Peri Gilpin, born Peri Kay Oldham on May 27, 1961, in Waco, Texas, is an acclaimed American actress celebrated for her wit, charm, and versatility in the entertainment industry.
Raised in Dallas after her parents’ divorce, Gilpin grew up in a family that nurtured her passion for performing.
Her mother, Sandra Jo Hauck, was a model and actress, while her biological father, James Franklin Oldham (known professionally as Jim O’Brien), was a well-known Philadelphia broadcaster who tragically passed away in a skydiving accident in 1983.
After her mother remarried Allen W. Gilpin in 1969, Peri adopted her stepfather’s surname, which she has carried into her professional career.
Siblings
Peri is one of four siblings, each of whom has experienced the highs and lows of life in unique ways.
She has a full sister, Patti Jo Wynne, born in 1965, who has also faced significant health challenges, including a diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma in 2009.
Patti has since become an advocate for sarcoma awareness, following in Peri’s footsteps.
Gilpin’s half-siblings from her mother’s second marriage include April Gilpin, an actress who passed away in 2017 at age 48 from natural causes, and Marc Gilpin, an actor known for his role in Jaws 2, who succumbed to glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer, in 2023 at age 56.
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Career
Gilpin’s journey in the entertainment industry began at a young age, performing on her father’s radio show and later honing her craft at the Dallas Theater Center.
She pursued formal acting training at the University of Texas at Austin and the British-American Drama Academy in London.
After returning to the U.S., Gilpin worked briefly as a makeup artist before transitioning to acting full-time, landing her first television roles in 1988 on shows like 21 Jump Street and Almost Grown.
Her early career included guest appearances on popular sitcoms such as Cheers, Designing Women, and Wings, setting the stage for her breakout role.
Gilpin’s defining moment came in 1993 when she was cast as Roz Doyle, the sharp-tongued radio producer on the NBC sitcom Frasier, a spin-off of Cheers.
Initially a finalist alongside Lisa Kudrow for the role, Gilpin stepped in after Kudrow was let go during early filming, bringing a three-dimensional depth to Roz that made her a fan favorite over the show’s 11-year run until 2004.
Beyond Frasier, Gilpin showcased her versatility in projects like Make It or Break It (2009-2011), where she played Kim Keeler, and voiced characters in animated series such as Danny Phantom, Superman: The Animated Series, and Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within.
She has also appeared in films like Spring Forward (2000) and telefilms such as For the Love of a Child (2006), and continues to take on roles, including a return to Frasier in its 2023 Paramount+ revival.
Alongside her acting, Gilpin co-founded the production company Bristol Cities with Frasier co-star Jane Leeves, producing projects like the unaired pilot Minister of Divine.
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