Kathryn Walker Explained

Kathryn Walker
Birth Place:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Alma Mater:Wells College
Occupation:Actress
Partner:Douglas Kenney
(?–1980, his death)

Kathryn Walker is an American theater, television and film actress.

Early life

Walker was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Wells College in Aurora, New York, and was a Fulbright Scholar in music and drama.[1]

Career

Walker's career began on the off-Broadway New York stage with her performance in Slag in 1971. On Broadway she appeared in The Good Doctor (1974), A Touch of the Poet (1977), Private Lives (1983) and Wild Honey (1986), among others. She also has been a sporadic presence on daytime drama, including Search for Tomorrow and Another World, and received an Emmy award for her outstanding performance as First Lady Abigail Adams in PBS's 13-part epic miniseries The Adams Chronicles (1976). On film, she has co-starred or played secondary femme roles in Blade (1973), Slap Shot (1977), Girlfriends (1978), and Rich Kids (1979), and she also played John Belushi's wife in the dark, oddball comedy Neighbors (1981). Walker also narrated two PBS reality series, Frontier House (2002) and Colonial House (2004), based on the format of experiential history.

With the late William Alfred, she co-founded The Athens Street Company. In 1997, she was Rothschild Artist in Residence at Radcliffe College. Her six-part documentary series The Millennium Journal has been shown on the PBS cable channel Metro Arts. Over the years, she has become a strong force outside of acting. She has helmed many of the 92nd Street Y's classical theater productions, directing and/or adapting plays such as Euripides' Hekabe (2004); Sophocles' Elektra (2002); Euripides' Medea (2001); The Bacchae of Euripides (2000); and her own adaptation of Fagles' The Iliad (2006). She lives in both New York City and Tesuque, New Mexico.

In 2008, her novel, A Stopover in Venice was published.[2] [3]

In popular culture

Walker was portrayed in the film Burton & Taylor by Sarah Hadland, and by Emmy Rossum in the film A Futile and Stupid Gesture.

Personal life

Walker's relationship with writer Douglas Kenney lasted until his death in 1980 at the age of 33. She was married to singer James Taylor from 1985 to 1996.[4] [5]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1973BladeMaggie
1977Slap ShotAnita McCambridge
1978GirlfriendsCarpel's Receptionist
1978Mandy's GrandmotherSusanShort
1979Rich KidsMadeline Philips
1981NeighborsEnid Keese
1985D.A.R.Y.L.Dr. Ellen Lamb
1993Emma and ElvisAlice Winchek

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1972Search for TomorrowEmily Rogers Hunter1 episode
Look Homeward, AngelHelen GantTV film
Miss ThompsonTV film
1973Rx for the DefenseHilda KempterTV film
Miss Peggy ThompsonTV film
1974All My ChildrenEileen LittlejohnTV series
1975Another WorldBarbara WeaverTV series
Beacon HillFawn LassiterMain role
1976Medical CenterDr. Talley"The Stranger"
Abigail Smith AdamsTV miniseries
1978Katharine WrightTV film
1979Too Far to GoMarionTV film
3 by CheeverLouise Bentley"O Youth and Beauty!"
1980F.D.R.: The Last YearAnnaTV film
1981Dr. Linda McFarlandTV film
Family ReunionLouisa KingTV film
1982American PlayhouseLena Brock"Private Contentment"
1983Special BulletinSusan MylesTV film
1985Private SessionsClaire BradenTV film
1986Mrs. Delafield Wants to MarrySarahTV film
1988Sally SlatonTV miniseries
1990Against the LawPaulette Belinoff"The Women"
2000Suddenly SusanJenny"Girls Night Out"
2002Frontier HouseNarratorTV miniseries
2004Colonial HouseNarratorTV miniseries
2006Texas Ranch HouseAdditional narrationTV miniseries

Broadway

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: White, Timothy . Timothy White (editor)

    . Timothy White (editor) . James Taylor: Long Ago and Far Away . . 2002 . 288 . 0-7119-9193-6 .

  2. Book: Walker, Kathryn . A Stopover in Venice . 2008 . Alfred A. Knopf . 9780307267061 . 212855019.
  3. News: 'A Stopover in Venice' paints romantic picture . Sherryl . Connelly . New York Daily News . August 17, 2008.
  4. News: Wedding of James Taylor and Kathryn Walker . 27 June 2021 . Getty Images.
  5. News: Farber . Jim . James Taylor Opens up About His 'Crazy and Dangerous' Streak: 'I'm Really Lucky to Have Survived' . 27 June 2021 . Parade . 14 March 2020.