Elizabeth Perkins
A sharp and versatile actress who mastered the art of playing witty, often exasperated, women with hidden depths.
Born 1960 (age 66)·American actress·Birthday: November 18·Baby Boomers
Biography
Elizabeth Perkins emerged in the 1980s as a fresh face with a knack for comedy that had a biting edge. Her breakout role as the sophisticated, skeptical girlfriend in 'Big' opposite Tom Hanks showcased her perfect timing and ability to be both glamorous and grounded. She avoided easy typecasting, moving from the live-action Wilma Flintstone to the heartwarming mother in 'Miracle on 34th Street.' Her career found a second, potent wind on television as Celia Hodes on 'Weeds,' a role that allowed her to unleash a magnificent portrayal of suburban ambition and desperation, earning multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Perkins consistently brings intelligence and a layer of vulnerability to characters who could otherwise be mere foils or caricatures.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Elizabeth was born in 1960, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Elizabeth Was Born
The biggest hits of 1960
#1 Movie
Swiss Family Robinson
Best Picture
The Apartment
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Elizabeth's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1960Born
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1965Started school
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1973Became a teenager
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1976Could drive
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1978Could vote
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1981Turned 21
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1990Turned 30
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 40
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 50
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 60
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 66 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Received three Primetime Emmy nominations for her performance as the ruthlessly social-climbing Celia Hodes on 'Weeds.'
- Earned two Golden Globe nominations for the same role, cementing her status as a standout in the series.
- Her performance as Susan in 'Big' became an iconic part of one of Hollywood's most beloved fantasy comedies.
- Starred as Wilma Flintstone in the blockbuster live-action adaptation 'The Flintstones.'
Did You Know?
She studied at the Goodman School of Drama at DePaul University in Chicago.
She is an advocate for diabetes awareness, having been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in her early 40s.
She provided the voice for the mother in the animated film 'The Book of Life.'
“I'm not the girl next door; I'm the woman across the street.”
