Kathleen Beller

Last updated
Kathleen Beller
Kathleen Beller on the set of Touched.jpg
Beller on the set of Touched in 1982
Born
Westchester, New York, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1965–1991, 2016
Spouse
​
(m. 1988)​
Children3

Kathleen Beller is an American actress who was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Actress in a Supporting Role for her role in Promises in the Dark (1979) and was well known for her role as Kirby Anders on the prime time soap opera Dynasty . She had a small role in The Godfather Part II and a featured role in The Betsy .

Contents

Career

Beller started her career by appearing in several commercials. [1] She debuted on television in 1971, taking over the role of Liza Walton Sentell in the daytime soap opera Search for Tomorrow , which was originated by Denise Nickerson. She appeared on the show until 1974 when she quit to move from New York City to Los Angeles. After arriving, Don Most arranged for her to get an agent. [2] Her film debut was a small role in 1974's The Godfather Part II , portraying an actress in a play that the young Vito Corleone and Genco Abbandando attended. Later, she was recognized more for her television work, appearing in TV movies and guest-starring in television series, notably the soap Dynasty. She played Betsy in 1978's The Betsy , a role Beller hoped would end her television career and start her film career:

For a TV actress, getting that first feature film is a major step. So this is very important in my life. But, funnily, getting this part in The Betsy was actually the easiest part I ever got. I did one reading, one lunch to discuss the part with the director (Daniel Petrie) and that was that. I had the part. From now on, if I do any TV at all it will only be good TV. It's interesting how one feature film — and The Betsy isn't even released yet—can make such a difference in a career. On the strength of just being in The Betsy, I am finding it so much easier. Now I go in to read for a movie part, and they know me, the door is at least partly open. [2]

Despite the optimism, the film was panned and did not advance Beller's career. She blamed the role, which she said could have been played by anyone. [3] Beller returned to television work, appearing in TV movies such as Mary White (1977) and Are You in the House Alone? (1978). She recalled the exhausting casting procedure of Mary White, which lasted daily for three weeks. [1] Beller also continued to appear in films, playing a supporting role in the 1978 musical comedy Movie Movie , and portraying a cancer patient in the film Promises in the Dark (1979). She spent three months researching the Promises in the Dark role, and later recalled it as one of her favorite roles. Although the film was a commercial failure, the role earned Beller a Golden Globe nomination. [1]

In 1981, Beller co-starred in the psychological thriller No Place to Hide , her first adult role. Her character initially was going to be a teenager, but Beller insisted on playing someone more mature. [4] Although she assumed this demand would cause her not to be cast, she won the role, which the film's director changed to a woman in her early 20s. [4] In an interview to promote the film, Beller admitted that, although she was 25 years old at the time, she still had trouble convincing people that she was older than 16. [4] The following year, she played the female lead in the fantasy film The Sword and the Sorcerer (1982). The film was a commercial success, grossing $39 million on a $4 million budget, but Beller later commented that she was dissatisfied with the film. [1] In 1982 Beller starred in the Civil War miniseries The Blue and the Gray , in which she played Kathy Reynolds, a senator's daughter.

Beller perhaps is best remembered for her role from 1982 to 1984 as Kirby Anders Colby in the prime time television soap opera Dynasty . [1] [5] She blamed her departure from Dynasty on the new writers who were hired in 1984, [1] explaining that they had "lost interest in her character and that when her contract ended, they decided not to renew it". [6] Beller said that "[she'd] come back if they wanted [her]". [1] She reprised the role for Dynasty: The Reunion in 1991. [7] [8] [9]

After her run on Dynasty, Beller starred in the TV thriller Deadly Messages , which Beller said differed from her earlier thrillers by "[not taking] itself too seriously". [6] In an interview, she explained her tendency to portray victims in films is encouraged by "the color and size of [her] big brown eyes", "the way [she interprets] roles" and "the episodic roles [she] did while [she] was growing up". [6] Her casting in the film was an unusual one: According to the actress, she received a call from her agent about a script, read it immediately, and drove to the studio an hour later, expecting a meeting. When she arrived, however, she was asked if she could start working right away. [1] She took the role because of "the whirlwind casting", and the fact that she had not worked for seven months, since a guest spot on Glitter . [1]

Beller also played Mary Caitlin Callahan on the short-lived school drama The Bronx Zoo .

