Aidan Quinn has appeared in over twenty films, including Reckless, Legends of the Fall, Desperately Seeking Susan, and Benny & Joon. Although he's played against type, most of Aidan's most memorable roles are those that portray sensitive and intelligent men. With his piercing blue eyes and charming personality, Aidan has always managed to bring depth to all the roles he's taken on.

Aidan was born in Chicago on March 8, 1959. His parents immigrated to the United States from Ireland just a few years before he was born although his father kept close ties with his homeland. One of five children, Aidan accompanied his family to Ireland frequently and during his late teens, he settled in Ireland for a time. Working odd jobs, he tried to break into the Dublin theatre scene. Although he seldom got roles there, Aidan got his big break after returning to the United States at 19, making his debut in Reckless, a movie about a rebellious teen-ager from the wrong side of the tracks opposite Darryl Hannah. This was soon followed by a role in Desperately Seeking Susan.

Since then, Aidan has kept busy with movies like Benny & Joon, which starred Johnny Depp and Mary Stuart Masterston, and Legends of the Fall, which featured the young Brad Pitt. In 1996, Aidan returned to his Irish roots by taking part in the controversial Michael Collins, a film about the founder of the IRA. In 1998, Aidan collaborated with his brothers Declan and Paul, both also in the movie industry, on the film, This Is My Father, their tribute to Ireland. Aidan's most recent roles include Music Of My Heart, opposite Meryl Streep.

Aidan's latest movie, Songcatcher, a movie about the heart and soul of American music that also stars Janet McTeer. Originally scheduled to be released on December 8, Songcatcher's nationwide release has been pushed to March 2001 although you can catch it in your local art museum schedule.

In the movie, Aidan plays Tom, a widower in the Appalachian mountains, who skeptically views McTeer's character to be exploiting his people. To prepare for his role, Aidan lived in a shack in the mountains of North Carolina, learning the ways of the mountain people himself. You can read more about Songcatcher right here.

Songcatcher earned the Special Jury Prize for Outstanding Ensemble Cast at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival.