Editing Calista Flockhart (section)

==Early life==
Flockhart was born in [[Freeport, Illinois]], the daughter of Kay Calista, an [[English studies|English]] teacher, and Ronald Flockhart, a [[Kraft Foods]] executive.<ref name=elp>{{cite magazine|last=Schneider|first=Karen S.|title=Arguing Her Case|magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]]|date=November 9, 1998|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20126712,00.html|access-date=November 12, 2010|archive-date=June 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160615043314/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20126712,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Her parents retired to [[Morristown, Tennessee]], where her father lived until his death and her mother continues to reside.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ronald Lee Flockhart|url=https://www.citizentribune.com/obituaries/ronald-lee-flockhart/article_023a959c-b8e2-11ea-842f-6b8e36f5a2e7.html|access-date=24 July 2020|work=Citizen Tribune|date=28 June 2020|archive-date=July 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727073104/https://www.citizentribune.com/obituaries/ronald-lee-flockhart/article_023a959c-b8e2-11ea-842f-6b8e36f5a2e7.html|url-status=live}}</ref> She has one older brother, Gary. Her mother reversed her own first and middle names in naming her Calista Kay.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theworldnewsmedia.org/Calista+Flockhart+child+of+Ronald+and+Kay+Calista |title=News - Calista Flockhart child of Ronald and Kay Calista|work=theworldnewsmedia.org|access-date=June 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312001053/http://theworldnewsmedia.org/Calista+Flockhart+child+of+Ronald+and+Kay+Calista|archive-date=March 12, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Flockhart attended [[Mason Gross School of the Arts]] at [[Rutgers University–New Brunswick]]. People began recognizing Flockhart's acting ability when William Esper (Mason Gross theater director and Flockhart's acting teacher) made an exception to policy by allowing Flockhart to perform on the main stage. Though this venue usually is reserved for juniors and seniors, Harold Scott insisted that Flockhart perform there in his production of [[William Inge]]'s ''[[Picnic (play)|Picnic]]''. Flockhart graduated with a [[Bachelor of Fine Arts]] in theater in 1988 from Rutgers as one of the few students who successfully completed the acting course. Rutgers inducted her into the Hall of Distinguished Alumni on May 3, 2003.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Former 'Ally McBeal' actress named Rutgers distinguished alumna|date=May 5, 2003|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Calista Flockhart|url=https://alumni.rutgers.edu/awards-recognition/hall-of-distinguished-alumni/calista-flockhart/|access-date=2022-01-19|website=Rutgers University Alumni Association|language=en-US|archive-date=February 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220227211516/https://alumni.rutgers.edu/awards-recognition/hall-of-distinguished-alumni/calista-flockhart/|url-status=live}}</ref>