Early Life
Teri Polo was born on June 1, 1969, in Dover, Delaware, to Jane (née Gentry) and Vincent Polo. Her parents instilled in her a love for the arts from a young age, and she began studying ballet at just six years old.
By the time she was thirteen, Polo was already attending New York's School of American Ballet, where she honed her skills as a dancer. She continued to study ballet for an impressive thirteen years, demonstrating her dedication to the craft.
Career
Polo's acting career took off in the late 1980s, with her first role on the ABC daytime soap opera Loving in 1987. She went on to appear in several other TV shows and films throughout the 1990s, including The Phantom of the Opera and Northern Exposure.
Her breakthrough role came in 2000, when she starred as Pam Byrnes in the comedy Meet the Parents opposite Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro. This marked the beginning of a successful partnership with director Jay Roach, who would go on to direct her in several other films.
Meet the Fockers Trilogy
Polo reprised her role as Pam Byrnes in Meet the Fockers (2004), which became a massive hit and cemented her status as a leading lady. She went on to star in the third installment of the trilogy, Little Fockers (2010).
The success of these films led to Polo becoming a household name, and she continued to appear in a wide range of projects throughout the 2000s and 2010s.
The Fosters
In 2013, Polo was cast as Stef Adams Foster on The Fosters, a family drama series that aired on ABC Family. She played the lead role of a police officer and single mother, navigating complex relationships with her partner and children.
The show was a critical and commercial success, running for five seasons and earning Polo numerous awards and nominations. She also reprised her role in the spin-off series Good Trouble.
Personal Life
Polo has been married twice, first to photographer Anthony Moore from 1997 to 2003, with whom she had a son. In 2006, she met drummer Jamie Wollam on the set of a video project and welcomed a daughter with him in 2010.
The couple ended their relationship in 2012, but Polo has continued to prioritize her family life, often sharing photos and updates about her children on social media.