Born in Waco, Texas, Peri Gilpin grew up in Dallas, where her family encouraged her acting abilities. After studying at the Dallas Theater Center, she pursued acting at the University of Texas at Austin and then at London's British-American Academy. She appeared in guest roles on such popular situation comedies as Designing Women, Cheers and Wings, where she worked with the late producer, Roz Doyle, the namesake of her character on Frasier.
Graduated from Skyline High School, Texas. Worked as a makeup artist before getting her acting break after meeting Blythe Danner, who became her main supporter. Named after the Disney cartoon character Peri the squirrel. Weighed so much during gestation that her parents thought she was a boy. Actually worked as a radio show sound engineer. Her father, Jim O'Brien, was a well known and respected radio and TV News weatherman/personality in Philadelphia in the '70s and early 80s. He died in a skydiving accident on September 25, 1983. Godmother to Frasier co-star Jane Leeves's daughter, Isabella Kathryn Coben. Owns a production company, "Bristol Cities", with Frasier co-star Jane Leeves and Jane's sister, Kathryn. Was the only one of the five main cast members for Frasier never to be nominated for an Emmy. Older sister of actors Marc Gilpin and April Gilpin. Her husband, Vincent, is an artist. After years of failed in vitro treatments, she and her husband turned to surrogacy. Twin daughters, Stella and Ava finally arrived in a Nevada hospital on May 7, 2004. The couple burbled that holding their new girls was "the best, best in the world, world."