Kathy Baker
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).
Also recorded as Katherine Whitton Baker
Kathy Baker

Alan Light · photo by Alan Light · CC BY 2.0
- Name
- Kathy Baker
- Birth Name
- Katherine Whitton Baker
- Born
- 8 June 1950
- Birthplace
- Midland, Texas, U.S.
- Education
- Boston University California Institute of the Arts University of California, Berkeley (BA)
- Occupation
- Actress
- Nationality
- United States
- Honours
- Theatre World Award · Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress · Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress · National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress · Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama · Viewers for Quality Television
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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).
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wikidata · Q236250 · wikipedia · Kathy Baker
In this article
Biography
Biography
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). On television, Baker starred as Dr. Jill Brock in the CBS drama series Picket Fences (1992–1996), for which she received three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama 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.
Kathy Baker studied at University of California, Berkeley, California Institute of the Arts and Boston University. Residence is recorded at South Pasadena. Distinctions recorded are Theatre World Award, Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress, Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress and National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Actress Kathy Baker, Photo taken at the 45th Emmy Awards - Governor's Ball
Alan Light · photo by Alan Light

1993 Emmy Awards
Alan Light · photo by Alan Light · Kathy Baker Uploaded by MaybeMaybeMaybe
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Kathy Baker • Birth Name — Katherine Whitton Baker • Born — 8 June 1950 • Birthplace — Midland, Texas, U.S. • Education — Boston University California Institute of the Arts University of California, Berkeley (BA) • Occupation — Actress • Years Active — 1983–present • Children — 2
Early life
Early life
Baker was born in Midland, Texas, and raised a Quaker. 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.
Career
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. In the same year she was cast as Louise Shepard, Alan Shepard's wife, in the drama film The Right Stuff. 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). 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. She later starred in films Dad, Jacknife and Edward Scissorhands. • Illustration — 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. 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. 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. In 2014, it was announced that she was cast in Randall Miller's Midnight Rider, a biopic of Gregg Allman of the Allman Brothers Band. Baker also appears in the Netflix series The Ranch along with Ashton Kutcher and Elisha Cuthbert.
Personal life
Personal life
Baker's second husband is Steven Robman. She has one son with her first husband, Donald Camillieri. They live in South Pasadena.
Television
Television
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1986 — Nobody's Child — Lucy Stavros — Television film (CBS) • 1987 — Amazing Stories — Charlene 'Charlie' Benton — Episode: "Lane Change" • 1987 — Mariah — Ariel Serra — Episode: "Prey" • 1990 — The Image — Marcie Guilford — Television film (HBO) • 1991 — One Special Victory — Ellen — Television film (NBC) • 1992–1996 — Picket Fences — Dr. Jill Brock — 87 episodes • 1993 — Lush Life — Janice Oliver — Television film (Showtime) • 1997 — Ally McBeal — Katherine Dawson — Episode: "The Affair" • Not in This Town — Tammy Schnitzer — Television film (USA Network) • 1998 — The Practice — Evelyn Mayfield — 2 episodes • Oklahoma City: A Survivor's Story — Priscilla Salyers — Television film (Lifetime Network) • 1999 — Hey Arnold! — Dr. Bliss (voice) — Episode: "Helga on the Couch" • A Season for Miracles — Ruth Doyle — Television film (Hallmark Hall of Fame) • Shake, Rattle and Roll: An American Love Story — Janice Danner — Television film (CBS) • 2000 — Touched by an Angel — Ellen Sawyer — Episode: "Buy Me a Rose" • Chicago Hope — Mary Wyzinski — Episode: "Everybody's Special at Chicago Hope" • Ratz — Doris Trowbridge — Television film (Showtime) • 2001–2002 — Boston Public — Meredith Peters — 14 episodes • 2002 — Door to Door — Gladys Sullivan — Television film (TNT) • 2004 — Monk — Sylvia Fairbourn — Episode: "Mr. Monk Goes to Jail" • 2005 — Nip/Tuck — Gail Pollack — 2 episodes • Spring Break Shark Attack — Mary Jones — Television film (CBS) • 2005–2010 — Medium — Marjorie Dubois — 5 episodes • 2007 — Law & Order: Special Victims Unit — Hannah Curtis — Episode: "Sin" • Gilmore Girls — Mia — Episode: "Gilmore Girls Only" • Jesse