Kathy Greenwood Explained

Kathy Greenwood
Birth Date:1962 3, mf=yes
Birth Place:Scarborough, Ontario, Canada[1]
Birthname:Kathryn Greenwood
Occupation:Actress, comedian
Yearsactive:1987–present
Spouse:John Dolin
Children:2
Awards:Canadian Comedy Award for Best Female Improviser

Kathryn Greenwood (born March 21, 1962) is a Canadian actress and comedian. She appeared on the American version of Whose Line Is It Anyway? numerous times, and played Grace Bailey on the Canadian television drama series Wind at My Back.[2]

Life and career

Greenwood was born in Scarborough, Ontario. From an early age she wanted to be a performer and went to school at Agincourt Collegiate Institute. There she performed in school plays and concerts. After graduation in 1980, Greenwood spent the next two years studying acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.[3]

In 1987, she returned to Toronto, and worked in a small night club act called A Wedge of Night. She spent five years with the Toronto branch of The Second City comedy troupe[4] as a writer and a performer. Two of her shows won Dora Mavor Moore awards[5] in 1988 and 1992.

Shortly afterwards, she and her friends Jonathan Wilson and Ed Sahely developed what she called their "Second City" spin-off, Not to Be Repeated, in which the three improvised an entire situation comedy in front of a live audience, based solely on ideas and suggestions from the audience.[6] She also appeared with Shirley Douglas and Kiefer Sutherland in The Glass Menagerie at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in spring 1997.[7] Other notable appearances in Canada include This Hour Has 22 Minutes and Royal Canadian Air Farce.

In 1996, Greenwood began regular work on Canadian television on the family drama series Wind at My Back. She worked for five years, full-time, playing Grace Bailey, a junior radio M.C. in the small town of New Bedford, Ontario, during the Great Depression. Her portrayal of Grace Bailey was nominated for a Gemini Award for Best Performance By an Actress in a Continuing Leading Role. In 1999, Kathy was cast as Denise Stanton in the TV movie Switching Goals, starring Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. Later that same year, Greenwood commuted to Los Angeles to appear on such shows as The Drew Carey Show, the updated version of Hollywood Squares,[8] and the American version of the improvisation game show Whose Line Is It Anyway?.

Marriage and family

Greenwood is married to television writer John Dolin; they have two daughters: Phoebe and Josephine. Phoebe was born in 2000, while Josephine was born in 2001.

Current projects

Greenwood is part of the sketch comedy troupe Women Fully Clothed,[9] [10] featuring what Eugene Levy calls "the five funniest women in Canada." The group saw success in Canada and appeared in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1992This Is My LifeYoung Matron
1994New NightmareNurse in Hospital Room with Heather
1995House[11] Kathy
1996Ginny Hurdicure
1999Switching GoalsDr. Denise Stanton
2003Flip PhoneKatieShort film
2005data-sort-value="Man, The" The ManFlight Attendant
Anne: Journey to Green GablesMavis (voice)Video
HeidiAunt Dete (voice)
2014Get SantaMiscellaneous crew (Accountant)
2015PoltergeistRealtor
2016My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2Marge
UnlessWillow Halliday
20218-Bit ChristmasMrs. Hugo
data-sort-value="Exchange, The" The ExchangeMrs. Fleming
2023World's BestMs. Sage
data-sort-value="King Tide, The" The King TideCharlotte
EXmasJeannie

