Early Life
Carla Gugino was born on August 29, 1971, in Sarasota, Florida, to Carl Gugino and Susan Gugino. Her father, an orthodontist of Italian descent, and her mother, of English and Irish descent, had a bohemian lifestyle. After her parents' separation when she was two years old, Carla spent time between the homes of her father in Sarasota and her mother in Paradise, California.
Carla's early life was marked by her family's unconventional living arrangements. She lived in a tepee in northern California and a van in Big Sur with her mother. In contrast, she also experienced a more traditional upbringing at her father's home, where she had access to luxuries like a swimming pool and tennis court. Her summers were spent traveling with her father to Europe.
Career
Carla's entry into the entertainment industry began in her teenage years as a fashion model. She took acting classes at the suggestion of her aunt, Carol Merrill, who was a former spokesmodel for Let's Make a Deal.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Carla appeared on several television shows, including Good Morning, Miss Bliss, Saved by the Bell, Who's the Boss?, ALF, Doogie Howser, M.D., The Wonder Years, Webster, and Falcon Crest. She also had roles in films like Troop Beverly Hills (1989) and Son in Law (1993), where she co-starred with Pauly Shore.
Breakthrough Roles
Carla's breakthrough role came when she was cast as Ingrid Cortez in the Spy Kids trilogy, which ran from 2001 to 2003. She also appeared in Sin City (2005), Night at the Museum (2006), American Gangster (2007), and Righteous Kill (2008).
In addition to her film work, Carla had roles on television shows like Karen Sisco (2003) and Threshold (2005-2006). She also appeared in several short-lived TV series, including Elmore Leonard's crime drama Karen Sisco and the science fiction series Threshold.
Awards and Recognition
Carla was honored by the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) with their Special Achievement Award for Entertainment in 2009. The award was presented to her at the NIAF's 34th Anniversary Gala in Washington, D.C.
In 2010, Carla received an Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Play for her performance in Eugene O'Neill's Desire Under the Elms at the Goodman Theater in Chicago.
Personal Life
Carla has been in a long-term relationship with Sebastián Gutiérrez since 1996. In an interview, Carla stated that they had no plans to get married and preferred the freedom of being boyfriend and girlfriend.