Angela Bethany Goethals ( ; born May 20, 1977) is an American film, television and
stage actress. Goethals made her acting debut as a
child actor
The term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting on stage, television, or in film, movies. An adult who began their acting career as a child may also be called a child actor, or a "former child actor". Closely associa ...
in the 1987
Broadway production of ''
Coastal Disturbances'', and was 14-years-old when she won the
Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress, for her portrayal of Edna Arkins in the 1991
Off-Broadway
An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer tha ...
production of ''The Good Times Are Killing Me''. She played the sister of
Macaulay Culkin
Macaulay Macaulay Culkin Culkin (born Macaulay Carson Culkin; ) is an American actor and musician. Considered one of the most successful child actors of the 1990s, Culkin has received a Golden Globe Award nomination and other accolades. In 200 ...
's character in ''
Home Alone
''Home Alone'' is a 1990 American Christmas comedy film
The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dar ...
'' (1990), and went on to star in several independent films and television shows, including the title role on the short-lived sitcom ''
Phenom'' (1993), as well as a small role in ''
Jerry Maguire'' (1996).
In 1999, Goethals graduated from
Vassar College
Vassar College ( ) is a private liberal arts college in Poughkeepsie, New York, United States. Founded in 1861 by Matthew Vassar, it was the second degree-granting institution of higher education for women in the United States. The college be ...
with a
A.B. in
French before returning to acting. In 2005, she landed a recurring guest appearance on ''
24'', and also gained recognition and critical acclaim for her starring role in the black comedy horror
mockumentary
A mockumentary (a portmanteau of ''mock'' and ''documentary'') is a type of film or television show depicting fictional events, but presented as a Documentary film, documentary. Mockumentaries are often used to analyze or comment on current event ...
''
Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon'' (2006). Her last appearance was in the 2018
short film
A short film is a film with a low running time. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of not more than 40 minutes including all credits". Other film o ...
, ''P.T.A-Holes''.
Early life
Goethals was born and raised in New York City, the daughter of Rosalind, a teacher who raised Angela and her sister Sara. She is a great-great-granddaughter of the from
Flanders
Flanders ( or ; ) is the Dutch language, Dutch-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to culture, la ...
originating
George Washington Goethals
George Washington Goethals ( June 29, 1858 – January 21, 1928) was an American military officer and civil engineer, best known for his administration and supervision of the construction and the opening of the Panama Canal. He was the first Go ...
, the chief engineer of the
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal () is an artificial waterway in Panama that connects the Caribbean Sea with the Pacific Ocean. It cuts across the narrowest point of the Isthmus of Panama, and is a Channel (geography), conduit for maritime trade between th ...
, and namesake of New York's
Goethals Bridge.
She was a
cheerleader at
Stuyvesant High School and was introduced to the acting world by actress Jeanie Hackett, a family friend, who took her to several auditions. In 1986, at the age of nine, she got her first professional acting job, as the
understudy to
Sarah Michelle Gellar in ''The Widow Claire'', an off-Broadway play written by
Horton Foote
Albert Horton Foote Jr. (March 14, 1916March 4, 2009) was an American playwright and screenwriter. He received Academy Awards for ''To Kill a Mockingbird'', which was adapted from the 1960 novel of the same name by Harper Lee, and the film, '' ...
.
Two years later Goethals appeared as the daughter of
Edwin Booth
Edwin Thomas Booth (November 13, 1833 – June 7, 1893) was an American stage actor and theatrical manager who toured throughout the United States and the major capitals of Europe, performing Shakespearean plays. In 1869, he founded Booth's Th ...
, portrayed by
David Strathairn, in a workshop production of ''Booth: A House Divided'', at
The Players, New York City.
Career
Goethals' first movie role was in ''
Rocket Gibraltar'' in 1988. Her sister Sara also had a small part. Later that same year, she appeared in ''
Heartbreak Hotel'', a film about the fictional kidnapping of
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one of the most significant cultural figures of the ...
.
Goethals's first starring role came in the 1993 TV series ''
Phenom''. She played Angela Doolan, a young tennis player struggling with the challenges of life. It ran for 22 episodes before being cancelled by network
ABC in May 1994.
In 1990, Goethals played Linnie, the sister of main character Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin), in ''
Home Alone
''Home Alone'' is a 1990 American Christmas comedy film
The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dar ...
''. Goethals was one of only three main cast members not to return in the sequel, ''
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York'', two years later. She appeared in 1996's ''
Jerry Maguire'', playing Kathy Sanders, Jerry's client who fakes tears when he calls her to inform her of his departure from the agency.
In 1999, Goethals graduated from the private
liberal arts college
A liberal arts college or liberal arts institution of higher education is a college with an emphasis on Undergraduate education, undergraduate study in the Liberal arts education, liberal arts of humanities and science. Such colleges aim to impart ...
,
Vassar, with a
bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree (from Medieval Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years ...
in French, in which she is fluent, and she rode in the IHSA Zone II Region 1 at the Advanced Walk-Trot-Canter level. In February 2002, she moved back to
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
to pursue film and television. That year, she starred as Polly in
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American Cable television in the United States, cable television channel, channel owned by Paramount Global through its Paramount Media Networks, network division's Paramount Media Networks#MTV Entertainment Group, MTV Ente ...
