 If you’re Kate Linder, you don’t quit your job as a United Airlines flight attendant because you’re cast for a one-day, one-line role on “The Young and the Restless.” And Kate Linder has done both jobs simultaneously for the twenty-four years she’s been on the #1 rated show in daytime television -- with the resulting confusion among passengers creating hilarious anecdotes! The passenger/fan response has been overwhelming and incredulous -- unless they are fans who chose the friendly skies in hopes of seeing Kate. Linder was active with the USO, visiting troops shipping out and in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In late ’05, Linder was elected Governor of the Daytime Programming Peer Group of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (yup, the folks who put on the Emmys).
Linder, as Esther Valentine (so named because Linder was married on Valentine’s Day), confidante/housekeeper to the soap’s wealthy and powerful matron, Katherine Chancellor (Jeanne Cooper), has often been called upon by the writers to add a touch of merriment to an otherwise tense scene. She’s had a few tense moments on screen herself. Her character is unlucky in love and when she wed a man at last, he turned out to be a con artist and murderer. This month, Linder celebrates her 24th year on “The Young and the Restless.”
For Linder, working in the first-class section is more than a plane ride, it’s an ego trip. “My passengers are frequently movie stars and political figures -- and I get as many autograph requests from the other passengers as they do.” But as anyone who has ever met Kate can attest, her feet are still planted firmly on the ground. She was scheduled to fly on September 11, 2001, but her flight was grounded due to the terrorist attacks.
Kate is also an eternal optimist and tireless worker for many charities and was named celebrity spokesperson for The ALS Association (ALSA) in 2005. Her brother-in-law was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) in December, 2004 and Kate was in Washington, DC last year to lobby for more funds to fight this disease which has no cure. She returned to lobby Congressman May 15-18th and won the organization’s All-Star Award for her passionate service to the cause. Kate also traveled around the country to participate with and encourage other volunteers at ALSA’s main fundraisers, Walk to D’Feet ALS. She’s also active with TV Cares, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ AIDS charity, and the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Although she was the victim of a crazed intruder in her own home and subsequently lost use of her home for three years following the 1994 L.A. earthquake, she still maintains a positive outlook and has turned these unfortunate incidents into positive learning experiences.
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