Felicity Kendall Huffman is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Lynette Scavo in the ABC comedy-drama Desperate Housewives (2004–2012) and as a transgender woman in the independent film Transamerica (2005), for which she was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award.
Huffman was born in Bedford, New York, into a wealthy family. She began her acting career in theatre, and in the 1990s also had many supporting roles in film and television. She starred as Dana Whitaker in the comedy-drama Sports Night from 1998 to 2000, which earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination.
In 2019, Huffman was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud, for paying $15,000 to have a proctor correct SAT questions answered incorrectly by her daughter. She pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 14 days in prison, a $30,000 fine, 250 hours of community service, and one year of supervised release.
Huffman is a talented actress who has starred in a variety of successful films and television shows. She is also a strong advocate for education and social justice.
Felicity Huffman Daughter
Felicity Huffman has two daughters with her husband, William H. Macy: Sophia Grace Macy (born 2000) and Georgia Grace Macy (born 2002).
Felicity Huffman Movies and TV Shows
Movies
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Things Change | Wheel of Fortune Girl | |
| 1990 | Reversal of Fortune | Minnie | |
| 1992 | Quicksand: No Escape | Julianna Reinhardt | |
| 1995 | Hackers | Attorney | |
| 1997 | The Spanish Prisoner | Pat McCune | |
| 1999 | Magnolia | Cynthia | |
| 2002 | Door to Door | Joey’s Mom | Cameo |
| 2003 | House Hunting | Sheila | |
| 2004 | Raising Helen | Lindsay Davis | |
| 2004 | Christmas with the Kranks | Mary | |
| 2005 | Transamerica | Sabrina “Bree” Osbourne | African-American Film Critics Association for Best Actress Bangkok International Film Festival for Best Actress Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival for Best Actress Gold Derby Award for Lead Actress Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead Italian Online Movie Award for Best Actress Mill Valley Film Festival for Best Actress National Board of Review Award for Best Actress Palm Springs International Film Festival for Breakthrough Performance Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Lead Actress San Diego Film Festival for Best Actress Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama Southeastern Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Tribeca Film Festival for Best Actress in a Narrative Feature Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress Nominated – Academy Award for Best Actress Nominated – Austin Film Critics Association for Best Actress Nominated – Awards Circuit Community Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role Nominated – Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Nominated – Critics Choice Movie Award for Best Actress Nominated – Italian Online Cinema Award for Best Actress Nominated – Online Film & Television Award for Best Actress Nominated – Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role Nominated – St. Louis Film Critics Association for Best Actress Nominated – Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress |
| 2006 | Choose Your Own Adventure: The Abominable Snowman | Pilot Nima | Voice |
| 2007 | Darius Goes West | Herself | |
| 2007 | Georgia Rule | Lilly | Nominated – Prism Award for Performance in a Feature Film |
| 2008 | Phoebe in Wonderland | Hillary Lichten | |
| 2010 | Lesster | Mrs. Geary | Also writer and director |
| 2013 | Trust Me | Agnes | |
| 2014 | Rudderless | Emily | |
| 2014 | Big Game | CIA Director | |
| 2014 | Cake | Annette | |
| 2015 | Stealing Cars | Kimberly Wyatt | |
| 2017 | Krystal | Poppy | |
| 2019 | Otherhood | Helen Halston | |
| 2019 | Tammy’s Always Dying | Tammy MacDonald | Nominated — Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | ABC Afterschool Special | Sara Greene | Episode: “A Home Run for Love” |
| 1988 | Lip Service | Woman P.A. | Television film |
| 1991 | Golden Years | Terry Spann | TV miniseries |
| 1992 | Raven | Sharon Prior | Episode: “And Everything Nice” |
| 1992 | The Water Engine | Dance Hall Girl | Television film |
| 1992 | The Heart of Justice | Annie | Television film |
| 1992, 1997 | Law & Order | Hillary Colson / Diane Perkins | Episodes: “Helpless” and “Working Mom” |
| 1993 | The X-Files | Dr. Nancy Da Silva | Episode: “Ice” |
| 1996 | Early Edition | Det. Tagliatti | Episode: “Pilot” |
