Background

Marisa Tomei was born on December 4, 1964, in Brooklyn, New York, to Adelaide "Addie," an English teacher, and Gary A. Tomei, a trial lawyer. She was partly raised by her paternal grandparents and grew up in Brooklyn's Midwood neighborhood. Her brother, Adam Tomei, is also an actor.

Tomei comes from an Italian-American family; her father's roots trace back to Tuscany, Calabria, and Campania, while her mother's ancestry is from Tuscany and Sicily. Her early exposure to Broadway, thanks to her theater-enthusiast parents, sparked her interest in acting. While attending Andries Hudde Junior High School, she portrayed Hedy LaRue in a school production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. She graduated from Edward R. Murrow High School in 1982 and briefly studied at Boston University before ultimately pursuing acting full time.

Television and Film Career

Tomei began her professional acting career with a role on the CBS soap opera As the World Turns, playing Marcy Thompson. She made her film debut in The Flamingo Kid in 1984, followed by appearances in television dramas such as Like Daughters. She later moved to Los Angeles, seeking broader opportunities in film and television.

In 1987, Tomei joined the first season of A Different World as Maggie Lauten, the roommate of Lisa Bonet’s character. However, it was her 1992 breakout performance as Mona Lisa Vito in the legal comedy My Cousin Vinny that cemented her place in Hollywood. Her performance won her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Despite incorrect rumors suggesting the Oscar announcement was a mistake due to presenter Jack Palance's age, the Academy has confirmed that Tomei's win was legitimate.