schaech and Xander Berkley. She gained more mainstream success in TV as Jennifer Mancini on Melrose Place (1997-1998), Meg Winston in Spin City and most notably as Phoebe Halliwell on Charmed (1998-2006). Both Milano and Holly Marie Combs became producers for Charmed during the show's fifth season.
Milano played the role of Eva Savelot in MCI's 1-800-COLLECT commercials. On stage, she starred in Tender Offer, a one-act play written by Wendy Wasserstein, All Night Long, and the first American musical adaptation of Jane Eyre. She returned to her theater roots in 1991, when she starred in and produced a Los Angeles production of Butterflies Are Free. In 2007, Milano began appearing on television commercials for Veet, a hair removal product. Wikipedia |
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