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1992This Hour Has 22 MinutesWriter
1993Street LegalJacky KeplerEpisode: "Believe the Children"
Maniac MansionAllanahEpisode: "Love Letters"
Women on Trial: The Lawrencia Bembenek StorySylvia BonnerTV movie
1994Hostage for a DaySWAT One
Squawk Box
DirectorEpisode: "Midnight Minus One"
1995GoosebumpsMs. WalkerEpisode: "The Phantom of the Auditorium"
1996data-sort-value="High Life, The" The High LifeJudyEpisode: "Bowling"
1996–2001Wind at My BackGrace Bailey Mainwairing and Gams O'MalleyMain role
1997Once a ThiefMargoEpisode: "Trial Marriage"
1998Stories from My Childhood(voice)2 episodes
History BitesVarious2 episodes
1999George and MarthaFrieda
data-sort-value="Wonderful World of Disney, The" The Wonderful World of DisneyDenise StantonEpisode: "Switching Goals"
Switching GoalsDenise Stanton[12] TV movie
2000data-sort-value="2000 Canadian Comedy Awards, The" The 2000 Canadian Comedy AwardsSelf (Pretty Funny Female Improv)TV special
data-sort-value="Pooch and the Pauper, The" The Pooch and the PauperKim CorbettTV film
data-sort-value="Drew Carey Show, The" The Drew Carey ShowKathrynEpisode: "Drew Live II"
2000–2007Whose Line Is It Anyway?Self
2001data-sort-value="Broad Side, The" The Broad SideVarious roles
This Sitcom Is...Not to Be Repeated
I Was a RatLucasta UtensilMiniseries
Hollywood SquaresSelfEpisode: January 25, 2001
2002Kids in the Hall: Tour of DutyDocumentary
Moville MysteriesMrs. CalienteEpisode: "The Day Rico Became Smart"
Royal Canadian Air FarceSenior Citizen #3/Dr. StilwartEpisode: "10.9"
2003Open Mike with Mike BullardGuestEpisode: February 20, 2003
Royal Canadian Air FarceVariousEpisode: "Best of #3"
2003–2005JoJo's CircusDr. Seltzer (voice)Recurring role
2004XPMLaura Macdonald
WonderfallsRonnieEpisode: "Wax Lion"
data-sort-value="Wrong Coast, The" The Wrong CoastDebbie Sue Ashanti-MelendezMiniseries
Listen MissyVarious
This Hour Has 22 MinutesVarious3 episodes
2005Distinguished ArtistsSelfEpisode: "Women Fully Clothed"
Queer as FolkLilaEpisode: "5.2"
Maple Shorts!Sela Salmon (voice)Episode: "Eat My Shorts"
2006Getting Along FamouslySister Gregory "Sister Song" PechiccinoEpisode: "Sister Song"
Captain FlamingoMilo's Mom (voice)
2007Women Fully Clothed: All Dressed Up and Places to GoSelfDocumentary
data-sort-value="Jane Show, The" The Jane ShowWhitney JohnsonEpisode: "The House of Jane"
2009data-sort-value="Rick Mercer Report, The" The Rick Mercer ReportGuestEpisode: "#7.1"
data-sort-value="Dating Guy, The" The Dating GuyValerie (voice)Episode: "Really Bad Lieutenant"
2010CBC Winnipeg Comedy FestivalSelfDocumentary
Self/WriterEpisode: "Savings and Groans"
2011data-sort-value="Ron James Show, The" The Ron James ShowSelfEpisode: "#3.3"
Justin TimeCleopatraEpisode: "Brave Sir Justin & Cleopatra's Cat"
2012FrenemiesLisa LoganTV movie
I, Martin Short, Goes HomeMother
2012–2013Sidekick Cindy Struction (voice)2 episodes
2013SatisfactionBonnieEpisode: "Mo Money, Mo Problems"
2013–2014data-sort-value="Rick Mercer Report, The" The Rick Mercer ReportRick's Wife13 episodes
2014Working the EngelsGrace van der HoovenEpisode: "The Crazy Family"
Saving HopeRita BrownEpisode: "Stand By Me"
data-sort-value="Stanley Dynamic, The" The Stanley DynamicOfficer VickyEpisode: "The Stanley Crime"
2015RemedyMarg HendricksonEpisode: "Life in Technicolor"
2017Man Seeking WomanPicklepopEpisode: "Popcorn"
Taken Too FarGabyTV movie
2019CavendishRuthMain role
2020 Unlocking ChristmasMaggie MatthewsTV movie
2021GhostsMargaret FarnsbyEpisode: "Dinner Party"
2023 & 2024So Help Me ToddPattyEpisodes: "Twelve Worried Persons" & "Is the Jury Out?"

Awards/Nominations

Awards
YearAwardCategoryProductionResult
1992Dora Mavor Moore AwardOutstanding New Revue or MusicalThe Second City
1996GeminiBest Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading RoleWind at My Back
1998Dora Mavor Moore AwardOutstanding New Revue or MusicalThe Second Cityrowspan=2
2000Canadian Comedy AwardBest Female Improviser
2005Best Sketch TroupeWomen Fully Clothed

Notes and References

  1. https://www.northernstars.ca/greenwood_kathryn/ Kathryn Greenwood's bio
  2. https://www.cbc.ca/cavendish/cast/kathryn-greenwood Kathy Greenwood's bio
  3. https://www.pembrokeobserver.com/2013/06/07/kathryn-greenwood-fully-clothed "Kathryn Greenwood fully clothed"
  4. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/theatre-and-performance/more-bladder-busting-laughs-from-women-fully-clothed-quartet/article629133/ "More bladder-busting laughs from Women Fully Clothed quartet"
  5. https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2007/11/15/female_comics_hit_the_road.html "Female comics hit the road"
  6. https://playbackonline.ca/2001/06/11/ont-20010611/ "AAC MOW tells story of ALS victim Jenifer Estess/This sitcom is…virtual"
  7. https://variety.com/1997/legit/reviews/the-glass-menagerie-10-1200449560/ The Glass Menagerie Review
  8. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/kathryn-greenwood/article4148945/ "Kathryn Greenwood"
  9. https://www.thestar.com/life/2010/05/03/older_and_hotter_and_hitting_the_stage.html "Older and Hotter and hitting the stage"
  10. https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2011/06/16/the_comedy_of_everyday_life.html "The comedy of everyday life"
  11. https://playbackonline.ca/1994/10/10/3841-19941010/ "Ontario Scene"
  12. https://variety.com/1999/tv/reviews/switching-goals-1117759840/ Switching Goals Review