K Callan

On television she played Clark Kent's mother Martha in the ABC comedy-drama series, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993-1997). She also had recurring roles on Dallas, Coach, Carnivàle, How I Met Your Mother, Getting On, Veep and Widow's Bay.

• Name — K Callan • Born — 9 January 1936 • Birthplace — Dallas, Texas, U.S. • Education — North Texas State University • Known for — Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman • Occupation — Actress, author • Years Active — 1956–present • Children — 3

Katherine 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 an arena theatre at that high school with James Callan.

Callan first appeared on television in an episode of Route 66 that happened to be shooting in Dallas. She later moved to New York and received her acting training with Herbert Berghof at HB Studio, as well as Stella Adler, Larry Ross and others in Los Angeles. In 1964, she had a recurring role in soap opera, The Secret Storm. In 1970, Callan made her big screen debut starring as Mary Lou Curran, the long-suffering, mousy wife of Peter Boyle's title character in the 1970 satirical drama Joe directed by John G. Avildsen. She later played supporting roles in films A Touch of Class (1973) and The Onion Field (1979). In 1972, Callan starred as Evelyn Jackson in the television adaptation of the 1966 Lanford Wilson play The Rimers of Eldritch. Callan made TV commercials for products, including Anacin, Endust, Geritol, and Sanka. She resumed her television career in 1976 playing the recurring role on CBS sitcom One Day at a Time, and guest-starring parts on Barney Miller, All in the Family, Rhoda, Family and The Waltons. In 1979, she starred in the short-lived drama series, Married: The First Year, and from 1979 to 1980 was female lead on the sitcom Joe's World. In 1980 she also appeared in films American Gigolo and A Change of Seasons and later went to appear in made-for-television movies such as This House Possessed (1981), Splendor in the Grass (1981), Flight 90: Disaster on the Potomac (1984) and Hollywood Wives (1985). From 1980 to 1981 she had supporting role on the short-lived prime time soap opera, Secrets of Midland Heights and in 1983 was regular cast member on the medical drama Cutter to Houston. During the 1980s, Callan also guest-starred on Quincy M.E., Father Murphy, Lou Grant, Newhart, Knots Landing, Remington Steele, St. Elsewhere, Moonlighting and Quantum Leap. In 1990, Callan portrayed Amy Stevens, the mother of April Stevens Ewing in several episodes of the penultimate season of prime time soap opera, Dallas and the same time had recurring role on sitcom Coach. In 1993 she was cast as Clark Kent's mother Martha in the ABC comedy-drama series, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. The series ended in 1997 after four seasons. During the 1990s, Callan also appeared in films The Unborn (1991), Frankie & Johnny (1991) and Safe (1995), and made guest appearances on L.A. Law, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, NYPD Blue, Chicago Hope and Dawson's Creek. In 2000s, Callan performed in a recurring role as Eleanor McGill in the HBO series, Carnivàle (2003-2005), and guest-starred in shows such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Nip/Tuck, The Closer, the third-season finale of Desperate Housewives as Ilene Britt, the mother of Edie Britt (Nicollette Sheridan), ER and Castle. From 2009 to 2010 she was regular cast member on the TBS sitcom Meet the Browns playing the role of Miss Daisy LaRue. She also portrayed Lily's maternal grandmother on several episodes of How I Met Your Mother from 2007 to 2012. In 2013, Callan had a recurring role on the HBO comedy series, Getting On and in 2016 in the political comedy Veep. In 2019, she played Wanetta "Great Nana" Thrombey in the mystery film Knives Out (2019). In 2022, she played her first leading film role in the comedy-drama Pie in the Sky based on stage play. In 2023 she starred in an episode "Time of the Monkey" of murder mystery series, Poker Face. The following year she played Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist on The Chosen and appeared in the thriller film Sew Torn. In 2026, Callan had a recurring role as Ruth Livingston in the horror comedy series, Widow's Bay.

