Piper Perabo is an American actress born on October 31, 1976 in Dallas, Texas. She grew up however in Toms River, New Jersey, and is the daughter of George William Perabo, Dean of English & Literature at Ocean County Colege. She is of Norwegian and Portuguese ancestry, and her name was derived from actress Piper Laurie. Piper Perabo has a brother, Adam, who is also an actor.

Acting came early in Piper Perabo’s life, as she was active in various musicals while she was still a student in Toms River North High School. She became the president of the National Honor Society chapter and was the editor of her school’s literary magazine, Polaris.

After high school, Piper Perabo attended the Ohio University and graduated summa cum laude in the institution’s Honors Tutorial College in 1998 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in theater. From college, she took up acting classes at the LaMamma Theater in New York, and bagged small roles in a couple of plays. In order to sustain her acting classes, Piper Perabo worked at an upscale restaurant in New York City before she was discovered by an agent.

Piper Perabo made big in Hollywood through the chick flick Coyote Ugly, where she played the role of a girl with big dreams and her struggles in order to achieve it. The film generated dismal reviews however, but her acting was recognized, thus it wasn’t hard for Piper Perabo to bag on more roles in film. Among her more substantial roles in the movies include Cheaper by the Dozen (and its sequel), Perfect Opposites, George and the Dragon, The Cave, The Prestige, and Beverly Hills Chihuahua.

Piper Perabo is also active in television, with guest appearances in House, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. She also starred in the Broadway run of reasons to be pretty in 2009.