Although born in Iowa, Lara Flynn Boyle was raised in the Chicago area by her mother after her parents' divorce. While still young, the pert, freckled brunette was diagnosed with a learning disability and she enrolled at the Piven Theater improvisational workshop as a means to develop ways of expressing herself. Although she had landed a supporting role as Robert Urich's daughter in the ABC miniseries "Amerika" (1987), Boyle heeded her mothers' wishes and finished high school (the elite Chicago Academy for the Arts which she attended on scholarship) before beginning her career in earnest. Her
Diagnosed with integration disorder, a learning disability; attended workshops at Loyola University and was enrolled at the Piven Workshop for treatment
Wrote and acted in local Chicago-area theater productions
1987
Made TV acting debut as Robert Urich's daughter in the ABC miniseries "Amerika"