Personal life

Beller studied drama at age 13 in Bristol, England. In the mid-1980s, Beller announced she wanted to become a midwife, and told a reporter that she had "attended eight births so far". [1]

Beller married musician Thomas Dolby in 1988. They have three children, Harper, Talia and Graham. [10]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1974 The Godfather Part II Girl in 'Senza Mamma'
1978 The Betsy Betsy Hardeman
1978 Movie Movie Angie Popchik
1979 Promises in the Dark Elizabeth "Buffy" KoenigNominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
1981 Fort Apache, The Bronx Theresa
1981 Surfacing Kate
1982 The Sword and the Sorcerer Princess Alana
1983 Touched Jennifer
1989Time TrackersR.J. Craig
1990 Legacy Eliza Williams
2016TomMotherShort, completed

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1971–1974 Search for Tomorrow Liza Walton Sentell TV series
1975 Baretta Carla"The Coppelli Oath"
1975Crime ClubPam AgostinoTV movie
1975 Hawaii Five-O Elena Mendoza"The Waterfront Steal"
1976 Medical Center Sharon"You Can't Annul My Baby"
1976At Ease!Stacy RamseyTV short
1976 Visions Ruth Schwartz"The Great Cherub Knitwear Strike"
1977 The Six Million Dollar Man Little Deer"To Catch the Eagle"
1977 Something for Joey Jean CappellettiTV movie
1977 Barnaby Jones Julie Enright"Run Away to Terror"
1977 Mary White Mary WhiteTV movie
1978Having Babies IIIDawnTV movie
1978 Are You in the House Alone? Gail OsborneTV movie
1980Mother and Daughter: The Loving WarRenieTV movie
1980Rappaccini's DaughterBeatriceTV movie
1981 No Place to Hide Amy ManningTV movie
1981 Manions of America Maureen O'BrianTV miniseries
1982 The Blue and the Gray Kathy ReynoldsTV miniseries
1982–1984 Dynasty Kirby Anders Series regular
1984 Glitter Princess LisaTV series, 1 episode: 2 “Trouble in Paradise”
1985 Deadly Messages Laura DanielsTV movie
1985 Murder, She Wrote Mary Carver"Funeral at Fifty-Mile"
1986 Blacke's Magic Carla Gasparini"Breathing Room"
1987Cloud WaltzingMeredith TolliverTV movie
1987–1988 The Bronx Zoo Mary Caitlin CallahanMain role
1989 Murder, She Wrote Maria Deschier"When the Fat Lady Sings"
1991 Dynasty: The Reunion Kirby AndersTV miniseries
1991Danger TeamCheryl SingerTV movie

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryTitle of workResult
1980 Golden Globe Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Motion Picture Promises in the Dark Nominated

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joan Collins</span> English actress and writer (born 1933)

Dame Joan Henrietta Collins is an English actress, author and columnist. With a career spanning nearly 8 decades, Collins is the recipient of several accolades, including a Golden Globe Award, a People's Choice Award, two Soap Opera Digest Awards and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. She is one of the last surviving actresses from the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema. In 1983, Collins was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She has been recognised for her philanthropy, particularly her advocacy towards causes relating to children, which has earned her many honours. In 2015, she was made a Dame by Queen Elizabeth II for her charitable services, presented to her by the then Prince of Wales, Charles III.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carolyn Jones</span> American actress (1930–1983)

Carolyn Sue Jones was an American actress of television and film. She began her film career in the early 1950s, and by the end of the decade had achieved recognition with a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for The Bachelor Party (1957) and a Golden Globe Award as one of the most promising new actresses of 1959. Her film career continued for another 20 years. In 1964, Jones began playing the role of matriarch Morticia Addams in the black and white television series The Addams Family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morgan Fairchild</span> American actress (born 1950)

Morgan Fairchild is an American actress. She began acting in the early 1970s and has had roles in several television series ever since.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linda Evans</span> American actress

Linda Evans is an American actress known primarily for her roles on television. In the 1960s she played Audra Barkley, the daughter of Victoria Barkley in the Western television series The Big Valley (1965–1969). She is best known for portraying Krystle Carrington in the 1980s ABC primetime soap opera Dynasty, a role she played from 1981 to 1989.

Kirsten Storms is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Zenon Kar in the Zenon trilogy, Emily in Johnny Tsunami, and Bonnie Rockwaller in Kim Possible. Storms played Isabella "Belle" Black on the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives from 1999 to 2004. In 2005, Storms was cast as the character Maxie Jones on the ABC soap opera General Hospital and its spin-off General Hospital: Night Shift.

<i>Dynasty: The Reunion</i> American TV series or program

Dynasty: The Reunion is a 1991 American television miniseries that served as a reunion of the 1981–1989 prime time soap opera Dynasty which continues the story of the Carringtons, a wealthy family living in Denver, Colorado. Directed by Irving J. Moore, the four-hour miniseries was broadcast in two parts on ABC on October 20 and 22, 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lesley-Anne Down</span> British actress (born 1954)

Lesley-Anne Down is a British actress, singer and former model. She made her motion picture debut in the 1969 drama film The Smashing Bird I Used to Know and later appeared in films Assault (1971), Countess Dracula (1971) and Pope Joan (1972). She achieved fame as Georgina Worsley in the ITV period drama series, Upstairs, Downstairs (1973–75).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linda Gray</span> American actress (born 1940)

