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  Marisa Tomei Biography

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Marisa Tomei was born on December 4, 1964 in Brooklyn, New York to parents Patricia (English teacher) and Gary Tomei (trial layer). Marisa Tomeispent most of her childhood with her grandparents Romeo and Rita, where she became interested in Broadway shows and acting. She graduated from Edward Murrow High School in 1982 and attended Boston University for a year before transferring to New York University.

In 1983, Marisa Tomei won a role in the CBS soap opera, “As the World Turns”, which led to her decision to drop out of school and focus on her acting career. Her role in this daytime drama paved the way for big-screen parts. In 1984, her film debut was with an important role in the movie, “Flamingo Kid”. In 1987, Marisa Tomei became popular as Maggie Lawton on the sitcom, “A Different World”.

Marisa Tomei’s biggest break came in 1992, when she won a role opposite Joe Pesci in the comedy film, “My Cousin Vinny”. She won an Oscar Award as Best Supporting Actress. Later that year, she also starred in the Richard Attenborough film “Chaplin”. However, it was in 1993 when Marisa Tomei was given her first leading role in “Untamed Heart” and a romantic comedy in the 1994 movie, “Only You”.

In 1996, Marisa Tomei played a memorable role as a troubled single mother in the Nick Cassavetes film, “Unhook the Stars”. She received a Screen Actors Guild nomination as Best Supporting Actress. Tomei continued to prove her talents in her films like the 1997 “Welcome to Sarajevo” and the 1998 “Slums of Beverly Hills” (where she received an American Comedy Award nomination for Funniest Supporting Actress).

In 2000, she played in the huge romantic-comedy film “What Women Want”, which earned her a Satellite Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. The following year, Marisa Tomei featured in a critically acclaimed drama, “In the Bedroom”, wherein she garnered a second Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actress. Marisa Tomei continues to play supporting roles in films such as, “The Guru”, “Anger Management”, “Alfie”, “Loverboy”, “Danika” and her latest comedy film with John Travolta among others, “Wild Hogs”.

On television, Marisa Tomei has appeared in two episodes of the sitcom “Seinfeld”, playing herself. She has also become a Simpson character playing a movie star that falls in love with Ned Flanders. Off screen, Tomei has done theater work in Broadway presentations like “Wait Until Dark” in 1998, “Salome” in 2003 and other off-Broadway productions.