Stone: Sea Change — Rose Gammon — Television film (CBS) • 2008 — Grey's Anatomy — Anna Loomis — 2 episodes • 2009 — Unstable — Betty Walker — Television film (Lifetime) • Jesse Stone: Thin Ice — Rose Gammon — Television film (CBS) • Law & Order: Criminal Intent — Camille Hayes-Fitzgerald — Episode: "Playing Dead" • 2010 — Law & Order — Camille Peterson — Episode: "Crashers" • Jesse Stone: No Remorse — Rose Gammon — Television film (CBS) • 2011 — Against the Wall — Sheila Kowalski — 12 episodes • Criminal Minds — Linda Collins — Episode: "A Family Affair" • Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost — Rose Gammon — Television film (CBS) • Too Big to Fail — Wendy Paulson — Television film (HBO) • 2012 — Private Practice — Dianne — Episode: "I'm Fine" • Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt — Rose Gammon — Television film (CBS) • 2014 — Those Who Kill — Marie Burgess — 5 episodes • 2015 — Big Time in Hollywood, FL — Diana — 8 episodes • 2016 — Colony — Phyllis — Recurring role, 3 episodes • Sister Cities — Janis — Television film (Lifetime) • 2016–2020 — The Ranch — Joanne — Recurring role, 46 episodes • 2017 — I'm Sorry — Sharon — 6 episodes • 2018 — Love — Vicki — 2 episodes • Paterno — Sue Paterno — Television film (HBO) • 2019 — Chicago Med — Nancy Geddes — Episode: "Never Going Back to Normal" • 2024 — Teacup — Ellen Chenoweth — 7 episodes • 2024 — Orphan Black: Echoes — Melissa Miller — 2 Episodes
Identity
Identity
Kathy Baker is recorded as having received Theatre World Award, Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress and Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1950
Kathy Baker born at Midland.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
South Pasadena
Residences
Midland.
Birth place
Film
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 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 Inside — Nancy • 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 Home — Brenda • 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 • 2026 — Remarkably Bright Creatures — Mary Ann Minetti
Where the work is held
Recognition and collections
Kathy Baker received Theatre World Award, Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress, Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress, National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress, Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama and Viewers for Quality Television.
Awards and nominations
• Year — Award — Category — Work — Result • 1984 — Obie Award — Best Performance by an Actress — Fool for Love • Theatre World Award — Theatre World Award • 1988 — Boston Society of Film Critics Award — Best Supporting Actress — Street Smart • Independent Spirit Award — Best Supporting Female • National Society of Film Critics Award — Best Supporting Actress • 1993 — Primetime Emmy Award — Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series — Picket Fences • 1994 — Golden Globe Award — Best Actress – Television Series Drama • Primetime Emmy Award — Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series • Viewers for Quality Television — Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series • 1995 — Golden Globe Award — Best Actress – Television Series Drama • Primetime Emmy Award — Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series • Screen Actors Guild Award — Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series • Screen Actors Guild Award — Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series • Viewers for Quality Television — Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series • 1996 — Golden Globe Award — Best Actress – Television Series Drama • Primetime Emmy Award — Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series • Screen Actors Guild Award — Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series • 2000 — Primetime Emmy Award — Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series — Touched by an Angel • Screen Actors Guild Award — Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture — The Cider House Rules • 2001 — Primetime Emmy Award — Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series — Boston Public • 2003 — Primetime Emmy Award — Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie — Door to Door • 2005 — Gotham Awards — Best Ensemble Cast — Nine Lives • Locarno International Film Festival — Best Actress • 2011 — Gotham Awards — Best Ensemble Cast — Take Shelter • 2013 — Phoenix Film Critics Society Award — Best Cast — Saving Mr. Banks
References
Citations
References
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Formation and teaching. Baker studied at University of California, Berkeley, California Institute of the Arts, Boston University and Le Cordon Bleu Paris. Connected to 2 other published records in the VALÉORINE Encyclopedia.
Within the Encyclopedia
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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