Kathie Browne was born Jacqueline Sue Browne on September 19, 1930, in San Luis Obispo, California. She started her career in television after appearing in a Los Angeles production of Tennessee Williams's play, "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", making her TV debut in 1957.
Browne's early work included appearances in The Gray Ghost (1957),The Sheriff of Cochise (1956),and Gunsmoke (1955). She made her movie debut in the B-movie, Murder by Contract (1958),but television remained her primary medium.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Browne was a very busy TV actress, playing mainly ingénue parts and making numerous guest appearances on various TV shows. Her blonde hair, blue eyes, and striking features made her a popular choice for romantic leads.
One of her most notable roles was as the prospective bride of "Adam Cartwright" during the 1963-64 season of Bonanza. She had previously appeared on the series twice before, as different characters, in 1961 and 1962.
Browne's character, Laura Dayton, was a pretty widow who was supposed to marry Adam Cartwright and ride off with him into the sunset. However, due to Pernell Roberts' unhappiness with the show and his threat to leave, the producers brought in Guy Williams as a potential replacement. Instead, Roberts signed on for another year, and Browne's character ended up riding off with Adam's cousin, Will Cartwright, played by Williams.
After her stint on Bonanza, Browne appeared in the short-lived western series, Hondo, in 1967. The following year, she gave a memorable performance in the Star Trek episode, Wink of an Eye, playing a beautiful Scalosian who falls in love with Captain Kirk.
Browne married actor Darren McGavin in 1969 and frequently co-starred with him, including his starring series, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, during the 1970s. She retired from acting in 1980.
Kathie Browne, also known as Jacqueline K. McGavin, passed away on April 8, 2003, at the age of 72, in Beverly Hills, California.
