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Brooklyn Sudano

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Brooklyn Sudano
Born (1981-01-05) January 5, 1981 (age 43)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma materLee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute
OccupationActress
Years active2003–present
SpouseMike McGlafin (m. 2006)
Children1
Parent(s)Donna Summer (mother)
Bruce Sudano (father)
RelativesAmanda Sudano (sister)

Brooklyn Sudano is an American actress and director. She starred as Vanessa Scott in the ABC comedy series My Wife and Kids and later played the leading role in the 2006 drama film Rain. Sudano has appeared in films such as Alone in the Dark II (2008), Turn the Beat Around (2010) and With This Ring (2015), and starred in the NBC action series, Taken (2017).[1]

Sudano is the daughter of Grammy Award-winning singer Donna Summer and songwriter Bruce Sudano,[2] and the older sister of Amanda Sudano of the music duo Johnnyswim. Sudano directed the documentary film, Love to Love You, Donna Summer, which premiered in 2023.

Early life

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Sudano was born in Los Angeles, California, to African American singer Donna Summer and Italian American songwriter Bruce Sudano.[2] She was named after her father's hometown of Brooklyn, New York City.[3] Her younger sister (by 19 months) is singer and songwriter Amanda Sudano of Johnnyswim. She has an older half-sister, Mimi Sommer, from her mother's first marriage to Helmut Sommer.[4] As a baby, she was featured in her mother's song "Brooklyn" on the record I'm a Rainbow.[5]

Sudano spent the early part of her childhood on a 56-acre ranch in Thousand Oaks, California until her family moved to Connecticut when she was 10 years old.[2] When she was 14, her family relocated to Nashville, Tennessee.[2] Here, Sudano gravitated toward the arts.[2] She also sang in the gospel choir at church.[2] Sudano and her sisters spent summers touring and singing backing vocals for their famous mother.[2] In her leisure, she studied dance and wrote songs.[2]

She attended high school at Christ Presbyterian Academy where she appeared in all the theater productions.[2] Sometimes Sudano accompanied her parents while they toured around the world, continuing her studies with tutors.[2] A distinguished student, she was valedictorian at her graduation.[2]

Upon graduation, Sudano chose to attend Vanderbilt University, having also been accepted at Brown, Duke, and Georgetown University.[2] However, she eventually left Vanderbilt early to study at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York.[2]

Career

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While studying acting in New York, Sudano was spotted by a modelling agent and signed to the Ford Modeling Agency.[2] She appeared in numerous advertising campaigns in print and television, including Clairol, Clean & Clear and K-Mart.[2] In 2003, Sudano replaced Meagan Good as Vanessa Scott on My Wife and Kids. Vanessa is Junior's girlfriend and later wife, who first appears in the season finale of season 3 (played by Good). Sudano continued as a regular cast member throughout the rest of the series' five-year run.[6]

In 2006, Sudano made her big screen debut with the leading role in the film adaptation of V. C. Andrews' novel Rain. She appeared in the horror films Somebody Help Me (2007) and Alone in the Dark II (2008) and well as the MTV romantic drama film, Turn the Beat Around in 2010.[2][7] In 2015, she co-starred opposite Regina Hall, Jill Scott and Eve in the romantic comedy-drama, With This Ring. On television, Sudano guest starred on Cuts, CSI: NY, $#*! My Dad Says, Body of Proof and Ballers. In 2016, she played the role of Christy Epping in the Hulu miniseries 11.22.63.[8] In 2017, Sudano starred in the first season of NBC's action series, Taken.[9] In 2021, she began starring as Angela Prescott in the Freeform thriller series, Cruel Summer.[10]

Alongside Roger Ross Williams, Sudano directed the 2023 documentary film, Love to Love You, Donna Summer about her mother, Donna Summer. It had its world premiere at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival.[11]

Personal life

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Sudano married her longtime boyfriend, Mike McGlaflin, on October 8, 2006. The couple's wedding inspired Bruce Sudano's song "It's Her Wedding Day".[12][13]

