Alyssa Milano
Early Life
Alyssa Jayne Milano was born on December 19, 1972, in Bensonhurst, a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. She is the daughter of fashion designer Lin Milano and film-music editor Thomas M. Milano. She has a younger brother, Cory, who is a decade her junior.
Career
Childhood and Teenage Years
Alyssa Milano's career began at the age of seven when her babysitter took her to an open audition for the national tour of the musical Annie. She was one of four girls selected from more than 1,500 girls. Milano's stage career took off when she appeared in two Broadway productions, "Jane Eyre" and "Butterflies Are Free".
Television Career
In 1984, Milano made her film debut in "Old Enough", a drama film that won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. However, it was her role as Samantha Micelli in the sitcom Who's the Boss? that catapulted her to fame. The show was a hit, running for eight seasons from 1984 to 1992.
In 1997, Milano was cast as Phoebe Halliwell in the supernatural series Charmed, a role she played for eight seasons until 2006. The show was a critical and commercial success, turning Milano into a household name.
Film Career
While still working on Charmed, Milano also pursued a film career, starring in movies like "Fear" alongside Mark Wahlberg, and "Hugo Pool" directed by Robert Downey Sr..
Activism
Milano is also known for her activism. She has been involved in various charitable causes, including UNICEF and PETA. In 2003, she became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, a role that has taken her to countries like Angola, India, and Kosovo.
In 2017, Milano was instrumental in popularizing the MeToo movement, a social movement against sexual abuse and harassment. Her tweet encouraging victims of sexual harassment to tweet "me too" as a status update was widely shared and sparked a global conversation about sexual harassment.
Personal Life
Milano married Cinjun Tate, the lead singer of the rock band Remy Zero, in 1999. The couple divorced later that year. In 2009, she married David Bugliari, a talent agent at Creative Artists Agency. The couple has two children.