Kathy Baker

Last updated
Kathy Baker
KathyBaker (cropped).jpg
Baker at the 45th Primetime Emmy Awards, 1993
Born
Katherine Whitton Baker

(1950-06-08) June 8, 1950 (age 74)
Midland, Texas, U.S.
Education Boston University
California Institute of the Arts
University of California, Berkeley (BA)
OccupationActress
Years active1983–present
Spouses
Donald Camillieri
​
​
(m. 1985;div. 1999)​
​
(m. 2003)​
Children2

Katherine Whitton Baker (born June 8, 1950) is an American actress. Baker began her career in theater and made her screen debut in the 1983 drama film The Right Stuff . She received the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress and an Independent Spirit Award nomination for her performance in Street Smart (1987). [1] Baker also has appeared in over 50 films, including Jacknife (1989), Edward Scissorhands (1990), The Cider House Rules (1999), Cold Mountain (2003), Nine Lives (2005), The Jane Austen Book Club (2007), Last Chance Harvey (2008), Take Shelter (2011), Saving Mr. Banks (2013), and The Age of Adaline (2015).

Contents

On television, Baker starred as Dr. Jill Brock in the CBS drama series Picket Fences (1992–1996), for which she received three Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series and Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards. She later received three additional nominations and a Primetime Emmy Award for her performances in Touched by an Angel , Boston Public , and Door to Door .

Early life

Baker was born in Midland, Texas, and raised a Quaker. [2] She attended high school at Mills High School in Millbrae, California. She graduated in 1968. Her drama instructor, Allen Knight, was a major influence in her desire to become a professional actress. She attended the Boston University School of Fine Arts Acting program and studied acting at the California Institute of the Arts in the early 1970s. She later earned a B.A. degree in French in 1977 from UC Berkeley. [3]

Career

Baker began her acting career at San Francisco's Magic Theatre, performing in several of Sam Shepard's plays before getting her break in an off-Broadway production of Fool for Love (1983) opposite Ed Harris. She won an Obie Award for this role. [3] In the same year she was cast as Louise Shepard, Alan Shepard's wife, in the drama film The Right Stuff . [3] She later had dramatic performances as a prostitute in Street Smart (1987) and a recovering alcoholic and victim of domestic abuse in Clean and Sober (1988). [1] For her performance in Street Smart, Baker has won National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress and Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress as well as an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female nomination. [1] She later starred in films Dad , Jacknife and Edward Scissorhands .

Baker at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival KathyBaker07TIFF.jpg
Baker at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival

From 1992 to 1996, Baker starred as Jill Brock, a small-town doctor, in the CBS critically acclaimed drama series Picket Fences created by David E. Kelley. For her performance in the series she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series three times: in 1993, 1995 and 1996, Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama in 1994, and Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series in 1995. [3] She later appeared in David E. Kelley's dramas Ally McBeal , The Practice and had the recurring role as Meredith Peters in Boston Public , for which she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series in 2001. Baker also received Emmy Award nominations for her guest performance in Touched by an Angel and in the category Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie for Door to Door . [3]

Baker has appeared in over 50 theatrical films in supporting and leading roles. She starred in two movies directed by Rodrigo García: Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her (2000) and Nine Lives (2005). Her other major credits include The Cider House Rules (1999), Cold Mountain (2003), 13 Going on 30 (2004), The Jane Austen Book Club (2007), Last Chance Harvey (2008), Take Shelter (2011) and Saving Mr. Banks (2013). She starred opposite Tom Selleck in the Jesse Stone made-for-TV film series in the 2000s. Also on television she guest-starred on Nip/Tuck , Law & Order: Special Victims Unit , Grey's Anatomy , and Medium . She also starred in the short-lived Lifetime drama series Against the Wall in 2011. [4]

In 2014, it was announced that she was cast in Randall Miller's Midnight Rider , a biopic of Gregg Allman. [5] Baker also appears in the Netflix series The Ranch along with Ashton Kutcher and Elisha Cuthbert.

Personal life

She lives in Southern California with her second husband, director and producer Steven Robman, whom she married in 2003. She has a son and daughter with her first husband, Donald Camillieri. [3]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1983 The Right Stuff Louise Shepard
1986 A Killing Affair Maggie Gresham
1987 Street Smart Punchy
1988 Permanent Record Martha Sinclair
Clean and Sober Charlie Standers
1989 Dad Annie
Jacknife Martha Flannigan
1990 The Image Marcie Guilford
Edward Scissorhands Joyce
Mister Frost Dr. Sarah Day
1992 Article 99 Dr. Diana Walton
Jennifer 8 Margie Ross
1993 Mad Dog and Glory Lee
1996 To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday Esther Wheeler
1997 Inventing the Abbotts Helen Holt
Weapons of Mass Distraction Margo Powers
1999 The Cider House Rules Nurse Angela
A Little InsideNancy
2000 Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her Rose
2001 The Glass House Nancy Ryan
Ten Tiny Love Stories Ten
2002 Assassination Tango Maggie
2003 Cold Mountain Sally Swanger
2004 13 Going on 30 Bev Rink
2005 Nine Lives Camille
2006 All the King's Men Mrs. Burden
2007 The Jane Austen Book Club Bernadette
2008 Last Chance Harvey Jean
Shades of Ray Janet Rehman
2010 Miss Nobody Claire McKinney
2011 Take Shelter Sarah
Good Day for It Rose Carter
Seven Days in Utopia Mabel
Machine Gun Preacher Daisy
2012 Big Miracle Ruth McGraw
2013 Saving Mr. Banks Tommie
The Trials of Cate McCall Therapist
2014 Return to Zero Kathleen Callaghan
Boulevard Joy Mack
Model HomeBrenda
2015 The Age of Adaline Kathy Jones
The Party Is Over Appoline
2017 The Ballad of Lefty Brown Laura Johnson
2019 The Art of Racing in the Rain Trish
2020 Love Is Love Is Love Diana

