Amy Louise Acker (born December 5, 1976) is a Saturn Award-winning American actress. She is best known for her roles on the television series Angel as Winifred Burkle and Illyria, and on Alias as Kelly Peyton. She appears in the ABC series Happy Town. 
Career:In her junior year of college, Acker enjoyed a short stint of modeling work for the J. Crew clothing catalog. In 1999, she was nominated for a Leon Rabin award for "Outstanding Performance by an Actress in A Lead Role" for her performance in the play Thérèse Raquin. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in the same year. She worked as a stage actress for several seasons, including a stint at American Players Theatre in Spring Green, Wisconsin.
Acker appeared as Winifred "Fred" Burkle on the second through fifth seasons of Angel and also as the character of Illyria for part of the show's fifth and final season. She won the 2003 Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television for her portrayal. On April 25, 2003, Acker and actor James Carpinello were married in California. On January 22, 2005 she gave birth to a son, Jackson James Carpinello, and on September 1, 2006, a daughter, Ava Grace. In 2005, she joined the cast of Alias for its final season, playing the villainous Kelly Peyton. Acker graduated from guest star to fully credited cast member as the show entered the final episodes in April and May 2006.
Acker guest starred on fellow Buffyverse actress Alyson Hannigan's show How I Met Your Mother, in which she was reunited with Angel co-star Alexis Denisof (Hannigan's real-life husband), who had a recurring role on the show. On the DVD commentary for the episode "Come On," Neil Patrick Harris says that he and Acker are close friends and was therefore nervous to kiss her in the episode.
She portrays Dr. Claire Saunders/Whiskey, a recurring character on Whedon's Dollhouse. She also co-stars in the upcoming ABC drama Happy Town.
Filmography
Movies:The Accident (2001) ... Nina
Groom Lake (2002) ... Kate
Catch Me If You Can (2002) ... Miggy
The Novice (2004) ... Jill
Mr. Dramatic (2005) ... Jodi
A Near Death Experience (2008) ... Ellie/Elly
Fire and Ice: The Dragon Chronicles (2008) ... Princess Luisa
21 and a Wake-Up (2008) ... Caitlin Murphy
The Cabin in the Woods (2011)
Television:Wishbone (1995 - 1997) ... various characters
To Serve and Protect (1999) (miniseries) ... Melissa Jorgensen
Special Unit 2 (2001) ... Nancy
Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt (2003) ... Bonney Lindsey (Mrs. Burt Ward)
Angel (2001 - 2004) (71 episodes) ... Winifred "Fred" Burkle / Illyria
Supernatural (2005) ... Andrea Barr
Justice League Unlimited (2005 - 2006) (4 episodes - voiceover) ... Huntress
How I Met Your Mother (2006) ... Penelope
Alias (2005 - 2006) (13 episodes) ... Kelly Peyton
Drive (2007) (3 episodes) ... Kathryn Tully
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2007) (1 episode - "Smile") ... Leslie LeZard
Ghost Whisperer (2007) (1 episode - "Weight of What Was") ... Tessa
Private Practice (2008) (1 episode - "A Family Thing") ... Molly
Dollhouse (2009) ... Dr. Claire Saunders / Whiskey
Happy Town (2010) ... Rachel Conroy
