Wendy Kilbourne's early start in television began when she was just eighteen years old, making her debut appearance in March 1983 as a guest star in an episode of Matt Houston. She reprised her role the following year and went on to appear in the TV movie Calendar Girl Murders in 1984.
However, her most notable role was Constance Flynn-Hazard in the "North and South" trilogy, which she starred in from 1985 to 1986. It was during the filming of the trilogy that she met her future husband, James Read, who played her on-screen husband. They continued their relationship during the production of North & South: Book 2, Love & War in 1986 and eventually tied the knot two years later.
Wendy and James have two children, Jackson and Sydney, born in 1990 and 1995 respectively. Tragically, they also lost a stillborn daughter named Willa in 1994. Despite their busy careers, they have remained close friends with their "North and South" co-stars, Genie Francis and Jonathan Frakes, who are also married.
After her time on "North and South", Wendy continued to work in television, appearing in numerous TV movies and series. During this period, she also volunteered to work with a 6-year-old foster child, watching him move 27 times over the course of 12 years. This experience had a profound impact on her, ultimately inspiring her to leave acting behind and pursue a career as an advocate for foster youth.
Building on her undergraduate degree in early childhood education, Wendy went on to complete law school and became a licensed attorney in Santa Barbara, California. With over twenty years of experience in foster care, education, and non-profit law, as well as organizational and management consulting, she has made a significant impact in her field.
Wendy's children have also followed in her footsteps, with her daughter Sydney becoming an attorney in Seattle, Washington, and her son Jackson becoming a doctor. Jackson has a child of his own, making Wendy a proud grandmother.