Linda Ann Gray is an American film, stage and television actress, director, producer and former model, best known for her role as Sue Ellen Ewing, the long-suffering wife of Larry Hagman's character J.R. Ewing on the CBS television drama series Dallas, for which she was nominated for the 1981 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. The role also earned her two Golden Globe Awards nominations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donna Mills</span> American actress

Donna Mills is an American actress. She began her television career in 1966 with a recurring role on The Secret Storm, and in the same year appeared on Broadway in Woody Allen's comedy Don't Drink the Water. She made her film debut the next year in The Incident. She then starred for three years on the soap opera Love is a Many Splendored Thing (1967–70), before starring as Tobie Williams, the girlfriend of Clint Eastwood's character in the 1971 cult thriller Play Misty for Me. Mills played the female lead in the heist film Murph the Surf (1975), and had starring roles in a number of made-for-television movies during the 1970s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kathleen Noone</span> American actress (b. 1945)

Kathleen Noone is an American actress. She began her career as a singer in nightclubs and performed in musicals off-Broadway before making her television debut in the CBS daytime soap opera, As the World Turns (1975–1976).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrika Darbo</span> American actress

Patrika Darbo is an American actress. She made her big screen debut appearing in the 1988 romantic comedy film It Takes Two and later appeared in The 'Burbs (1989), Daddy's Dyin': Who's Got the Will? (1990), Spaced Invaders (1990), Leaving Normal (1992), In the Line of Fire (1993) and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997). Darbo played Roseanne Barr in the 1994 biographical television film Roseanne & Tom: Behind the Scenes.

Simone Nicole Jean Lahbib Ould Cheikl is a Scottish actress. She is known for her roles as Helen Stewart in the ITV drama series Bad Girls, DCI Alex Fielding in the ITV crime series Wire in the Blood and Katy Lewis in the BBC soap opera EastEnders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leigh Taylor-Young</span> American actress (born 1945)

Leigh Taylor-Young is an American actress who has appeared on stage, screen, podcast, radio, and television. Her most well-known films include I Love You, Alice B. Toklas (1968), The Horsemen (1971), The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (1971), Soylent Green (1973), and Jagged Edge (1985). She won an Emmy for her role on the hit television series Picket Fences.

Michael Michele Williams is an American actress and fashion designer. She began her career on stage before appearing opposite Wesley Snipes in the 1991 film New Jack City.

Jessica Player is a former American child actress, best known for playing the role of Krystina Carrington, the young daughter of Krystle Carrington and Blake Carrington from 1987 to 1989 in the hit ABC drama series Dynasty. She reprised her role in the 1991 mini-series Dynasty: The Reunion.

Cameron Watson is an American actor, screenwriter, and director. His first role was Bart Fallmont in the 1991 TV miniseries Dynasty: The Reunion.

Betty Harford is an American actress. She appeared in numerous classic television shows such as Gunsmoke, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Paper Chase and Dynasty.

Virginia Hawkins was an American actress, who remains best known for her role in the 1980s television series Dynasty as maid Jeanette Robbins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marla Adams</span> American actress (1938–2024)

Marla Vene Adams was an American actress. She was best known for playing the roles of Belle Clemens on the CBS soap opera The Secret Storm and Dina Abbott Mergeron on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless. She won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role on The Young and the Restless in 2021. She had been nominated in the same category in 2018.

Jennifer Joan Taylor is a French-American actress in film and television. She is best known for playing Police Detective Chris Egan in the American daytime television soap opera, The Edge of Night. She is sometimes credited as Jennifer Taylor.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Hughes, Mike (February 16, 1985). "Kathleen Beller's on fast forward". The Santa Fe New Mexican . p. D-2.
  2. 1 2 "Young TV star wants to be young movie star instead" by Dick Kleiner, El Paso Herald-Post , October 20, 1977, p. E-7
  3. ↑ "Kathleen Beller Serious About Her Film Work" by Dick Kleiner, Indiana Gazette , October 21, 1978, p. 6
  4. 1 2 3 "No Place to Hide role lets Kathleen Beller act her age" by Jerry Buck, Wilmington Morning Star , March 4, 1981. p. 5C
  5. ↑ Schemering, Christopher (September 1985). The Soap Opera Encyclopedia (1st ed.). Ballantine Books. pp. 80–84. ISBN   978-0-345-32459-7.
  6. 1 2 3 Michals, Bob (February 21, 1985). "Deadly Messages Places Beller In Jeopardy Again". The Palm Beach Post .
  7. ↑ Carter, Alan (October 18, 1991). "The Dynasty reunion". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Dynasty: The Reunion (Part 1 of 2) (TV)". Paleycenter.org. Paley Center for Media . Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  9. ↑ "Dynasty: The Reunion (Part 2 of 2) (TV)". Paleycenter.org. Paley Center for Media. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  10. ↑ Duerden, Nick. "Gender dysphoria: 'We lost a daughter, but gained a son'". Independent. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.