's first original movie, ''
Porn 'n Chicken''. named for the club at
Yale University
Yale University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Stat ...
that made headlines in 2001 when members announced plans to make their own porn film. Later in 2002, she starred in the sitcom ''
Do Over'', playing the sister of the lead character who is catapulted back in time to 1981. Between 2003 and 2004, Goethals made guest appearances on single episodes of ''
Boston Public
''Boston Public'' is an American drama (film and television), drama television series created by David E. Kelley and broadcast on Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox. Set in Boston, the series centers on Winslow High School, a fictional public high sc ...
'', ''
Six Feet Under'' and ''
Without a Trace
''Without a Trace'' is an American police procedural drama television series created by Hank Steinberg that aired on CBS from September 26, 2002, to May 19, 2009 with the total of seven seasons and 160 episodes. The series focuses the cases of ...
'', as well as playing a minor role in the
Adam Sandler
Adam Richard Sandler (born September 9, 1966) is an American actor, comedian, producer and screenwriter. Primarily a comedic leading actor in films, List of awards and nominations received by Adam Sandler, his accolades include an Independent Sp ...
romantic comedy, ''
Spanglish
Spanglish (a blend of the words "Spanish" and "English") is any language variety (such as a contact dialect, hybrid language, pidgin, or creole language) that results from conversationally combining Spanish and English. The term is mostly u ...
''.
In 2005, Goethals made a recurring guest appearance on the TV show ''
24''. She played
Maya Driscoll, the mentally ill daughter of then Director of
CTU Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
,
Erin Driscoll. She went on to make guest appearances on ''
Grey's Anatomy
''Grey's Anatomy'' is an American medical drama television series focusing on the personal and professional lives of surgical internship (medicine), interns, residency (medicine), residents, and attending physician, attendings at the fictional ...
'', ''
CSI'', and ''
Crossing Jordan
''Crossing Jordan'' is an American crime drama television series created by Tim Kring, that aired on NBC from September 24, 2001, to May 16, 2007. It stars Jill Hennessy as Dr. Jordan Cavanaugh, a crime-solving forensic pathologist employed ...
''.
Awards and nominations
In 1991, she was nominated for a
Drama Desk Award
The Drama Desk Awards are among the most esteemed honors in New York theater, recognizing outstanding achievements across Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off-Broadway productions within the same categories. The awards are considered a signific ...
, and won the
Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress, for her portrayal of Edna Arkins in the
Off-Broadway
An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer tha ...
production, ''The Good Times Are Killing Me''.
She was nominated four times to a Young Artist Award at the Young Artist Awards: in 1989 for Best Young Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Fantasy for '' Heartbreak Hotel'' (1988), in 1991 for Best Young Actress Supporting Role in a Motion Picture for ''Home Alone
''Home Alone'' is a 1990 American Christmas comedy film
The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dar ...
'' (1990), in 1992 for Best Young Actress Starring in a Motion Picture for '' V.I. Warshawski'' (1991) and in 1994 for Youth Actress Leading Role in a Television Series for '' Phenom'' (1993).
Theatre
* '' Coastal Disturbances'' ( Broadway, 1987) .... Miranda Bigelow
* ''Approaching Zanzibar'' (Off-Broadway
An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer tha ...
, 1989) .... Pony Blossom
* ''The Good Times Are Killing Me'' (Off-Broadway, 1991) .... Edna Arkins
* ''Four Baboons Adoring the Sun'' (Broadway, 1992) .... Halcy
* ''Picnic
A picnic is a meal taken outdoors (Al fresco dining, ''al fresco'') as part of an excursion, especially in scenic surroundings, such as a park, lakeside, or other place affording an interesting view, or else in conjunction with a public event su ...
'' (Broadway, 1994) .... Millie Owens
* ''Hazelwood Jr. High'' (Off-Broadway, 1998)
* ''True History and Real Adventures'' (Off-Broadway, 1999)
* ''Be Aggressive'' (2001) .... Hannah
* ''Blur'' (2001) .... Dot DiPrima
* ''The Mandrake Root'' (2001) .... Kate Randall/Young Man
* ''As You Like It
''As You Like It'' is a pastoral Shakespearean comedy, comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 and first published in the First Folio in 1623. The play's first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wil ...
'' (2002) .... Rosalind
* '' House of Blue Leaves'' (2008) .... Little Nun
* '' Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?'' (Off-Broadway, 2009) .... Honey
* ''Nothing Sacred'' (2010) .... Becky Shaw
* '' Long Day's Journey into Night'' (2017) .... Kathleen
Filmography
Film
Television
References
External links
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Goethals, Angela
1977 births
Actresses from New York City
American child actresses
American film actresses
American television actresses
American people of Belgian descent
American people of Flemish descent
Living people
Stuyvesant High School alumni
Vassar College alumni
20th-century American actresses
21st-century American actresses
Year of birth missing (living people)