| 1996 | Bedtime | Donna | TV miniseries |
| 1996 | Harrison: Cry of the City | Peggy Macklin | Television film |
| 1997 | Chicago Hope | Ellie Stockton | Episode: “Take My Wife, Please” |
| 1998–2000 | Sports Night | Dana Whitaker | Series regular, 45 episodes Online Film & Television Association Award for Best Actress in a New Comedy Series (1999) Online Film & Television Association Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series (1999) Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series — Comedy or Musical (2000) Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (2000) Nominated – Viewers for Quality Television Award for Best Actress in a Quality Comedy Series (1999, 2000) |
| 1999 | A Slight Case of Murder | Kit Wannamaker | Television film |
| 2001 | The West Wing | Ann Stark | Episode: “The Leadership Breakfast” |
| 2001 | Snap Decision | Carrie Dixon | Television film |
| 2002 | Path to War | Lady Bird Johnson | Television film |
| 2002 | Girls Club | Marcia Holden | Episode: “Pilot” |
| 2003 | Out of Order | Lorna Colm | TV miniseries Nominated – Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television (2004) |
| 2002, 2003 | Kim Possible | Dr. Betty Director | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2003 | Frasier | Julia Wilcox | Recurring role, 8 episodes |
| 2004 | The D.A. | Charlotte Ellis | Recurring role, 3 episodes |
| 2004 | Reversible Errors | Gillian Sullivan | Television film Nominated – Prism Award for Performance in a Television Movie or Miniseries (2005) |
| 2004–2012 | Desperate Housewives | Lynette Scavo | Series regular, 180 episodes Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (2005) Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Series — Comedy or Musical (2005) Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series (2006) Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (2005, 2006) Nominated – Gold Derby Award for Comedy Lead Actress (2005, 2007) Nominated – Gold Derby Award for Ensemble of the Year (2006) Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series — Comedy or Musical (2005-2007) Nominated – Online Film & Television Association Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series (2004-2007) Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (2007) Nominated – Prism Award for Performance in a Comedy Series (2005) Nominated – Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Series — Comedy or Musical (2007, 2011) Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series (2007) Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (2006-2009) |
| 2006 | Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip | Herself | Episode: “Pilot” |
| 2015–2017 | American Crime | Barb Hanlon Leslie Graham Jeanette Hesby |
Season 1 (11 episodes) Season 2 (10 episodes) Season 3 (8 episodes) Women’s Image Network Award for Outstanding Actress Made for Television Movie/Miniseries (2015) Nominated – Awards Circuit Community Award for Best Actress in a Television Movie or Miniseries (2016) Nominated – Critics Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Movie/Limited Series (2015, 2016) Nominated – Gold Derby Award for TV Movie/Mini Lead Actress (2015, 2016) Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie (2016, 2017) Nominated – Online Film & Television Association Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Limited Series (2015-2017) Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie (2015-2017) Nominated – Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Series — Drama (2015, 2016) Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series (2017) |
| 2017 | BoJack Horseman | Herself | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2018 | Get Shorty | Special Agent Clara Dillard | 10 episodes |
| 2019 | When They See Us | Linda Fairstein | Miniseries |
| 2023 | The Good Doctor | Janet Stewart | Episode: “The Good Lawyer” |
| 2023 | The Good Lawyer | Janet Stewart |
Felicity Huffman Young
Huffman was born in Bedford, New York, into a wealthy family, the daughter of Grace Valle and Moore Peters Huffman, a banker and partner at Morgan Stanley. Her parents divorced a year after her birth, and she was raised by both of them.
Felicity Huffman Netflix Series
Felicity Huffman has starred in one Netflix series, Otherhood (2020). It is a comedy-drama film about three best friends who leave the suburbs and drive to New York City to surprise their adult sons on Mother’s Day.
Felicity Huffman Jail, 2023
Felicity Huffman served her 14-day prison sentence in 2019. She is not currently in jail.