Callan was married for 11 years. She lived in Oklahoma while her husband worked on his doctorate. When the marriage ended, she took her three children, including Kelly Callan and Kristi Callan, and moved to New York. 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.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1962 — Route 66 — Western Union Operator — Episode: "Aren't You Surprised to See Me?" • 1964 — The Secret Storm — Gloria • 1972 — Great Performances — Evelyn Jackson — Episode: "The Rimers of Eldritch" • 1976–1977 — One Day at a Time — Alice Butterfield — 4 episodes • 1977 — Barney Miller — Gwen Baxter — Episode: "Fire '77" • The Four of Us — Marie — Unsold pilot • Fish — Mrs. Lester — 2 episodes • Fernwood 2 Night — Alberta Cornwall • James at 16 — Mrs. Stevens — Episode: "Pilot" • All in the Family — Veronica Cartwright — Episode: "Cousin Liz" • Rafferty — Betty Dane • Forever Fernwood — 1st Woman • Rhoda — Dr. Sanders — Episode: "Who's Why" • 1978 — Family — Sophie Sullivan — Episode: "Starting Over" • Kaz — Mrs. Rice • A Question of Love — Reporter — TV movie • 1979 — Visions — Mary Lou • Insight — Lorraine • Ike: The War Years — Mrs. Westerfield — Two-part TV movie • Blind Ambition — Mrs. Kleindienst — TV miniseries • The Waltons — Nurse Corrigan • 1979–1980 — Joe's World — Katie Wabash — Regular role • 1980 — When the Whistle Blows — Bulldog's wife • 1980–1981 — Secrets of Midland Heights — Hilda Carroll • 1981 — This House Possessed — Lucille — TV movie • Flo — Mrs. Carlin • Splendor in the Grass — Miss Metcalf — TV movie • 1982 — House Calls • Quincy, M.E. — Karen Saundersen • Bosom Buddies — Mrs. Wilson • Father Murphy — Jane Sanders • Police Squad! — Charlotte Burton — Episode: "The Butler Did It (A Bird in the Hand)" • Lou Grant — Louise Florence • 1983 — Private Benjamin — Harriet Benjamin • Cutter to Houston — Connie Buford — Regular role • Knots Landing — Mrs. Dunne — Episode: "The Fatal Blow" • Newhart — Janet Ebersol — Episode: "The Visitors" • 1984 — AfterMASH — Mrs. Bergstrom • Flight 90: Disaster on the Potomac — Barbara Hamilton — TV movie • E/R — Gail Parker • 1985 — Remington Steele — Martha Ryan • Sara — Claire McKenna • Hollywood Wives — Catherine — TV miniseries • St. Elsewhere — Patty Galecki — 2 episodes • 1985–1989 — Hunter — Mrs. Jorgensen / Linda Ryan — 2 episodes • 1986 — Moonlighting — Carolyn Kandinsky — Episode: "In God We Strongly Suspect" • You Again? — Kathryn • It's a Living — Dot's Mom — Episode: "Oddest Couple" • 1987 — Highway to Heaven — Mrs. Lowell — Episode: "Normal People" • Night Court — Mrs. Jane Fletzker • Mr. President — Janet Braden • The Hope Division — Caroline Braden — TV movie • CBS Summer Playhouse — Jean • Duet — Rose Kelly • The Magical World of Disney — Betty's Mom • Rags to Riches — Louis McMillan • 1989 — Live-In — Roslyn • Quantum Leap — Lenore Mackenzie — Episode: "The Americanization of Machiko – August 4, 1953" • Incident at Dark River — Constance Black — TV movie • 1989–1991 — Coach — Marion Williamson • 1990 — Dallas — Amy Stevens — 4 episodes • 1991 — Flight of Black Angel — Mrs. Gordon — TV movie • 1992 — Nurses — Lila • 1993–1997 — Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman — Martha Kent — Regular role • 1993 — FBI: The Untold Stories — Jorene • L.A. Law — Florence Hackett • 1994 — Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — Alsia — Episode: "Rivals" • Birdland — Laurel • 1995 — Saved by the Light — Marion — TV movie • 1997 — NYPD Blue — Mrs. Hastings • Chicago Hope — Emily Beck • 1998 — 7th Heaven — Grandma James • Mr. Murder — Alice Stillwater — TV miniseries • 1999 — Dawson's Creek — Miss Constance Freckling • 2000 — Family Law — Myra Hollenbeck • Diagnosis: Murder — Jake's Landlady — Episode: "Death by Design" • 2000–2003 — King of the Hill — Tilly Hill (voice) — 3 episodes • 2001 — The Fugitive — Evelyn Butler • Kate Brasher — Mrs. Warmus • 2001–2004 — The Division — Mary Johnson / Halle McAdams — 3 episodes • 2002 — Crossing Jordan — Penelope Zimmerman • Body & Soul — Cora Kilabrough • 2003 — JAG — Esther Gale • 2003–2005 — Carnivàle — Eleanor McGill — Recurring role, 8 episodes • 2004 — CSI: Crime Scene Investigation — Martha Abernathy • Dragnet — Lee's Adoptive Mother • 2005 — Without a Trace — Luanne Countryman • Nip/Tuck — Ellie Harkness • 2006 — Four Kings — Mrs. Grayson • Heist — Helen • Cold Case — Helen Russell — Episode: "The Hen House" • The Closer — Julia Rose • 2007 — Desperate Housewives — Ilene Britt — Episode: "Getting Married Today" • Til Death — Mrs. Bauer • Drive — Ceal Cousins • 2007–2012 — How I Met Your Mother — Grandma Lois — 3 episodes • 2008 — ER — Kelly Robinson • 2009 — Castle — Mrs. Delores Marsh • Mental — Alexis Vilcek • 2009–2010 — Meet the Browns — Miss Daisy/Daisy LaRue — 20 episodes • 2010 — Heroes — Charlie Andrews • The Mentalist — Annabelle Draber • Law & Order: LA — Louise Hammond • 2011 — Good Luck Charlie — Mrs. Monroe • 2011, 2020 — NCIS — Various roles — 2 episodes • 2013 — Emily Owens, M.D. — Lorraine Parks • Getting On — Susan Dayward — 3 episodes • 2015 — Justified — Loretta's Grandaunt • Code Black — Ruth • 2016 — Veep — Judy Sherman — Recurring role • 2017 — Grey's Anatomy — Janis — Episode: "In the Air Tonight" • 2021 — Brooklyn Nine-Nine — Carol — Episode: "Renewal" • 2023 — Poker Face — Betty — Episode: "Time of the Monkey" • 2024 — The Chosen — Elizabeth — Episode: "Promises" • 2026 — Widow's Bay — Ruth Livingston — Recurring role