Alyssa Jayne Milano (born December 19, 1972) is an American actress and ex- singer. Alyssa Milano is definitely best known for her roles as Samantha Micelli in the sitcom who’s the Boss? Phoebe Halliwell on the supernatural series Charmed or via her new female apparel clothing line Touch. She has a recurring role on My Name is Earl, playing Billie Cunningham. She got her start in acting by starring in the Broadway show Annie.

Early life and career

Alyssa Milano was born in New York City, the daughter of Italian-American parents Lin, a former fashion designer and talent manager, and Thomas M. Milano, a film music editor and a famous boating enthusiast. She has a younger brother, Cory (born in 1982), who is also an actor, but has more recently started a band, called Chloroform Days, in which he is the lead singer. Alyssa Milano was born in Brooklyn but grew up in Staten Island, New York and was raised Catholic.

 Alyssa Milano picture

Alyssa Milano began her career at the age of eight when she won a part in an open audition for a national tour of Annie. She appeared in television commercials and off-Broadway productions. At the age of eleven, she earned her first major role in the TV show Who’s the Boss?, alongside Tony Danza, Judith Light, Danny Pintauro and Katherine Helmond. She starred as Samantha Micelli, the daughter of Danza’s character, Tony Micelli. When Milano won the role, her family relocated from Staten Island to Hollywood.

Alyssa Milano poster (click to enlarge)

She produced a teen workout video in 1988 called Teen Steam. In 1985, Milano was in the film Commando as Jenny Matrix who was John Matrix (Arnold Schwarzenegger)’s daughter. A few years later this film was shown in Japan prompting a producer to offer Alyssa a five album record deal.

Alyssa Milano poster (click to enlarge)

Alyssa Milano poster (click to enlarge)

Personal life

Alyssa Milano suffers from dyslexia. In an interview in 2004, Alyssa Milano explained how she deals with the disorder:

“I’ve stumbled over words while reading from Teleprompters. Sir John Gielgud, whom I worked with on The Canterville Ghost years ago, gave me great advice. When I asked how he memorized his monologues, he said, ‘I write them down.’ I use that method to this day. It not only familiarizes me with the words, it makes them my own.”

Milano has eight tattoos located variously, including one on each wrist and ankle, shoulder, neck, hip and lower back. Milano is also a fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 2007 she created her own signature “Touch” line of team apparel for female baseball fans, currently available on Major League Baseball’s website, along with her own baseball blog. She also has an interest in the Los Angeles Kings, a National Hockey League team and is involved with a related clothing line. In 2008, she expanded that to NFL football, as a New York Giants fan. Since Milano is in the same hometown as NFL Network’s Rich Eisen (Staten Island), she revealed some of her family’s connections with the New York Giants while she picked the winners of NFL games for week 7 of 2008.  Milano is a vegetarian and appears in numerous PETA advertising campaigns for vegetarianism. Outside of acting, her hobbies include photography, humanitarian work, and spending time with her three dogs and eight horses. In 2005, she was ranked #5 in the ’50 Cutest Child Stars -All Grown Up’.