K Callan Explained

K Callan
Birth Name:Katherine Elizabeth Borman
Birth Place:Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Alma Mater:North Texas State University
Occupation:Actress, author
Years Active:1956–present
Children:3

Katherine Elizabeth Callan (née Borman) is an American actress and writer using the variation K Callan, known for playing Clark Kent's mother Martha in the ABC television series . She has most recently appeared as Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, in the Christian historical drama, The Chosen.[1]

Early years

Callan was born in Dallas, Texas. When she was 5 years old, she felt that she wanted to act. She did so in school, and as a student at North Texas State University at Denton, she studied drama. She went on to teach drama at a Catholic girls' school, and she began a children's theatre.[2]

Career

Callan first appeared on television in an episode of Route 66 that happened to be shooting in Dallas. She resumed her on-camera career in 1970, guest-starring in roles on One Day at a Time, St. Elsewhere, Carnivàle, JAG, Coach and King of the Hill. She played a key role in the Emmy Award-winning episode "Cousin Liz" of All in the Family and portrayed the mother of April Stevens Ewing in several episodes of the penultimate season of Dallas. She played Daisy LaRue in the TV show Meet the Browns and appeared as Mrs. Monroe, Gabe Duncan's teacher, in Good Luck Charlie. She also appeared in the third-season finale of Desperate Housewives as Ilene Britt, the mother of Edie Britt (Nicollette Sheridan), and has portrayed Lily's maternal grandmother on several episodes of How I Met Your Mother. She played the part of Charlie (as an elderly woman) in Heroes for one episode.

She appeared in the films Joe (1970), A Touch of Class (1973), The Onion Field (1979), American Gigolo (1980), A Change of Seasons (1980), Fast-Walking (1982), and Knives Out (2019), as well as the 1972 television adaptation of the 1966 Lanford Wilson play The Rimers of Eldritch.

She has written several books, including The Los Angeles Agent, The Script Is Finished, Now What Do I Do?, Directing Your Directing Career, and How to Sell Yourself as an Actor. She received her acting training at HB Studio[3] in New York City.

Callan made TV commercials for products, including Anacin, Endust, Geritol, and Sanka.[4]

Personal life

Callan was married to and divorced from author James Ruskin Callan. The couple have three children, Jamie Callan, Kelly Callan, and Kristi Callan.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1970JoeMary Lou Curranas K. Callan
1971Lady LibertySubway LadyUncredited
1972HailMrs. Burd
1973A Touch of ClassPatty Menkesas K. Callan
1979Fast BreakMs. Tidwell
1979The Onion FieldMrs. Powell
1980American GigoloLisa Williams
1980A Change of SeasonsAlice Bingham
1982Fast-WalkingMotel Manager
1991The UnbornMartha Wellington
1991Frankie and JohnnyFrankie's Mother
1998Border to BorderMrs. Piston
1999A Fare to RememberGinny
2002Devious BeingsLady Jane
2005Nine LivesMarisa
2005CrazyloveMrs. Hallstrom
2006Midnight ClearEva
2007Coyote County LoserMaggie Hopps
2010Why Did I Get Married Too?Ms. Tannenbaum
2012Not That FunnyToogey Richmonde
2013Samuel BleakElaine
2019Knives OutWanetta "Great Nana" Thrombey

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1962Route 66Western Union OperatorEpisode: "Aren't You Surprised to See Me?"
1972Great PerformancesEvelyn JacksonEpisode: "The Rimers of Eldritch"
1976–1977One Day at a TimeAlice Butterfield4 episodes
1977Barney MillerGwen BaxterEpisode: "Fire '77"
1977The Four of UsMarieunsold pilot
1977FishMrs. Lester2 episodes
1977All in the FamilyVeronica CartwrightEpisode: "Cousin Liz"
1977James at 16Mrs. StevensEpisode: "Pilot"
1977RhodaDr. SandersEpisode: "Who's Why"
1978FamilySophie SullivanEpisode: "Starting Over"
1979Ike: The War YearsMrs. WesterfieldTwo-part TV movie
1979Blind AmbitionMrs. KleindienstTV Miniseries
1979–1980Joe's WorldKatie WabashRegular role
1982Police Squad!Charlotte BurtonEpisode: "The Butler Did It (A Bird in the Hand)"
1983Cutter to HoustonConnie BufordRegular role
1983Knots LandingMrs. DunneEpisode: "The Fatal Blow"
1983NewhartJanet EbersolEpisode: The Visitors
1985Hollywood WivesCatherineTV Miniseries
1985St. ElsewherePatty Galecki2 episodes
1986MoonlightingCarolyn KandinskyEpisode: In God We Strongly Suspect
1986It's a LivingDot's MomEpisode: Oddest Couple
1987Highway to HeavenMrs. LowellEpisode: Normal People
1989Quantum LeapLenore MackenzieEpisode: "The Americanization of Machiko - August 4, 1953"
1990 DallasAmy Stevens4 episodes
1993–1997Martha KentRegular role
1993AlsiaEpisode:"Rivals"
2000Various rolesOne episode
2000–2003King of the HillTilly Hill (voice)3 episodes
2003–2005CarnivaleEleanor McGillRecurring role, 8 episodes
2006Cold CaseHelen RussellEpisode "The Hen House"
2007Desperate HousewivesIlene BrittEpisode "Getting Married Today"
2007–2012How I Met Your MotherGrandma Lois3 episodes
2009–2010Meet the BrownsMiss Daisy/Daisy LaRue20 episodes
2011, 2020NCISvarious roles2 episodes
2013Getting OnSusan Dayward 3 episodes
2016VeepJudy ShermanRecurring role
2017Grey's AnatomyJanis One episode
2021Brooklyn Nine-NineCarol 1 episode
2023Poker FaceBettyEpisode "Time of the Monkey"

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. News: K Callan. https://archive.today/20130802171622/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/10296/K-Callan. dead. August 2, 2013. Movies & TV Dept.. The New York Times. May 5, 2018.
  2. News: Mendoza . N. F. . Superman's Mom: It's a Natural . October 16, 2021 . The Herald-News . Los Angeles Times . December 29, 1995 . New Jersey, Passaic . 22. Newspapers.com.
  3. https://hbstudio.org/about-hb-studio/alumni/ HB Studio Alumni
  4. News: Fallon . Beth . The girl next door cleans up on commercials . October 16, 2021 . Daily News . March 28, 1972 . New York, New York City . 28. Newspapers.com.