 Already finding her niche on daytime and primetime dramas, Kathleen has expanded her career by receiving a masters degree in Spiritual Psychology in August 2000, along with her current Masters of Fine Arts degree. The last few years have allowed Kathleen to show off her depth and magnitude while playing a wide range of diverse roles in everything from sitcoms, movies-of-the-week, and feature films. For most mature actresses, doors slowly begin to close but for Kathleen a whole new world is opening up - as she comes off a three-year-run as ‘Bette’ on Aaron Spelling’s SUNSET BEACH.
Best know for her Emmy-award winning portrayal as ‘Ellen Dalton’ on ALL MY CHILDREN and as conniving ‘Claudia Whittaker’ on KNOTS LANDING, SUNSET BEACH audiences fell in love with eccentric 'Aunt Bette’, a wild and personable socialite who managed to get into more mischief than a lovesick teenager, and Kathleen received her third Emmy nomination for her portrayal.
Kathleen continues to pursue other career opportunities. She made such an impression when she guest-starred as the grating ‘Ellie’ on the critically-acclaimed FOX series PARTY OF FIVE that she became a recurring character. Kathleen appeared as ‘Jessie’s mom in CBS’s DIAGNOSIS MURDER, as well as the short-lived NBC series COLD FEET. In the realm of film, Kathleen seized the opportunity to spread her wings in three recent films. She was featured in Miramax’s CITIZEN RUTH with Laura Dern, worked with Ron Silver and James Coburn in the racial drama SKELETONS and was also featured in HBO’s thriller, SERPENT’S LAIR.
Born in New York, Kathleen began her career as a singer in nightclubs and performed in musicals while simultaneously earning a BFA from Ithaca College and West Virginia University. Her thoughts however began to grow overwhelmingly towards acting. When the Jimmy Dorsey Band asked her to go on tour, she realized she must make a choice in her career. She began honing her acting skills at Southern Methodist University in Texas and received an M.F.A.
While performing for thirteen years in numerous repertory, regional and Off-Broadway theatres, she won roles on AS THE WORLD TURNS and ONE LIFE TO LIVE before landing the breakthrough role of Pine Valley’s heroine ‘Ellen Dalton’ on ALL MY CHILDREN. For her portrayal she earned three Soap Opera Digest nominations, an Emmy nomination and in 1987 she won the Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress on daytime television.
She earned guest-starring roles on KATE & ALLIE, QUANTUM LEAP, HUNTER and EMPTY NEST before landing a leading role on the immensely popular KNOTS LANDING. For the final three seasons she portrayed the deceitful sister of ‘Greg Summer’ and established herself as a primetime actress.
After recurring on L.A. LAW, Kathleen realized she’d like to make people laugh for a change and concentrated on comedic roles. Following her role as ‘Maris’ fun and kooky aunt on FRASIER, she began garnering numerous roles on sitcoms including LOVE AND WAR, NED AND STACY, MURPHY BROWN and ELLEN. Kathleen continued broadening her horizons with two made-for-televison movies: USA Network telefilm HEARTS ADRIFT with Don Murry and CBS’ WHAT LOVE SEES with Richard Thomas and Annabeth Gish.
Perseverance, talent and a strong sense of self have seen Kathleen through her acting obstacles. In her free time, she enjoys softball (her father was a Brooklyn Dodger) and spending time with friends and family. She has formed a new company, Emotional Fitness, which provides emotional coaching through the highs and lows of the entertainment industry for those involved in the entertainment business. In the fall of 2000, Kathleen conducted a two-day seminar with writer Lisa Seidman, Polishing Your Episodic Script, from the writers and actors perspective at UCLA. Currently, Kathleen conducts Emotional Fitness seminars and twice monthly through The Vent Room provides a forum for those in all avenues of the entertainment industry to come and talk about the challenges, successes and upsets they are experiencing, and the direction in which they wish their careers to develop.
Visit Kathleen's Official Site!
|
