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Kathleen Wilhoite
Kathleen Wilhoite at Vicki Abelson's Women Who Write (14380708540).jpg
Wilhoite in 2014
Born (1964-06-29) June 29, 1964 (age 60)
Occupation Actress, singer, songwriter, musician
Years active 1983–present
Spouse(s)
David Harte
(m. 1997)
Children 3

Kathleen Wilhoite (born June 29, 1964) is an American actress and musician. She made her feature film debut in Private School (1983) before having a leading role in Murphy's Law (1986), followed by supporting parts in Witchboard (also 1986), Crossing Delancey (1988), Road House (1989), and Lorenzo's Oil (1992). She also had notable guest-starring roles on several series during this time, including Twin Peaks (1990).

Beginning in 1994, Wilhoite appeared as Chloe Lewis in a recurring guest-starring role on the series ER, and voiced the role of the titular character on the ABC animated series Pepper Ann (1997–2000). Other notable film roles during the 1990s include the science fiction thriller Fire in the Sky (1993), and the survival film The Edge (1997).

In 2003, she was cast in a recurring role as Liz Danes on Gilmore Girls, and has subsequently had guest-starring roles on Criminal Minds (2008), Grey's Anatomy (2009), and Jane the Virgin (2015). In 2019, Wilhoite guest-starred on an episode of the Netflix series The OA.

Early life

Kathleen Wilhoite was born June 29, 1964 in Santa Barbara, California. She began acting in theatrical productions as a child with the Santa Barbara Youth Theatre. She attended the University of Southern California before studying acting at the Lee Strasberg Institute in Los Angeles.

Career

1983–1997: Early work

Wilhoite made her film debut in Private School (1983), and the same year appeared in the television film Quarterback Princess. She subsequently had guest roles on the television series The Jeffersons and Cagney & Lacey (both 1985). In 1986, she had a lead role in the film Murphy's Law, directed by J. Lee Thompson, as well as a supporting part as a psychic in the supernatural horror film Witchboard.

Wilhoite starred in two theatrical productions for New York City's Second Stage Theater in 1987: Division Street and Moonchildren. For her performance in the latter, critic Frank Rich of The New York Times praised her "frisky comic style" and likened her to "Shirley MacLaine in that star's earliest show-biz incarnation." This was followed by supporting film roles in Angel Heart (1987), the comedy Crossing Delancey (1988), and a lead role in the British-set horror film Dream Demon (also 1988), opposite Jemma Redgrave. Next, Wilhoite appeared in the Patrick Swayze-starring Road House (1989), Curtis Hanson's neo-noir Bad Influence (1990), and the drama Lorenzo's Oil (1992). She also appeared on television, portraying a resident of the titular town in David Lynch's series Twin Peaks in 1990.

Between 1993 and 1994, Wilhoite appeared in the seventh and eight seasons of L.A. Law as Rosalie Hendrickson Stulwicz. Beginning in 1994, she was cast in a recurring guest role as Chloe Lewis on ER, a role she continued to play for the following eight years. In 1995, she won a Q Award for her performance on the series, in the category of Outstanding Specialty Player by the Viewers for Quality Television. In film, Wilhoite portrayed the wife of a man who experiences alien abduction in Fire in the Sky (1993), followed by supporting parts in the drama Color of Night (1994) and the survival thriller The Edge (1997), starring Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin.

1998–2010: Film and television

Wilhoite provided the voice of the titular character of the Disney animated series Pepper Ann, a role she began in 1997 and portrayed until the series' conclusion in 2000. In 2000, she appeared in several feature films, including the dark comedies Nurse Betty and Drowning Mona, as well as the drama Pay It Forward.

In the early 2000s, Wilhoite guest-starred on several series, including 24 (2002) and Will & Grace (2003). Beginning in late 2003, Wilhoite guest-starred in a recurring role on the series Gilmore Girls, portraying Liz Danes, the mother of Jess Mariano (Milo Ventimiglia).

In May 2006, Wilhoite wrote and performed a one-woman show, Stop Yellin', directed by Kathy Najimy. The show consisted of autobiographical monologues and performances of songs from her albums.. She subsequently had a supporting part in the comedy King of California (2007), starring Michael Douglas and Evan Rachel Wood. Guest-starring television credits in the late 2000s included Criminal Minds (2008) and Grey's Anatomy (2009).

Wilhoite has also narrated a number of audiobooks, including Maria Semple's Where'd You Go, Bernadette and Today Will Be Different.

2011–present: Later roles

In 2013, Wilhoite had a supporting part in the romantic comedy Crazy Kind of Love, followed by a central role in the independent drama A Sort of Homecoming (2015). Also in 2015, she guest-starred on the comedy series Jane the Virgin, followed by a guest role on the fantasy series Kevin (Probably) Saves the World in 2018. Beginning in 2018, she provided the voice of Sue Peltzer in the Cartoon Network animated series Summer Camp Island, and in 2019 had a guest-starring role on the Netflix series The OA.