Sudano and McGlaflin have a daughter, and reside in the Los Angeles area.[14]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2006 Rain Rain Arnold
2007 Somebody Help Me Serena
2008 Alone in the Dark II Sinclair
2009 Revolution Roxanne Television film
2010 Turn the Beat Around Malika
2010 Five Star Day Yvette Montgomery
2010 Sinners and Saints Beth Ganz
2012 Five Hours South Julia
2015 With This Ring Elise Television film
2023 Love to Love You, Donna Summer Director and producer
Nominated — Berlin International Film Festival Documentary Award
Nominated — SXSW Film Festival Audience Award
2023 Every Breath She Takes Dana Marks Television film

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2003–2005 My Wife and Kids Vanessa Scott Series regular, 28 episodes
2006 Cuts Felicia 3 episodes
2007 CSI: NY Colleen Ballard Episode: "Heart of Glass"
2008 Fear Itself Arlene Episode: "Community"
2008 90210 Miss Austin Episode: "We're Not in Kansas Anymore"
2008 Without a Trace Jackie Bell Episode: "22 x 42"
2009 The Unit Lindsay Episode: "Whiplash"
2009 Limelight Jazmine Barkley TV pilot
2010 $#*! My Dad Says Zoey Episode: "Not Without My Jacket"
2011 Friends with Benefits Kat Episode: "The Benefit of Being Shallow"
2012 Joey Dakota Holly TV pilot
2013 Body of Proof FBI Analyst Episode: "Disappearing Act"
2013 Westside Jess Roman TV pilot
2015 Reed Between the Lines Rita Durren 2 episodes
2016 11.22.63 Christy Epping 4 episodes
2016 Ballers Victoria 2 episodes
2017 Taken Asha Flynn Series regular, 10 episodes
2019 All American Nadja Moon TV pilot
2021 Cruel Summer Angela Prescott Series regular, 5 episodes
2022 Grand Crew Deena Episode: "Wine & Therapy"

References

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  1. ^ "'Taken' star reflects on growing up the child of Donna Summer". New York Post. March 10, 2017. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Williams, Kam. "Rain: An Interview with Brooklyn Sudano". Blackfilm.com. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
  3. ^ Badger, Sylvia. "Donna Summer's daughter weds amid flowers, lace". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on July 23, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
  4. ^ Pareles, Jon (May 17, 2012). "Donna Summer, Queen of Disco Who Transcended the Era, Dies at 63". The New York Times. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  5. ^ Summer, Donna (November 8, 2014). "Brooklyn". Youtube. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  6. ^ "Where Are The Cast Of 'My Wife & Kids' Today?". Showbiz Cheat Sheet. January 6, 2020.
  7. ^ "Interview with Brooklyn Sudano from the MTV original movie 'Turn the Beat Around'". Starcasm. February 26, 2010.
  8. ^ "Brooklyn Sudano Joins Hulu's '11/22/63′". Deadline. April 24, 2015. Archived from the original on February 17, 2016. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  9. ^ "Brooklyn Sudano Talks NBC's 'Taken'". Blackfilm.com. March 7, 2017.
  10. ^ "Brooklyn Sudano Interview for Freeform's Cruel Summer". Youtube. May 11, 2021. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021.
  11. ^ Carey, Matthew (February 21, 2023). "'Love To Love You, Donna Summer,' From Roger Ross Williams & Summer's Daughter Brooklyn Sudano, Provides Complex Portrait Of Pop Superstar".
  12. ^ (reporter), Tennessean Music Team. "Bruce Sudano's 'Wedding Day' rings bells with listeners". The Tennessean. Archived from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  13. ^ James, Gary. "Gary James' Interview With Bruce Sudano Of Alive N Kickin'". Classic Bands. classicbands.com. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  14. ^ Danity. "Meet Brooklyn Sudano, Donna Summer's Daughter". Swanky Celebs. Archived from the original on May 20, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
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