Laura San Giacomo burst onto the Hollywood scene with a bang — and a voice you couldn’t forget.
After making waves in indie cinema and nearly stealing the show in Pretty Woman, the magnetic brunette quickly became one of the most recognizable faces of the ’90s. But after years of red carpets and movie premieres, she made a surprising career move that had everything to do with family.
So, where is Laura San Giacomo now? Let’s rewind the reel and catch up.
From Shakespeare to Sundance Darling
The other night, I rewatched Quigley Down Under — and honestly? It might be one of the most underrated Westerns out there. Sure, Tom Selleck does his thing and helps give the film its cult following, but what really caught my eye this time was Laura San Giacomo as Crazy Cora.
Her performance is wild, raw, and unforgettable—and that’s when it hit me: I hadn’t seen her in anything in a long time. So where did she go?
In case you didn’t know, Laura San Giacomo isn’t just a scene-stealer on screen—she’s got serious roots and training behind her talent. Born to Italian-American parents in West Orange, New Jersey, she grew up in Denville Township and first caught the acting bug in high school.
That passion took her all the way to Carnegie Mellon’s prestigious School of Drama, where she earned a degree in fine arts in 1984. Before the flashing lights and studio lots, San Giacomo was deep in the world of live theater. She cut her teeth on Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams, and off-Broadway staples. But her real breakout came not on stage — but on the indie film circuit.
In 1989, the doll-like actress stunned audiences as the bold and complicated Cynthia in Steven Soderbergh’s Sex, Lies, and Videotape. The film won the Palme d’Or at Cannes and put Soderbergh (and San Giacomo) on the map. Her performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination and showed off the raw charisma that Hollywood couldn’t ignore.
As a young and promising actress, Laura San Giacomo didn’t have a flashy reason for stepping into the spotlight. When asked why she wanted to become an actor, her answer was refreshingly simple:
“I don’t know. Just telling stories. I really like it,” she said—then, with a laugh, added that it sure beat flipping burgers at McDonald’s.
Laura in Pretty Woman
Pretty Woman is one of those movies that really needs no introduction — but I had totally forgotten that Laura San Giacomo was in it.
But some of you might remember her best as Kit De Luca, the wisecracking best friend to Julia Roberts’ Vivian in the movie. The role was small, but San Giacomo’s sass and spark gave the character depth — and fans loved it. Kit wasn’t just comic relief; she had grit, heart, and memorable one-liners that made her instantly iconic.
But whether Kit that was her favorite role is still up for debate. After all, Laura has portrayed quite a few unforgettable and complex women throughout her career.
”I have sort of liked them all. I’ve fallen in love with all of the women (I’ve played) because there is something wonderful about them, and if you empathize with them, then you kind of love them all like…sisters or something,” she told Ability Magazine.
Off the success of Pretty Woman, San Giacomo lined up a string of high-profile film roles. She shared the screen with Alan Rickman, and appeared in moody thrillers like Suicide Kings and Where the Day Takes You. She even popped up in Stephen King’s The Stand, holding her own in a star-studded cast that included Rob Lowe and Ed Harris.
But just as her film career was booming, she made a choice that surprised many.
Trading Big Screen for a bigger priority
At the height of her fame, San Giacomo became a mom. And with that came a new priority: staying present. Her first marriage, to actor Cameron Dye, lasted from 1990 to 1998. During their time together, they welcomed a son, Mason, who was born with cerebral palsy.
Laura’s journey as a mom deeply shaped her path beyond Hollywood. Her son Mason inspired her to become a passionate advocate for children with special needs. Over the years, she’s dedicated herself to raising awareness and supporting inclusive education. As she told Oprah: Where Are They Now?, “Disability is natural. It always has been. It always will be. It’s part of the world, and it’s part of life.”
”He does not walk independently, sit independently or speak. He uses a talking computer. I started becoming an advocate for him when he was three years old. He was soon going to enter the school system,” Laura shared.
But rather than vanish from the spotlight entirely, she shifted to television — a move that gave her a steady schedule and millions of new fans.
In 1997, she landed the lead role on NBC’s Just Shoot Me!, playing journalist Maya Gallo opposite George Segal and David Spade.