Jennifer Esposito

Jennifer Esposito was born on April 11, 1973, in Brooklyn, New York. She commenced her acting career with a television appearance on “Law & Order” in 1996. Following this, she became a regular cast member on the sitcom “Spin City,” where she portrayed Stacey Paterno for 36 episodes alongside Michael J. Fox. Her early film work included “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer” (1998) and a notable role in Spike Lee’s “Summer of Sam” (1999), which depicted the late 1970s Son of Sam murders.

Esposito’s career progressed with a variety of film and television roles. She appeared in critically acclaimed films such as “Crash” (2004), an Academy Award-winning picture where she played Ria, the partner and romantic interest of Don Cheadle’s character. Other significant film credits include “Don’t Say a Word” (2001), “The Master of Disguise” (2002), and “Taxi” (2004). On television, she held main roles in series such as “Related,” “Samantha Who?”, and played Detective Jackie Curatola in the CBS drama “Blue Bloods” from 2010 to 2012, appearing in 48 episodes. Her tenure on “Blue Bloods” concluded after she was diagnosed with celiac disease, which led to a reduced work schedule.

Following her celiac disease diagnosis, Esposito became an advocate for health and wellness. In 2013, she opened Jennifer’s Way Bakery in Manhattan, specializing in celiac-safe food. She authored a New York Times best-selling book, “Jennifer’s Way,” in 2014, detailing her personal experiences with celiac disease. Her return to television included roles in “Mistresses” (2015), “The Affair” (2015-2017), and as Special Agent Alexandra Quinn in “NCIS” (2016-2017). More recently, she took on roles in “The Boys” (2019-2020) and “Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens” (2020-2023). In 2023, Esposito made her debut as a writer and director with the film “Fresh Kills,” in which she also starred as Francine Larusso.