Jeanne Sakata

Jeanne Sakata (born April 8, 1954) is an American film, television, and stage actress and playwright. She has appeared in supporting roles in various TV shows including Knots Landing, LA Law, Port Charles, Providence, Family Law, ER, and Desperate Housewives. Her film career began in 1992 with her appearance in the erotic thriller Poison Ivy, followed by a minor role as a field reporter in the action film XXX: State of the Union in 2005. Sakata has been actively involved in stage productions, notably working with East West Players (EWP) in Los Angeles. She won the Ovation Award for Lead Actress in a Play in 2002 for her performance in Chay Yew's Red. In 2007, her play Dawn's Light: The Journey of Gordon Hirabayashi premiered at EWP, later retitled as Hold These Truths. Her work has been instrumental in advancing the visibility of Asian Americans nationally.