Cindy Karr's early life was marked by the tragic loss of her father, affectionately known as "Happy," who was killed in World War II. This event led to her being raised by a single parent, her mother, an elementary teacher in West Virginia. Due to Cindy's fragile health, the family doctor recommended relocating to a warmer climate, and Florida became their new home. This move proved to be a pivotal moment in Cindy's life, as she thrived in her new surroundings and developed a passion for acting during an elementary school play.
Although Cindy's non-acting career commitments initially prevented her from pursuing acting full-time, she eventually became SAG/AFTRA eligible and has since appeared in numerous feature films and television shows, as well as student films from Full Sail University and the University of Central Florida. Notable roles include recurring appearances in the Netflix series "Sweet Magnolias" as Miss Francis and in "Bloodline" as Susan Widmark.
Cindy has also worked on independent short films, such as "Dance for Me," which earned her a Best Actress Grand Jury Award at the New York International Film Awards. She has appeared in independent feature film projects like "Unsullied" as Claudine Willfellow, "Spider and Jessie" as Maddie's Grandma, and "The Throwback" as Mrs. Bailey. Additionally, she has acted in significant studio projects like "Tooth Fairy 2" as Lady Bird Billings and the international film "Katie Fforde" as Mrs. Brighthouse, which was dubbed into German.
Cindy's extensive training includes a summer ten-week conservatory program at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York City, where she worked with renowned directors like Alice Saltzman, Ian Hersey, Patrick Quagliano, and others. She also trained with Michael Shurtleff, author of "Audition," before his passing. In recent years, Cindy has studied with coaches at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater and other esteemed coaches such as Rus Blackwell, Lauren O'Quinn, Hank Stone, Ric LaMonte, Avis-Marie Barnes, and others.
Since beginning her acting career in earnest in 2010, Cindy has performed on stage at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater and in principal roles in professional feature length films, independent short films, university student shorts, television pilots, television series, and numerous industrial and commercial spots. Notably, she jumped out of a plane at 15,000 feet in her early 70s for a commercial spot.
Cindy holds a bachelor's degree in English Education from the University of Florida and a master's degree in Library and Information Sciences from the University of South Florida. Prior to her retirement, she had a rewarding career as a teacher, teaching English, humanities, special education, and serving as a school librarian. After retiring in 2008, Cindy has dedicated herself to pursuing her passion for acting, aiming to develop award-winning characters in A-Level productions around the world.
