Vanessa Marcil was born Sally Vanessa Ortiz in the balmy desert community of Palm Springs, California, but her family soon moved to decidedly cooler Anchorage, Alaska, where her businessman father is credited for building the first earthquake-proof structure in the state. The youngest of four children, she and her family later returned to Palm Desert, California, where she began acting in local theater at age eight.
She has performed in numerous theatrical productions, including Neil Simon's Fools, Pygmalion, Mamet's Women, The Miracle Worker, and Sweet Bird of Youth, among others. General Hospital marked Ms. Marcil's professional television debut.
In December of 1997, Vanessa starred in an ABC movie for television, To Love, Honor and Deceive. She also had a recurring guest-starring role on the ABC police drama, High Incident. Theatrically, Ms. Marcil co-starred with country music star Dwight Yoakam and Oscar nominee Sally Kirkland in the stage play, Southern Rapture, directed by Peter Fonda. She was also spotlighted in the 1995 edition of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People." In the hit feature film, The Rock, Vanessa co-starred with Sean Connery, Ed Harris, and Nicolas Cage.
Ms. Marcil has strong feelings about helping people, and in her spare time she volunteers for various causes. She is an active runner and bodybuilder; she also enjoys riding motorcycles, spending days on the beach, singing, and seeing films with friends.
In 2010, Marcil married long-time boyfriend Carmine Giovinazzo.
PLACE OF BIRTH: Palm Desert, California
DATE OF BIRTH: October 15, 1969
HEIGHT: 5'4"
HAIR: Dark Brown
EYES: Brown
CHILDREN: Son, Kassius Lijah Marcil-Green [Mar 30, 2002; with Brian Austin Green]
MARITAL STATUS: Married to Carmine Giovinazzo [Jul 11, 2010]