Ann Dowd Net Worth

Ann Dowd is an American actress with an estimated net worth of $4 million. She is widely recognized for her powerful performances as Patti Levin on HBO’s The Leftovers and Aunt Lydia Clements on Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale. Over a career spanning nearly four decades, Dowd has built a reputation as one of Hollywood’s most respected character actresses.

She has accumulated more than 110 acting credits, appearing in acclaimed films, prestige television series, and Broadway productions.

Early Life

Ann Dowd was born on January 30, 1956, in Holyoke, Massachusetts, and raised in an Irish Catholic household with six siblings. Her parents are Dolores and John Dowd, and her family has deep roots in business—her great-grandfather founded The Dowd Agencies, an insurance company.

Dowd discovered acting while performing in school plays at Williston Northampton School. She later attended the College of the Holy Cross, where she studied acting while also pursuing pre-medical studies. After graduating in 1978, she earned a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from DePaul University’s Goodman School of Drama, where she received a scholarship from the Sarah Siddons Society.

Career

Dowd made her television debut in the 1985 TV movie First Steps and soon became a familiar face on network television. Early guest roles included appearances on Law & Order, Chicago Hope, The X-Files, and Judging Amy.

Her first feature film was “Green Card” (1990), followed by notable roles in Lorenzo’s Oil (1992) and Philadelphia (1993). Throughout the 1990s, she steadily worked in both independent films and studio projects, earning recognition for her emotional depth and versatility.

Film and Television Breakthrough

Dowd’s career gained significant momentum in the 2000s with appearances in films such as:

• Garden State (2004)
• The Manchurian Candidate (2004)
• Flags of Our Fathers (2006)
• Marley & Me (2008)

Her critically acclaimed performance in “Compliance” (2012) marked a turning point, earning her multiple best supporting actress awards and solidifying her status as a top-tier dramatic performer.

Major Television Roles

From 2014 to 2017, Dowd portrayed Patti Levin on HBO’s The Leftovers, a role that earned her widespread praise and an Emmy nomination.

Her most iconic role came in 2017, when she began playing Aunt Lydia on The Handmaid’s Tale. The performance earned Dowd a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, along with multiple additional nominations and critics’ awards. The series ran until 2025, significantly boosting her career profile and earnings.

She has also appeared in series such as Masters of Sex, Good Behavior, Quarry, True Detective, and Lambs of God.

Recent Work

In recent years, Ann Dowd has continued to appear in high-profile projects, including:

• Hereditary (2018)
• Mass (2021)
• The Independent (2022)
• The Exorcist: Believer (2023)
• The Friend (2024)

Her performance in Mass earned her numerous Best Supporting Actress awards from film critics associations across the U.S.

Broadway and Theater

In addition to film and television, Dowd has appeared on Broadway, starring in productions such as Candida, Taking Sides, and The Seagull. Her stage work has played a key role in shaping her disciplined acting style.

Personal Life

Ann Dowd married fellow actor Lawrence Arancio in 1984, and the couple has three children. Both Dowd and Arancio work as acting coaches and have collaborated on several film and television projects.

Dowd is also an advocate for foster care and received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from the College of the Holy Cross in 2016.

Ann Dowd Awards

Ann Dowd’s honors include:

• Primetime Emmy Award (The Handmaid’s Tale)
• Critics’ Choice Television Award
• Satellite Award
• Multiple film critics association awards
• Golden Globe and Emmy nominations

She was also honored with the Agnès Varda Trailblazing Film Artist Award in 2021.

Ann Dowd Net Worth

Ann Dowd net worth is estimated to be $4 million.