Music

As a musician, Wilhoite released two albums, Pitch Like a Girl (1997, Daves' Record Company) and Shiva (2000, Ruby Ray Records). Her songs have been in such films as Murphy's Law (1986), which she also starred in; her songs have also appeared in Roadhouse (1989), Valerie Flake (1999), East of A (2000), and Touched by an Angel (2000), as well as on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. ("Wish We Never Met" from Pitch Like a Girl appeared in the season three episode "Consequences".)

Personal life

Wilhoite married musician David Harte in 1997, with whom she has three children: a son named James, a daughter named Ruby and a son named Adu, adopted from Ethiopia by Wilhoite and Harte in the early 2010s.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1983 Private School Betsy
1986 Murphy's Law Arabella McGee
1986 The Morning After Red
1986 Witchboard Sarah 'Zarabeth' Crawford
1987 Angel Heart Nurse
1987 Campus Man Molly Gibson
1987 Under Cover Corrinne Armour
1988 Dream Demon Jenny Hoffman
1988 Crossing Delancey Myla Bondy
1989 Road House Carrie Ann
1989 Brenda Starr Hank O'Hare
1990 Everybody Wins Amy
1990 Bad Influence Leslie
1992 Lorenzo's Oil Deirdre Murphy
1993 Fire in the Sky Katie Rogers
1994 Benders Terri
1994 Getting Even with Dad Kitty Gleason
1994 Color of Night Michelle
1997 The Edge Ginny
1997 The Maze Mira
2000 Drowning Mona Lucinda
2000 East of A Spark
2000 Nurse Betty Sue Ann Rogers
2000 Angels! Georgeanne
2000 Pay It Forward Bonnie
2003 Quicksand Beth Ann
2003 Welcome to the Neighborhood Jennifer
2004 Perfect Opposites Terri Curtis
2005 Firecracker Jessica
2007 King of California Kelly
2008 Winged Creatures Jenn AKA, Fragments
2009 Endless Bummer Peggy
2012 California Solo Catherine
2013 Crazy Kind of Love Doris
2015 A Sort of Homecoming Annie Landry
2015 Deathly Dianne Short film
2016 The Dog Lover Mrs. Gold
2017 The Ride Amanda
2021 Violet Waitress (Jones)

