Roma Downey
An Irish actress who became a beloved television angel before reinventing herself as a powerhouse producer of faith-based entertainment.
Born 1960 (age 66)·Irish actress, producer and author·Birthday: May 6·Baby Boomers
Biography
Roma Downey's career is a story of two distinct, successful acts. First, she captured the hearts of American television audiences as the gentle angel Monica on 'Touched by an Angel', a role that ran for nine seasons and made her a household name synonymous with warmth and spirituality. Rather than rest on that legacy, she orchestrated a bold second act with her husband, Mark Burnett. Together, they formed Lightworkers Media and set about producing large-scale biblical epics for television, including 'The Bible' series and 'A.D. The Bible Continues', which attracted massive audiences and demonstrated a viable market for premium faith-oriented content. Downey shifted from being the face of such stories to being the force behind them, expanding into publishing and family drama series like 'The Baxters'. Her trajectory shows a savvy understanding of both audience sentiment and the mechanics of modern media production.
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.
Roma 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 Roma Was Born
The biggest hits of 1960
#1 Movie
Swiss Family Robinson
Best Picture
The Apartment
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Roma'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
- Starred as Monica for nine seasons on the hit CBS series 'Touched by an Angel'.
- Co-produced the highly rated History Channel miniseries 'The Bible', which attracted over 100 million viewers in the U.S.
- Portrayed Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in the Emmy-winning miniseries 'A Woman Named Jackie'.
- Co-founded Lightworkers Media, a production company focused on faith and family entertainment.
- Stars in and produces the popular family drama series 'The Baxters'.
Did You Know?
She was born in Derry, Northern Ireland.
She is a trained painter and studied at the Brighton College of Art.
Before 'Touched by an Angel', she appeared on Broadway in 'The Circle' and off-Broadway.
She and her husband, Mark Burnett, were executive producers of the feature film 'Son of God'.
“I believe that we are all here for a purpose, and we have to find out what that purpose is.”
