Kate Reid, the talented and versatile actress, was born Daphne Kate Reid in 1930 to Canadian parents, Walter Clarke Reid and Helen Isabel Moore. The family relocated to Ontario when Kate was just a year old. As an introverted child with delicate health, Kate found solace in books and role-playing, which eventually led her to pursue a career in drama.
Kate began her training in her mid-teens, apprenticing in summer stock and studying with renowned acting coaches Uta Hagen and Herbert Berghof at the HB Studio in New York. Her performances in productions such as "The Rainmaker" and "The Three Sisters" earned her critical acclaim and solidified her position as one of North America's most accomplished actresses.
Throughout her career, Kate played a wide range of characters, from Lady Macbeth to Katharina in "The Taming of the Shrew." She often portrayed women older than her actual age and struggled with alcohol and weight issues. Kate made her Broadway debut in 1962, playing the role of Martha in Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?," a performance that was originally intended to be played by her mentor, Uta Hagen.
Kate's filmography is marked by sporadic appearances, with notable roles in "This Property Is Condemned" (1966),"The Andromeda Strain" (1971),and "A Delicate Balance" (1973). She received two Tony nominations for her performances in "Dylan" and "Slapstick Tragedy" and appeared in productions of "The Price" and "Bosoms and Neglect."
On television, Kate played a variety of roles, including a skeptical mother in the Columbo episode "Dead Weight" (1971) and a treacherous foreign agent in the Scarecrow and Mrs. King episode "The First Time" (1983). She also had recurring roles on the TV series "Dallas" (1978),"Gavilan" (1982),and "Morningstar/Eveningstar" (1986).
In her later years, Kate struggled with ill health but continued to act in notable productions, including the film "Atlantic City" (1980) and the Broadway production of "Death of a Salesman" (1984). She reprised her role in the 1985 television adaptation and appeared in the television movie "Morning's at Seven" (1982). Kate's final role was in the miniseries "Murder in the Heartland" (1993).
Kate Reid passed away at the age of 62 due to brain cancer in Ontario, Canada. Despite her struggles with health and personal demons, Kate left a lasting legacy in the world of acting, with a body of work that continues to be celebrated and admired.