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1983 Quarterback Princess Carolyn TV film
1984 AfterMASH Sandy Episode: "Yours Truly, Max Klinger", "It Had to Be You"
1984 Family Ties Kathy Episode: "Ready or Not"
1984 Flight 90: Disaster on the Potomac Kelly Duncan TV film
1984 Single Bars, Single Women Dee Dee TV film
1985 Not My Kid Penny TV film
1985 The Jeffersons Robin Episode: "State of Mind"
1985 Cagney & Lacey Adrien Wickart "On the Street"
1986 CBS Schoolbreak Special Paulie "Have You Tried Talking to Patty?"
1986 Fame Roberta Episode: "W.S.O.A."
1986 Heart of the City Mary / Tiger Lady Episode: "Cold Steal and Neon"
1986 Throb Tina Toxoid Episode: "My Fair Punker Lady"
1987 Cathy Cathy Andrews (voice) TV film
1988 Heartbeat Wendy Moran Episode: "Pilot"
1988 Cathy's Last Resort Cathy Andrews (voice) TV film
1989 Cathy's Valentine Cathy Andrews (voice) TV film
1990 Cop Rock Patricia Spence 3 episodes
1990 Twin Peaks Gwen Moran Episode: "Drive with a Dead Girl"
1992 Crossroads Selena Episode: "Miles Away from Home"
1992 Live! From Death Row Lorraine TV film
1992 Quantum Leap Norma Jean Pilcher Episode: "Moments to Live"
1993 When Love Kills: The ... of John Hearn Cheryl TV film
1993 Broken Promises: Taking Emily Back Lily Ward TV film
1993–1994 L.A. Law Rosalie Hendrickson Stulwicz Recurring role (seasons 7–8)
1994–2002 ER Chloe Lewis Recurring role (seasons 1–8)
1996 Mad About You Iris 2 episodes
1996 Terror in the Family Judith TV film
1997 Crisis Center Sarah Morrow Episode: "Where Truth Lies"
1997 Perversions of Science Paula Episode: "Snap Ending"
1997 ... Men Timmi-Jean Lindsey TV film
1997–2000 Pepper Ann Pepper Ann Pearson (voice) 63 episodes
1998 Ally McBeal Janie Bittner Episode: "Body Language"
1999 L.A. Doctors Claire Elliott Episode: "Been There, Done That"
1999 Maggie Winters Self Episode: "Girls Night Out"
2000 Family Law Janel March Episode: "Metamorphosis"
2000 Touched by an Angel Kathy Benson Episode: "An Angel on My Tree"
2001 Family Guy Sam (voice) Episode: "To Love and Die in Dixie"
2001 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Jane Rudd Episode: "Care"
2002 24 Lauren Proctor Episode: "8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m."
2002 My Sister's Keeper Mona TV film
2002 Philly Lori Miller Episode: "Tall Tales"
2002 Third Watch Chloe Lewis Episode: "Unleashed"
2002 For the People Maxine Darwell Episode: "Dog Day"
2002 3 South Cindy (voice) 3 episodes
2003 Boomtown Sally McBride Episode: "Sinaloa Cowboys"
2003 Judging Amy Nancy Gilbert Episode: "The Best Interests of the Child"
2003 Will & Grace Sally Episode: "Fagmalion Part 3: Bye Bye Beardy"
2003 The Division Christine Phillips Episode: "Wish You Were Here"
2003 Audrey's Rain Marguerite Walker TV film
2004 Family Sins Nadine Devereaux TV film
2004 Century City Laura Episode: "A Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Lose"
2004 The 4400 Grace Morrissey Episode: "The New and Improved Carl Morrissey"
2004–2007 Gilmore Girls Liz Danes 16 episodes
2005 Charmed Nadine Episode: "The Seven Year Witch"
2006 Boston Legal Sophia Wilson Episode: "The Nutcrackers"
2007 Ghost Whisperer Valerie Parker Episode: "Children of Ghosts"
2008 The Cleaner Irene Kemp Episode: "Rag Dolls"
2008 Criminal Minds Kathy Evanson Episode: "Minimal Loss"
2009 Without a Trace Sherri Brinkman Episode: "Wanted"
2009 The New Adventures of Old Christine Mrs. Dee Sellick Episode: "Hair"
2009 In Plain Sight Ingrid Berrenson Episode: "A Frond in Need"
2009 Grey's Anatomy Leslie Goldman Episode: "Invasion"
2009 Ice Dreams Debra Laston TV film
2010 The Mentalist Margo Ketchum Episode: "Red Sky in the Morning"
2011 The Defenders Natalie Episode: "Nevada v. Wayne"
2011 The Glades Mrs. Wyatt Episode: "Iron Pipeline"
2014 Jennifer Falls Cheryl Episode: "Triangle"
2015 Jane the Virgin Wendy Episode: "Chapter Sixteen"
2015 Battle Creek Susan Episode: "Stockholm"
2017 Wisdom of the Crowd Karen Sanford Episode: "Trojan Horse"
2018 Kevin (Probably) Saves the World Phoebe Powell Episode: "Caught White-Handed"
2018 The Resident Claudia Webb Episode: "Run, Doctor, Run"
2018–2020 Summer Camp Island Sue Peltzer (voice) 7 episodes
2019 The OA Amy Broderick Episode: "Mirror Mirror"
2020 Yellowstone Carolyn Nelson Episode: "Cowboys and Dreamers"
2022 CSI: Vegas Dr. Diane Auerbach 3 episodes

Stage credits

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1987 Division Street Second Stage Theater
1987 Moonchildren Shelly Second Stage Theater

Discography

Year Album Songs Performers
1998 Pitch Like a Girl
  1. "Whatever It Takes" (4:24)
  2. "No One Can Touch Me" (4:47)
  3. "Wish We Never Met" (4:36)
  4. "Olivia Says" (3:56)
  5. "Symphony" (5:00)
  6. "Suck the Joy" (3:45)
  7. "Look But Don't Touch" (4:31)
  8. "Dumb Ol' Girl" (3:39)
  9. "Old Familiar" (4:13)
  10. "Yard Sale" (5:28)
  11. "Stop Yelling" (3:49)
  12. "Pick Up Where You Left Off" (4:01)
Kathleen Wilhoite - vocals, acoustic guitar, piano

Tony Gilkyson - guitars
Chris Wagner - bass
David Harte - drums, background vocals
Chris Joyner - piano
Chris Frankfort - lap steel
Nikka Costa - background vocals

2000 Shiva
  1. "Witches' Hill" (4:29)
  2. "Ground Zero" (4:06)
  3. "Back Home" (4:58)
  4. "I Stopped Asking" (3:29)
  5. "Safari Song" (4:06)
  6. "It Ain't My Fault" (3:46)
  7. "On My Couch" (4:02)
  8. "You Move Me" (4:20)
  9. "Stone Cold Alone" (3:23)
  10. "Bad Old Days" (3:49)
  11. "Long Lost Man" (3:48)

See also

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