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1986 Nobody's Child Lucy StavrosTelevision film (CBS)
1987 Amazing Stories Charlene 'Charlie' BentonEpisode: "Lane Change"
1987MariahAriel SerraEpisode: "Prey"
1990 The Image Marcie GuilfordTelevision film (HBO)
1991One Special VictoryEllenTelevision film (NBC)
1992–1996 Picket Fences Dr. Jill Brock87 episodes
1993Lush LifeJanice OliverTelevision film (Showtime)
1997 Ally McBeal Katherine DawsonEpisode: "The Affair"
Not in This TownTammy SchnitzerTelevision film (USA Network)
1998 The Practice Evelyn Mayfield2 episodes
Oklahoma City: A Survivor's Story Priscilla SalyersTelevision film (Lifetime Network)
1999 Hey Arnold! Dr. Bliss (voice)Episode: "Helga on the Couch"
A Season for Miracles Ruth DoyleTelevision film (Hallmark Hall of Fame)
Shake, Rattle and Roll: An American Love Story Janice DannerTelevision film (CBS)
2000 Touched by an Angel Ellen SawyerEpisode: "Buy Me a Rose"
Chicago Hope Mary WyzinskiEpisode: "Everybody's Special at Chicago Hope"
RatzDoris TrowbridgeTelevision film (Showtime)
2001–2002 Boston Public Meredith Peters14 episodes
2002 Door to Door Gladys SullivanTelevision film (TNT)
2004 Monk Sylvia FairbournEpisode: "Mr. Monk Goes to Jail"
2005 Nip/Tuck Gail Pollack2 episodes
Spring Break Shark AttackMary JonesTelevision film (CBS)
2005–2010 Medium Marjorie Dubois5 episodes
2007 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Hannah CurtisEpisode: "Sin"
Gilmore Girls MiaEpisode: "Gilmore Girls Only"
Jesse Stone: Sea Change Rose GammonTelevision film (CBS)
2008 Grey's Anatomy Anna Loomis2 episodes
2009UnstableBetty WalkerTelevision film (Lifetime)
Jesse Stone: Thin Ice Rose GammonTelevision film (CBS)
Law & Order: Criminal Intent Camille Hayes-FitzgeraldEpisode: "Playing Dead"
2010 Law & Order Camille PetersonEpisode: "Crashers"
Jesse Stone: No Remorse Rose GammonTelevision film (CBS)
2011 Against the Wall Sheila Kowalski12 episodes
Criminal Minds Linda CollinsEpisode: "A Family Affair"
Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost Rose GammonTelevision film (CBS)
Too Big to Fail Wendy PaulsonTelevision film (HBO)
2012 Private Practice DianneEpisode: "I'm Fine"
Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt Rose GammonTelevision film (CBS)
2014 Those Who Kill Marie Burgess5 episodes
2015 Big Time in Hollywood, FL Diana8 episodes
2016 Colony PhyllisRecurring role, 3 episodes
Sister Cities JanisTelevision film (Lifetime)
2016–2020 The Ranch JoanneRecurring role, 46 episodes
2017 I'm Sorry Sharon6 episodes
2018 Love Vicki2 episodes
Paterno Sue Paterno Television film (HBO)
2019 Chicago Med Nancy GeddesEpisode: "Never Going Back to Normal"
2024 Teacup Ellen Chenoweth [6] [7]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
1984 Obie Award Best Performance by an Actress Fool for LoveWon
Theatre World Award Theatre World AwardWon
1988 Boston Society of Film Critics Award Best Supporting Actress Street SmartWon
Independent Spirit Award Best Supporting Female Nominated
National Society of Film Critics Award Best Supporting Actress Won
1993 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Picket FencesWon
1994 Golden Globe Award Best Actress – Television Series Drama Won
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Nominated
Viewers for Quality Television Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series Won
1995 Golden Globe Award Best Actress – Television Series Drama Nominated
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Won
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series Won
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Nominated
Viewers for Quality Television Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series Won
1996 Golden Globe Award Best Actress – Television Series Drama Nominated
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Won
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Nominated
2000 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Touched by an AngelNominated
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture The Cider House RulesNominated
2001 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Boston PublicNominated
2003 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie Door to DoorNominated
2005 Gotham Awards Best Ensemble Cast Nine LivesNominated
Locarno International Film Festival Best Actress Won
2011 Gotham Awards Best Ensemble Cast Take ShelterNominated
2013Phoenix Film Critics Society AwardBest CastSaving Mr. BanksNominated

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Jason Buchanan (2014). "Kathy Baker - Biography". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times . Archived from the original on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  2. ↑ Tavis Smiley interview archive site; interview date: September 25, 2007 Archived October 18, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Kathy Baker Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  4. ↑ "Against the Wall: Cancelled; No Season Two". TVSeriesFinale.com. December 10, 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  5. ↑ Kit, Borys (February 14, 2014). "Gregg Allman Biopic Adds Three More". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 1, 2014. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
  6. ↑ Squires, John (September 22, 2024). "'Teacup' Trailer – Puzzle Box Horror Series from Producer James Wan Haunts Peacock This October". Bloody Disgusting . Archived from the original on September 27, 2024. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  7. ↑ Manfredi, Lucas (August 14, 2024). "Yvonne Strahovski, Scott Speedman and Chaske Spencer are Not in Control in New 'Teacup' Teaser Video". TheWrap . Archived from the original on September 27, 2024. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
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