Olympia Dukakis

When Olympia Dukakis won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar as Rose, Cher's wry mom in Moonstruck (1987), few of her new legions of adoring fans realized she was a 25-year acting veteran. The cousin of 1988 presidential candidate Michael Dukakis, the actress was born to Greek immigrant parents on Jan. 20, 1931, in Lowell, Mass., and began acting onstage after attending Boston University.

Dukakis made her film debut in Lilith (1964) and, five years later, played Dustin Hoffman's mother in John and Mary. While earning two "Obies" for her off-Broadway work, she made small film appearances in the 1970s and '80s (Made for Each Other, Death Wish, The Wanderers and The Idolmaker).

After Moonstruck, Dukakis enjoyed prominent roles in Steel Magnolias, Dad, Look Who's Talking, The Cemetery Club and television's "Tales of the City." She continues to teach drama at New York University.

Moonstruck

1987 PG

In this slice-of-life comedy about the Italian American residents of a Brooklyn neighborhood, an independent-minded widow falls in love with a one-handed misfit baker, much to the chagrin of her betrothed.