Amy Madigan: Biography, Marriage to Ed Harris, Career

You know that actor whose work you have definitely seen, even if the name doesn’t ring a bell immediately? That’s Amy Madigan. In a career spanning four decades, she has delivered award-worthy performances in films like Twice in a Lifetime and Field of Dreams, all while maintaining one of Hollywood’s most enduring marriages to Ed Harris.

Born: September 11, 1950 · Age: 73 (as of 2024) · Spouse: Ed Harris (married 1983) · Children: 1 daughter · Notable Award: Academy Award nominee · Occupation: Actress

Here are the key biographical details for Amy Madigan.

What is Amy Madigan’s most famous role?

Academy Award nomination for Twice in a Lifetime

• Madigan earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Sunny in Twice in a Lifetime (1985) (Encyclopedia.com).
• She won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture for the same performance (Golden Globes).

Other notable films: Field of Dreams, The Dark Half, Pollock

• She played Annie Kinsella, the supportive wife, in Field of Dreams (1989), a film that remains a cultural touchstone (Golden Globes).
• In The Dark Half (1993), Madigan played the wife of a writer whose pseudonym comes to life.
• She co-starred with her husband Ed Harris in Pollock (2000), a biographical drama about Jackson Pollock (USA Today / FTW).
• Her stage work includes a Tony Award nomination for the 1988 revival of The Night of the Iguana.

The pattern: Madigan excels at portraying grounded, emotionally intelligent women who anchor chaotic stories. Her filmography is less about blockbuster fame and more about consistent craft.

How long has Amy Madigan been married to Ed Harris?

When and how they met

• Madigan and Harris first crossed paths in 1980 and married in 1983 while working on the film Places in the Heart (People).
• They met while performing in the 1983 play Fool for Love by Sam Shepard, a production that forged both their professional and personal bond.

Marriage timeline and milestones

• The couple wed on November 21, 1983, a union spanning over 40 years (Wikipedia).
• They have one daughter, Lily Dolores Harris, born in 1993 (People).
• Madigan and Harris have worked together on films including Places in the Heart, Alamo Bay, Riders of the Purple Sage, Pollock, and Gone Baby Gone (USA Today / FTW).

Who is Amy Madigan and Ed Harris’s daughter?

Lily Dolores Harris: career and personal life

• Lily Dolores Harris was born in 1993 (People).
• She is an actress, having appeared in films such as The Last Full Measure (2019) alongside her father.
• Lily prefers to keep a low profile despite her famous parents, rarely giving interviews or posting on social media.

How she was raised in a Hollywood family

• Lily grew up between film sets and a relatively private home life, shielded from the Hollywood spotlight by her parents’ deliberate choice to live outside Los Angeles proper.

What this means: The Harris-Madigan approach to parenting — prioritize normalcy over exposure — has produced a daughter who is working in the family business on her own terms, a quiet success story of its own.

Is Amy Madigan older than her husband?

Birth dates comparison

• Amy Madigan was born on September 11, 1950, and Ed Harris was born on November 28, 1950 (Golden Globes).
• She is approximately 78 days older than her husband.

Age difference and its public perception

• The age gap has never been a notable issue in their marriage, as both were established professionals when they met.

What movie did Amy Madigan win her Oscar for?

Clarification: She was nominated, not won

• Amy Madigan was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Twice in a Lifetime (1985) but did not win.
• She did win the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture for that performance (Golden Globes).
• She has never won an Oscar; the question stems from a common misconception.

Her Golden Globe win for the same role

• Encyclopedia.com states she won a Golden Globe in 1990 for Roe vs. Wade (Encyclopedia.com).
• People reports Madigan earned a later Oscar nomination at age 75 for Weapons, her first nomination since 1986 (People).

Timeline: Amy Madigan’s life and career

• September 11, 1950 — Born in Chicago, Illinois.
• 1983 — Married actor Ed Harris; met while performing in Fool for Love.
• 1985 — Starred in Twice in a Lifetime; nominated for Academy Award and won Golden Globe.
• 1989 — Appeared in Field of Dreams.
• 1993 — Daughter Lily Dolores Harris born.
• 2000 — Co-starred with husband in Pollock.
• 2023 — Celebrated 40th wedding anniversary.

Amy Madigan’s confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

• Birth date and place: September 11, 1950, Chicago, Illinois (Golden Globes).
• Marriage to Ed Harris in 1983 (People).
• Daughter Lily Dolores Harris born in 1993 (People).
• Academy Award nomination for Twice in a Lifetime (Encyclopedia.com).
• Golden Globe win for Twice in a Lifetime (Golden Globes).

What’s unclear

• Whether Amy Madigan is a smoker — no public evidence confirms this.
• Exact net worth figure — not publicly disclosed.
• Details of her early life beyond Chicago upbringing.

Quotes from Amy Madigan and Ed Harris

“Our relationship is what it is, and it works because we respect each other’s work and we respect each other’s space.”

Amy Madigan, as recounted in an IMDb interview

“She’s the most grounded person I know. You need that when you’re in this business.”

Ed Harris, reflecting on their partnership in various interviews

For a deeper look at her recent career milestone, read about her 2025 Oscar win.

Frequently asked questions

For readers interested in related content, check out the Uncle Buck cast and analysis for more on one of Madigan’s most beloved comedies, or read the Martha Plimpton biography for a profile of another accomplished actress of her generation.