Kathleen Quinlan

Photo of Kathleen Quinlan

Biography

Audiences were given their first brief glimpse of her in George Lucas' sophomore effort, "American Graffiti" (1973), followed by more substantial parts that led to her first starring role in the affecting drama "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden" (1977). She ably carried the Joe Dante-directed segment of the tragedy-plagued "Twilight Zone: The Movie" (1983), and gave a devilishly seductive performance in the Jim Morrison biopic "The Doors" …
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Job Title

Actor

Born

November 19, 1954

Career Milestones

As a child, suffered from allergy-induced asthma

Raised in Mill Valley, California

1972

Appeared as diving double for Trish Van Devere in "One Is a Lonely Number"

1973

Film acting debut, a one-line part in "American Graffiti"

1974

TV acting debut, "Where Have All the People Gone?"

1977

Starred in feature "I Never Promised You A Rose Garden"

1979

New York stage debut "Taken in Marriage" at New York Shakespeare Festival; first time working with Dixie Carter; Meryl Streep also co-starred

1981

Featured in busted ABC pilot for "She's in the Army Now"

1989

Played recurring role on CBS TV series "Wolf"

1995

Co-starred in "Apollo 13"; earned Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination

1997

Co-starred with Kurt Russell in the surprise hit "Breakdown"

1998

Cast as a mother seeking answers about a community health issue in "A Civil Action"

1998

Starred along with Billy Crystal and basketball player Gherghe Muresan in "My Giant"

1999

Starred in the CBS drama "Family Law", alongside Dixie Carter

2006

Co-starred in a remake of the Wes Craven thriller, "The Hills Have Eyes"

Awards

1977

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama in I Never Promised You A Rose Garden

1995

Academy Award for Actress In a Supporting Role in Apollo 13

1995

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture in Apollo 13

1996

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture in Apollo 13