Amy Carlson

The family was born in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, Amy Carlson spent most of her early life in the Chicago area. But at the time Amy was in junior high, she and her family also resided in the Middle East where her parents, Bob and Barb, taught at the American School. Amy has two sisters, Betsy and Lori, and a younger brother, Joe. Amy has traveled all over Europe with her entire family and on her own. They both taught and could travel and camp with each other every summer because of this. They've camped in every US state except Alaska. Amy was in Rwanda in 1994 following the war to help with aid efforts to help the victims. Amy showed her artistic talents early when she was acting in school productions and winning writing contests. High school was where she excelled as an athlete, placing in the first ever 3200 meter relay for girls in the Illinois track. After a college injury, she returned the theater with many roles on stage, beginning with Lanford Wilson's "Fifth of July" and directing Wallace Shawn's "Aunt Dan and Lemon". Amy went to Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois which is where she graduated with a cum laude, the degree of B.A. East Asian history, with an emphasis on Theater. After graduating, she moved to Chicago and pursued a degree in Improv at The Improv Olympic. She also pursued acting at The Actor's Center. An acting contract on the now-defunct soap drama Another World (1964) moved her to NYC immediately following her graduation. She has been nominated to win a Daytime Emmy Award in the category of "Outstanding Supporting Actress in an Daytime Drama Series". Her most memorable performances were of strong women, such as Alex Taylor (1999), Maggie Pistone (2000), Katie Owen (2003), and Linda Reagan (2003). Carlson resides in New York City with husband Syd Butler, bassist for Les Savy Fav, where she also is employed in the world of independent music as the co-owner of the independent label "Frenchkiss Records". Amy continues to work in the field of film and writing.