Monica Potter Siblings: Get to Know Jessica Brokaw, Kerry Brokaw and Brigette Corcoran-Brokaw

Monica Potter, born Monica Gregg Brokaw on June 30, 1971, in Cleveland, Ohio, is an American actress and entrepreneur celebrated for her heartfelt performances and entrepreneurial spirit.

Raised in a Roman Catholic family of Irish descent, Monica grew up in a modest household with her parents, Nancy Brokaw, a secretary, and Paul Ely Brokaw Jr., an inventor credited with creating the first flame-resistant car wax.

From a young age, Monica displayed a passion for the arts, beginning her acting journey at the Cleveland Play House and later attending Villa Angela Academy and Euclid High School.

Her early ambitions led her from Cleveland to Hollywood, where she has built a reputation as a versatile actress, best known for roles in films like Con Air and Patch Adams, and her Golden Globe-nominated portrayal of Kristina Braverman in the NBC series Parenthood.

Siblings

Monica is one of four daughters in the Brokaw family, sharing a close bond with her three sisters, Jessica Brokaw, Kerry Brokaw and Brigette Corcoran-Brokaw.

Growing up in Cleveland, the sisters were raised in a tight-knit, blue-collar environment that emphasized family and hard work.

While Monica pursued a high-profile career in acting, her sisters have largely remained out of the public eye, though they share her creative lineage.

Career

Potter’s career is a blend of tenacity and talent, beginning with early modeling gigs and commercials in Cleveland at age 12.

After moving to Los Angeles in 1994, she made her screen debut as Sharon Newman on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless.

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Her film career took off with a small role as Nicolas Cage’s wife in Con Air (1997), followed by a starring turn opposite Robin Williams in Patch Adams (1998).

She showcased her range in films like Without Limits (1998), where she played the love interest of runner Steve Prefontaine, and Along Came a Spider (2001) with Morgan Freeman.

Monica also left her mark in horror with Saw (2004) and The Last House on the Left (2009).

On television, she gained acclaim as Lori Colson in Boston Legal (2004–2005), but it was her role as Kristina Braverman in Parenthood (2010–2015) that became a career-defining performance, earning her critical praise for portraying a mother navigating family challenges, including a breast cancer storyline.

Beyond acting, Monica’s entrepreneurial side shines through Monica Potter Home, launched in 2014.

Inspired by her father’s inventive spirit and her own childhood remedies for eczema, the company offers natural skincare and home decor products, operating out of her renovated childhood home in Cleveland.

She documented this journey in the HGTV series Welcome Back Potter and has expanded the business with a storefront in Garrettsville.

Accolades

Potter’s work has garnered significant recognition, reflecting her impact in both drama and ensemble performances.

Her portrayal of Kristina Braverman in Parenthood earned her a 2013 Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series and a 2014 Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries, or Television Film, accolades that highlight her emotional depth in the role.

She also received a TCA Award nomination for Individual Achievement in Drama for the same series.

Earlier, her work on Boston Legal contributed to a 2005 Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, shared with her castmates.