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Entertainment • Actor

Patricia Arquette

Patricia Arquette is an American actress known for work in film and television.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated September 11, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Patricia Arquette is an American actress known for work in film and television. She won an Academy Award for her supporting role in Richard Linklater’s *Boyhood* and has also received multiple Emmy and Golden Globe Awards. She is familiar to Canadian audiences through internationally distributed projects such as *Boyhood*, *Medium*, *The Act*, and *Severance*.

Early life and family

Patricia Arquette was born in Chicago, Illinois, and comes from an acting family. Her relatives include her siblings Rosanna, David, Richmond, and Alexis Arquette, as well as her father Lewis Arquette and grandfather Cliff Arquette.

Film career

Arquette began her screen career in 1987 and later appeared in films including *True Romance*, *Ed Wood*, *Flirting with Disaster*, *Lost Highway*, and *Boyhood*. Her role in *Boyhood* received especially strong critical praise.

Television career

On television, Arquette is best known for *Medium*, where she played Allison DuBois. She later appeared in series including *CSI: Cyber*, *Escape at Dannemora*, *The Act*, and *Severance*.

Awards and recognition

Arquette has received major industry awards including an Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Primetime Emmy Awards, and Golden Globe Awards. Her awards have recognized both film and television performances.

Key facts

  • Made her feature film debut in *A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors* (1987).
  • Her performance in *Boyhood* won her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
  • She won a Primetime Emmy Award for *Medium* in 2005.
  • She won a Primetime Emmy Award in 2019 for *The Act*.
  • Her family includes several other actors, including siblings Rosanna, David, Richmond, and the late Alexis Arquette.
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Canadian context

Arquette is familiar to Canadian audiences through internationally distributed film and television projects such as *Boyhood*, *Medium*, *The Act*, and *Severance*.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Patricia Arquette?
Patricia Arquette is an American actress known for film and television roles, including *Medium* and *Boyhood*.
What is Patricia Arquette best known for?
She is best known for her roles in *Boyhood* and *Medium*.
When was Patricia Arquette born?
She was born on April 8, 1968.
What awards has Patricia Arquette won?
She has won an Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Primetime Emmy Awards, and Golden Globe Awards.
What was Patricia Arquette’s film debut?
Her feature film debut was *A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors* (1987).
Is Patricia Arquette from an acting family?
Yes. Her family includes several actors, including her siblings Rosanna, David, Richmond, and Alexis Arquette.

References

  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Patricia-Arquette
    Supports: Birth date and place; profession; Academy Award for Boyhood; general biography.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/facts/Patricia-Arquette
    Supports: Birth date, birthplace, awards, and marriages.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000099/bio/
    Supports: Birth name and birth details.
  4. All American Speakers — https://www.allamericanspeakers.com/celebritytalentbios/Patricia+Arquette/391901
    Supports: Film debut; selected filmography; television roles; awards; advocacy and nonprofit work.
  5. Golden Globes — https://www.goldenglobes.com/articles/patricia-arquette-a-multi-hyphenate-star/
    Supports: Career milestones, family background, debut, and *Boyhood* recognition.
  6. German Wikipedia — https://www.de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patricia_Arquette
    Supports: Family members and award context.