Kay Lenz

Kay Ann Lenz

Kay Lenz in trailer for Breezy (1973)
Born March 4, 1953
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other names Kay Ann Kemper
Occupation Actress
Years active 1967–present
Spouse(s) David Cassidy (April 3, 1977 - December 28, 1983; divorced)

Kay Lenz (born March 4, 1953)[1] is an American actress. A former child performer, Lenz has worked primarily in television and has won two Emmy Awards.[2]

Life and career

Kay Ann Lenz was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of a producer/commentator father and a model/radio engineer mother. She began working as a child actress, appearing in such television shows as The Andy Griffith Show (under the stage name Kay Ann Kemper), Opie's Group (1967) as well as in stage productions. She made a brief appearance ([3]billed as Kay Ann Kemper) in a small role in American Graffiti (1973) as Jane, a girl at a dance.[1] She achieved recognition for her title-role performance as the free spirit who captivates William Holden in Breezy, directed by Clint Eastwood.

Lenz made guest appearances in The Streets of San Francisco, Gunsmoke, MacGyver, McCloud, Cannon, and Petrocelli, and played a lead role in the film White Line Fever (1975) before being cast in the miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man in 1976, for which she was nominated for an Emmy Award. She reprised her role for the sequel, Rich Man, Poor Man Book II (1977). Since the 1980s, she has played guest roles in numerous television series.

In 1984 she appeared in Rod Stewart's music video for the song "Infatuation". She won an Emmy in 1989 for Midnight Caller.[4]

Lenz was the first wife of singer-actor David Cassidy. They married on April 3, 1977,[5][4] and divorced on December 28, 1983,[6] She has no children.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1973 American Graffiti Jane as Kay Ann Kemper
1973 Breezy Edith Alice Breezerman Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer - Female
1974 The ABC Afternoon Playbreak Dorie Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Special
1974 Nakia Episode: "The Hostage"
1974 McCloud (TV Series) Eve Randall Episode: "Barefoot Girls of Bleeker Street"
1975 White Line Fever Jerri Kane Hummer
1976 Rich Man, Poor Man Kate Jordache Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
1976 Moving Violation Cam Johnson
1976 The Great Scout & Cathouse Thursday Thursday
1977 Rich Man, Poor Man Book II Kate Jordache
1978 Mean Dog Blues Linda Ramsey
1978 The Initiation of Sarah Sarah Goodwin
1979 The Passage Leah Bergson
1981 Swan Lake Odile voice
1982 Fast-Walking 'Little' Moke
1983 Prisoners of the Lost Universe Carrie Madison
1983 Trial by Terror Karen Armstrong
1984 Infatuation Stalked Actress Rod Stewart music video
1984 Magnum P.I. (1 episode)
1985 Murder She Wrote nurse Jenny Wells (1 episode)
1986 House Sandy Sinclair Nominated — Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress
1987 Death Wish 4: The Crackdown Karen Sheldon
1987 Stripped to Kill Detective Cody Sheenan
1988 Fear Sharon Haden
1988 Midnight Caller Tina Cassidy 3 episodes
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series (1989)
Nominated —Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series (1990)
1989 Headhunter Katherine Hall
1989 Physical Evidence Deborah Quinn
1990 Streets Sargent
1991 Shakespeare's Plan 12 from Outer Space Sebastian
1991 Reasonable Doubts Maggie Zombro 32 episodes
Viewers for Quality Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Quality Drama Series (1993)
Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (1992-1993)
1992 Falling From Grace P.J. Parks
1992 Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa Cowlamity Kate Cudster (voice)
1994 Trapped in Space Gillings
1994 The Tick American Maid (voice)
1995 Gunfighter's Moon Linda Yarnell
1995 Shame II: The Secret Ginny Nominated — CableACE Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Movie or Miniseries
1997 Gun, a Car, a Blonde, AA Gun, a Car, a Blonde Peep/Madge
1998 Adventures of Ragtime, TheThe Adventures of Ragtime Detective Hill
2002 Law & Order: SVU S3 Ep18 Linda Cavanaugh 1 episode
2003 Southside Claire Coleman
2007 House Mrs Bradberry 1 episode
2008 NCIS Connie Quinn Wheeler 1 episode
2009 Cold Case Hillary Rhodes 1 episode
2010 The Closer Mrs Tatem 1 episode
2011 Southland Naomi Chester 1 episode
2013 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Laura Sidle 1 episode
2014 Bones Harriet White 1 episode

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Kay Lenz profile at". Movies.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2014-02-06.
  2. "Kay Lenz Biography". All Media Guide via The New York Times.
  3. IMDb American Graffiti, full cast and crew
  4. 4.0 4.1 Park, Jeannie; Michael Alexander (November 20, 1989). "After Riding a Lifetime of Ups and Downs, Kay Lenz Hits Her Stride with a Role in Midnight Caller". People 32 (21). Retrieved 2014-02-11. ...David Cassidy when they married in 1977, just 2½ months after meeting on a blind date.
  5. Nevada, Marriage Index 1956-2005)
  6. California, Divorce Index 1966-1984

External links