Laura Innes, who first appeared on “ER” during its second season as the physically challenged yet fiercely independent Dr. Kerry Weaver, swapped her recurring role for regular cast status by the time the series began its third season. Since then, she has received two Emmy Award nominations for her portrayal as well as three Screen Actors Guild Awards as part of the “ER” ensemble and received nominations for Best Supporting Actress from Viewers for Quality Television.

Innes has also stepped behind the camera several times to direct episodes of the Emmy-winning drama - including the critically acclaimed 2000 episode in which Kellie Martin’s character, Lucy Knight, was fatally stabbed. For good measure, she has also directed episodes of NBC’s popular “The West Wing” (for which she earned an Emmy nomination for directing).

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.”

Innes attended Northwestern University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in theater. She then worked on stage in Chicago, which included the role as Stella opposite John Malkovich in “A Streetcar Named Desire” at the renowned Goodman Theatre. 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 stage credits include “Two Shakespearean Actors” opposite Eric Stoltz at the 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.

Innes guest-starred on television series such as “Party of Five” and “Brooklyn Bridge,” and appeared in the Emmy-winning cable movie “And the Band Played On.” Innes also starred in the comedy series “Louie,” starring comedian Louie Anderson. On the big screen, Innes co-starred 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 resides in Los Angeles with her husband and son. Her birthday is August 16.