SOUTH AFRICA'S TV WEBSITE
SIGN IN SEARCH MENU
SOUTH AFRICA'S TV WEBSITE


Jill Hennessy

Full / Real Name: Jillian Noel Hennessy
Born: 25 November 1968 (56 years old)
Gender: Female

Rate:

6.7

Add to Actor Favourites

Bio

Jill Hennessy is a Canadian actress best known for her television roles as A.D.A. Claire Kincaid on Law & Order (1993-1996) and as Dr. Jordan Cavanaugh in Crossing Jordan, from 2001-2007.

She also had starring roles in the HBO horse racing series Luck (2012) and the French-British police procedural Jo, in 2013.

Although best known for her roles on Law & Order and Crossing Jordan, Hennessy is also a singer/songwriter and self-released her debut album, Ghost In My Head. Jill wrote all the music and lyrics for her album and it was recorded in Austin, Texas at Bismeaux Studios.

Jill received great reviews from Dave Marsh, Greg Quill and many others comparing her voice and music to a range of artists from Lucinda Williams, Mary Gauthier, Natalie Merchant, Joan Armatrading to Eddie Veder and the Counting Crows.

Jill performed at 2010's Lilith Tour with Sarah McLachlan, The Indigo Girls and the Court Yard Hounds (Dixie Chicks) and was featured on The Indigo Girls' live album "Staring Down The Brilliant Dream" singing "Closer To Fine."

Hailing from Edmonton, Canada, Hennessy began her acting career in Toronto appearing in the feature film Dead Ringers. She studied improvisational comedy with the famed Second City and also worked with a Toronto-based improv comedy troupe before landing a role in the Broadway-bound production of The Buddy Holly Story.

Once in New York, Hennessy starred in Ron Howard's feature film The Paper, and her additional film credits include I Shot Andy Warhol, Chutney Popcorn, Dead Broke, Row Your Boat, The Florentine, Two Ninas, Autumn in New York, Exit Wounds, Love in the Time of Money, Wild Hogs and Lymelife with Alec Baldwin, Rory and Kieran Culkin which won the International Film Critics Award at the Toronto Film Festival.

Hennessy can be seen in the films Roadie, written and directed by Michael Cuesta (L.I.E.) with Ron Eldard and Bobby Cannavale; and Small Town Murder Songs directed by Ed Gass-Donelly with Martha Plimpton and Peter Stormare. Roadie features Jill playing music from her album "Ghost In My Head".

Television audiences first came to know Hennessy from the years (1993-96) she spent playing Claire Kincaid on Law & Order. Her twin sister Jacqueline once appeared in courtroom scenes for Law & Order while Jill was unavailable for filming.

She then played Jacqueline Kennedy in the miniseries Jackie, Ethel, Joan: Women of Camelot.

In her first season of Crossing Jordan, Hennessy received a People's Choice Award nomination for Best Actress in a Drama Series. She has also received a Golden Satellite Award (Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television) from the International Press Academy for her work in the TNT cable movie Nuremberg.

Hennessy won a Gracie Award (Lead Actor in a Drama Series) and received a star on the Canada Walk of Fame.

Jill also appears in the films Dawn Rider with Christian Slater and Donald Sutherland; and Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town with Gordon Pinsent and Donal Logue, featuring an original song written and performed by Jill.

Hennessy can also be seen on the HBO series Luck, starring Dustin Hoffman, written by David Milch and produced and directed by Michael Mann.

Hennessy, her husband, Paolo Mastropietro and their two sons Marco and Gianni, divide their time between Manhattan and Los Angeles.


Television Roles

Show

Character

Dr Jordan Cavanaugh

Dr. Jordan Cavanaugh

Dr. Jordan Cavanaugh

Dr. Jordan Cavanaugh

Dr. Jordan Cavanaugh

Dr. Jordan Cavanaugh

Claire Kincaid

Herself

Karyn

Dr. Jordan Cavanaugh

Dr. Jordan Cavanaugh

Dr. Jordan Cavanaugh

A.D.A. Claire Kincaid

A.D.A. Claire Kincaid

A.D.A. Claire Kincaid

Jo

Jane Fellows

Herself

Herself

Herself

Margot Rochet

Presenter - Herself

Presenter - Herself

Rayna Hecht

Rayna Hecht


LATEST ARTICLES

New on TV today: Friday 11 July 2025

Disney+ documents Jaws @ 50 and Discovery finds out how to go Faster with Finnegan.


Generations: The Legacy Teasers - August 2025

Tau and Nkaba's paths cross - and it's not a happy reunion.


Cacau Teasers - August 2025

Justino decides to authorise the publication of Cacau's abduction in the press.


New on TV today: Thursday 10 July 2025

London crime drama MobLand debuts on M-Net and BBC Earth uncovers the Wonders of Volcanoes.


Rugby player Ruan Smith up for grabs in Op My Eish! 4

Old and busted: actors and singers. New hottness: sportsmen. If you fancy some sporty spice, get in the casting queue.


New on TV today: Wednesday 9 July 2025

Phones and cameras get you Caught! on ID, as Netflix begins Building the Band with the late Liam Payne.


New on TV today: Tuesday 8 July 2025

Mzansi Magic invites you to Lose It or Lose Me and Netflix documents The Real Project X.


On Carte Blanche: drug dealer doctors and pharmacists thrive in Benoni

D.I.S.G.U.S.T.I.N.G They're peddling high risk, addictive medication illegally and no-one's stopping them.


New! 016 FM Teasers - July 2025

DJ wars erupt and shady business lurks. Mpho Sebeng goes ON AIR in his final role.


New on TV today: Monday 7 July 2025

Drama series 016 FM begins on Mzansi Magic and Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares returns to BBC Lifestyle.

LATEST SITE ACTIVITY


More activity at TVSA Central



LATEST SOAPIE TEASERS



LATEST SOAPIE TEASERS





×
×

You browser doesn't have Flash, Silverlight, Gears, BrowserPlus or HTML5 support.