Kathleen Turner Biography
Kathleen Turner is an American actress who is well known for her distinctive and gritty voice. Turner has received two Golden Globe Awards, and she has been nominated for an Academy Award, and also two Tony Awards.
Turner moved to New York in 1977 and began acting as the female lead in Michael Zetter’s play “Mister T” at the Soho Repertory Theatre. This was her off-Broadway debut. She appeared as Judith Hastings in “Gemini” at The Little Theatre after a few months.
Kathleen rose to fame in 1981 after playing the role of the femme fatale Matty Walker in the thriller “Body Heat.” Her role as a cunning and stunning woman who plots her husband’s murder was loved by many.
Furthermore, not wanting to be stereotyped as a sexy seductress after her debut, Turner made a conscious choice to choose a variety of roles. She portrayed a gold-digging wife in the science fiction comedy titled “The Man with Two Brains” in 1983.
In 1984, Turner played a comic role in the romantic comedy “Romancing the Stone,” directed by Robert Zemeckis. Michael Douglas and Danny DeVito also appeared in the comedy. This was a major commercial hit and propelled Kathleen to stardom.
Turner played a middle-aged married woman who finds herself transported back to her high school days in the comedy-drama “Peggy Sue Got Married in 1986.” This role won her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
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Similarly, Kathleen starred with Michael Douglas and Danny DeVito in the black comedy “The War of Roses” in 1989. The film tells the story of a rich couple with a purportedly perfect marriage who find themselves on the edge of divorce over various issues.
Moreover, Turner was a much-sought actress in the 1980s. However, her rheumatoid arthritis in the 1990s restricted her career. During this period, she became an alcoholic, which later sabotaged her acting career.
After appearing in several notable films in the early 1990s, Kathleen appeared in supporting roles in films like The Real Blond in 1997, A Simple Wish in 1997, and The Virgin Suicides in 1999. Nevertheless, she appeared in an episode of The Simpsons.
Besides, Turner’s health and career improved in the 2000s. She appeared in a Broadway production of “The Graduate” in 2002. This play was staged to sold-out crowds for as long as she was part of the cast.
In 2005, Kathleen appeared in a Broadway revival of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”. She acted as Martha, a role that was highly appreciated and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play. In 2008, Turner appeared in a minor role in ‘Marley & Me’ and in 20111, she appeared in ‘The Perfect Family’.
Kathleen Turner Age
How old is Kathleen Turner? Turner is 69 years old as of 2023. She was born Mary Kathleen Turner on June 19, 1954, in Springfield, Missouri. In addition, Kathleen celebrates her birthday on the 19th of June every year, and her birth sign is Gemini.
Kathleen Turner Family
Kathleen is the daughter of Patsy and Allen Richard Turner, a U.S. Foreign Service Officer who grew up in China. Turner’s grandfather was a Methodist missionary in China. Turner is the third born of four children, and she is the only one born in the United States of America. She has a sister named Susan and two brothers.
Kathleen grew up in a strict conservative Christian family. Her passion for performing was discouraged by both her parents. Owing to her dad’s employment in the Foreign Service, Turner grew up abroad, in Canada, Cuba, Venezuela, and also London, England.
Regarding her high school education, Kathleen attended The American School in London where she graduated in 1972. Her career in acting kicked off during high school in London.
One week towards her graduation, her father died due to coronary thrombosis. The family went back to Springfield, Missouri. At the age of 19, Kathleen started volunteering at a local Planned Parenthood office.
Later on, Kathleen joined Southwest Missouri State University where she studied theatre for two years. While there, director Herbert Blau noticed her performance in The House of Blue Leaves. He invited her to spend her senior year at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
Additionally, Turner graduated from the university in 1977 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts. During this time, Kathleen acted in various productions directed by film and stage director Steve Yeager.
Kathleen Turner Husband
Is Kathleen married? In 1984, Kathleen married real estate entrepreneur, Jay Weiss of New York City. Together they had a daughter, singer Rachel Ann Weiss. Rachel was born on October 14, 1987. Unfortunately, the couple separated in December of 2007. However, Turner says that Jay is her best friend.
In the late 1980s, Kathleen had a reputation for being difficult, what The New York Times referred to as a “certified diva.” She acknowledged that she had developed into “not a very kind person”. Actress Eileen Atkins, her fellow cast member in the play Indiscretions on Broadway, called her “an amazing nightmare”.
In addition, in 2018, Kathleen talked about her reputation, saying: “The ‘difficult’ thing was pure gender crap. If a man comes on set and says, “Here’s how I see this being done,” people go, “He’s decisive.” If a woman does it, they say, “Oh, fuck. There she goes.”
Turner has protected herself from Atkins’ claims, saying that Atkins possessed animosity towards her due to her trouble in memorizing her lines, which Atkins termed unprofessional. Later on, Kathleen concluded that the new medication for rheumatoid arthritis she was taking made her “fuzzy.”
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Moreover, she added that on days when rheumatoid arthritis in her wrist was bad, she warned fellow cast members not to touch it. However, Atkins would intentionally sit on it during a scene where Kathleen had to play dead, causing Turner ultimate pain. In addition, Kathleen slammed Hollywood over the differences in the quality of roles presented to male and female actors as they age, referring to the disparity as a “terrible double standard.”
Only a few weeks after her departure at the production of the play The Graduate in November of 2012, Turner was admitted into the Geisinger Marworth Treatment Center in Waverly, Pennsylvania, for the treatment of alcoholism.
Kathleen Turner Height
Turner stands at an average height of 5 feet 8 inches tall (1.73 m) and weighs 61 kg.
Kathleen Turner Net Worth
How much is Kathleen worth? Turner has an estimated net worth of $20 million as of 2022. Her wealth is mainly attributed to her career as an actress. and director.
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