Kathleen Turner
Birth Place: Springfield, MO, USA
Annaleigh Ashford, Sandra Caldwell, & Ann Harada Join YOU MIGHT KNOW HER FROM Live Podcast Recording at Laurie Beechman Theatre (Feb 18, 2026)
Justis Bolding, Tim DeKay, and Erika Rolfsrud Will Lead THE COUNTER at TheatreWorks Hartford (Feb 6, 2026)
John Tartaglia, Karla Puno Garcia and More Set for The Muny Season 108 Productions (Jan 30, 2026)
BIO
Kathleen Turner rose to prominence with her role as Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981). Her film career includes leading roles in Romancing the Stone (1984), Prizzi’s Honor (1985), Peggy Sue Got Married (1986), which earned her an Academy Award nomination for best actress, The War of the Roses (1989), and the voice role of Jessica Rabbit in Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988).
Turner made her Broadway debut in 1978 in Gemini. Her stage credits include Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1990), Indiscretions (1995), The Graduate, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, High (2010), and Bakersfield Mist (2014). She has also appeared in productions at major regional theaters, including Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins, Mother Courage and Her Children, and The Year of Magical Thinking.
Her television work includes roles on Friends, Californication, and The Path, as well as voice acting on animated series such as The Simpsons and King of the Hill.
STAGE CREDITS
Productions
Movies
[ 1981 ] Matty Walker
[ 1983 ] Dolores Benedict
[ 1984 ] Stella Clayton
[ 1984 ] Joanna Crane / China Blue
[ 1984 ] Joan Wilder
[ 1985 ] Irene Walker
[ 1985 ] Joan
[ 1986 ] Peggy Sue
[ 1987 ] Giulia
[ 1988 ] Christy Colleran
[ 1988 ] Sarah Leary
[ 1989 ] Barbara Rose
[ 1991 ] Vic
[ 1993 ] Ruth Matthews
[ 1993 ] Dana Coles
[ 1993 ] Jane Blue
[ 1994 ] Nurse
[ 1994 ] Mom
[ 1995 ] Fanny Connelyn
[ 1995 ] Alberta Russell
[ 1996 ] Chelsea Stevens
[ 1997 ] Claudia
[ 1997 ] Mom - Voice
[ 1997 ] Self - Host
[ 1997 ] Dee Dee Taylor
[ 1998 ] Brenda Whitlass
[ 1999 ] Elena
[ 1999 ] Middleman
[ 1999 ] Mrs. Lisbon
[ 2000 ] Verna Chickle
[ 2000 ] Claudette
[ 2000 ] Rebecca Cairn
[ 2006 ] Constance - Voice
[ 2008 ] Ms. Kornblut
[ 2011 ] Eileen Cleary
[ 2012 ] Barbara Rose
[ 2013 ] Head Nurse
[ 2014 ] Fraida
[ 2015 ] Narrator
[ 2017 ] Barbara
[ 2019 ] Grace
[ 2022 ] Aunt Hilda
[ 2022 ] Bev
TV Shows
[ 1978-1979 ] Nola Dancy Aldrich
[ 1984-1987 ] Matty Walker, Joan Wilder, Irene Walker
Stacy Lavelle
The Snow Queen, The Magic Woman
Miss Liz Strickland
Helena
Joanna Crane, China Blue
Barbara Rose, Joanna Crane, China Blue
Rebecca Shane
Cindy Plumb
Jessica Rabbit
Alberta Russell
[ 2005-2008 ] Christy Colleran, Mrs. Lisbon, Peggy Sue
Sue Collini
[ 1986-2010 ] Irene Walker, Ms. Kornblut, Matty Walker
Peggy Sue
Peggy Sue
Mom
Peggy Sue
Kathleen Turner disguised as Peter Griffin
[ 2016-2017 ] Brenda Roberts
Gwendolyn
[ 1992-2019 ] Matty Walker, Barbara Rose
Miss Mary Shaw
Monogatron Queen
The Duchess of Krakenthorp
Cookie
Mole Judge
Lady of the Lake
[ 2019-2021 ] Roz
Dita Beard
Mariah McKay
[ 2025-2025 ] Gertrude Stein
[ 2025-2025 ] Benjamin (voice)
[ 2025-2025 ] Narrator
Awards and Nominations
Kathleen TurnerMother Courage and Her Children
Kathleen TurnerRed Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins
Kathleen TurnerWho's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf
Kathleen Turner , Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Kathleen Turner, Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Kathleen Turner, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
winner
Kathleen TurnerSpecial Award
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Kathleen Turner has appeared on Broadway in 6 shows.
Kathleen Turner has appeared on London's West End in 1 shows.
Kathleen Turner's first West End show was Bakersfield Mist which opened in 2014
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play, HAYES Production (Helen Hayes Awards) for Mother Courage and Her Children, Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Play (Helen Hayes Awards) for Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins, Best Actress (Olivier Awards) for Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf, Outstanding Actress in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? , Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Best Actress - Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Performance (Theatre World Awards) for Special Award.
Kathleen Turner has won the Theatre World Award for Performance, specifically a Special Award.
Videos
