Felicity Huffman
She transformed from a beloved suburban mom on television into an Oscar-nominated actress for her raw, empathetic portrayal of a transgender woman.
Born 1962 (age 64)·American actress·Birthday: December 9·Baby Boomers
Biography
Felicity Huffman built a formidable career on stage and screen long before she became a household name. A dedicated alumna of New York's Atlantic Theater Company, she honed her craft in gritty Off-Broadway productions, establishing herself as a serious actress with formidable range. Her big break arrived with the cultural phenomenon 'Desperate Housewives,' where she infused the overwhelmed Lynette Scavo with a relatable, sharp-edged humanity that won her an Emmy. But it was her fearless performance in 'Transamerica' that redefined her, requiring her to physically and emotionally embody a transgender woman on a cross-country journey. The role earned her an Academy Award nomination and demonstrated a courage that transcended her television fame. Her later career has been marked by a return to complex character work and a public navigation of personal challenges, cementing her as a figure of both considerable talent and human complexity.
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.
Felicity was born in 1962, 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 Felicity Was Born
The biggest hits of 1962
#1 Movie
Lawrence of Arabia
Best Picture
Lawrence of Arabia
#1 TV Show
Beverly Hillbillies
Felicity's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1962Born
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1967Started school
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1975Became a teenager
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1978Could drive
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
1980Could vote
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1983Turned 21
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1992Turned 30
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2002Turned 40
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2012Turned 50
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 60
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 64 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Lynette Scavo on 'Desperate Housewives'.
- Received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her leading role in the independent film 'Transamerica'.
- Co-founded the Atlantic Theater Company in New York with playwright David Mamet and actor William H. Macy.
Did You Know?
She is married to actor William H. Macy, whom she met while they were both members of the Atlantic Theater Company.
To prepare for her role in 'Transamerica', she spent significant time with transgender women and used a prosthetic device for her character.
She served a 11-day prison sentence in 2019 for her involvement in a nationwide college admissions bribery scandal.
“As an actor, you have to be willing to make a complete fool of yourself.”
