Kay Lenz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kay Lenz
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Lenz in Breezy (1973)
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Kay Ann Lenz
March 4, 1953 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Other names | Kay Ann Kemper |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1964–present |
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Kay Ann Lenz (born March 4, 1953) is a talented American actress. She has won several important awards for her acting, including a Daytime Emmy Award and a Primetime Emmy Award. She was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award and a Saturn Award.
Kay Lenz is well-known for her main role in the movie Breezy (1973). For this film, she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award as a promising new actress. She also starred in the movie House (1985) and the TV shows Midnight Caller (1988–1989) and Reasonable Doubts (1991–1993). She won a Primetime Emmy Award for her role in an episode of Midnight Caller. When she first started acting, she used the name Kay Ann Kemper. She changed it to Kay Lenz after her third role, which was a small part in the movie American Graffiti (1972).
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Kay Lenz's Early Life
Kay Lenz was born in Los Angeles, California. Her father, Ted Lenz, was an actor and producer. Her mother, Kay Miller Lenz, worked as a radio engineer and was also a professional model. Kay went to Ulysses S. Grant High School.
Her very first appearance on television was as a baby. She was held by the famous actress Betty White on a show called Hollywood on Television, which her father produced.
Kay Lenz's Acting Career
Kay Lenz started acting when she was a child. She appeared in three episodes of the TV show This Is the Life when she was 14 years old. She also appeared in other TV shows like The Andy Griffith Show in 1967, where she used her early stage name, Kay Ann Kemper. She also performed in stage plays.
In 1973, she had a small role in the movie American Graffiti as a character named Jane. She became widely recognized for her main role in Breezy (1973). In this movie, she played a free-spirited character who charms William Holden. The film was directed by the famous actor and director Clint Eastwood.
Kay Lenz made guest appearances in many popular TV shows. These included The Streets of San Francisco, Gunsmoke, MacGyver, McCloud, Cannon, and Petrocelli. She also played a main role in the movie White Line Fever (1975).
In 1976, she was cast in the TV miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man. She was nominated for an Emmy Award for her role in this series. She played the same character again in the sequel, Rich Man, Poor Man Book II (1977). Since the 1980s, Kay Lenz has continued to appear as a guest star in many different television series.
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In 1984, she appeared in the music video for Rod Stewart's song "Infatuation". She won a Primetime Emmy Award in 1989 for her work on the show Midnight Caller. She was also nominated for two more Primetime Emmy Awards for her role as Maggie Zombro, a lawyer, in the TV drama Reasonable Doubts.
Kay Lenz's Personal Life
Kay Lenz was married to the singer and actor David Cassidy. They were married on April 3, 1977, and later divorced on December 28, 1983.
In November 2018, Kay Lenz and her partner, Dr. Mark Brown, lost their home in the Woolsey Fire in Malibu, California.
Selected Film and Television Roles
Kay Lenz has had many roles in both movies and television shows throughout her career. Here are some of her notable appearances:
Movies
- 1973: American Graffiti as Jane (credited as Kay Ann Kemper)
- 1973: Breezy as Edith Alice Breezerman
- 1975: White Line Fever as Jerri Kane Hummer
- 1985: House as Sandy Sinclair
- 1987: Death Wish 4: The Crackdown as Karen Sheldon
Television Shows
- 1967: The Andy Griffith Show as Phoebe
- 1976: Rich Man, Poor Man as Kate Jordache
- 1978: The Initiation of Sarah as Sarah Goodwin (TV movie)
- 1984–1988: Simon & Simon in various roles
- 1985: MacGyver as Kelly Neilson
- 1988: Midnight Caller as Tina Cassidy (won a Primetime Emmy Award)
- 1991: Reasonable Doubts as Maggie Zombro
- 1994: The Tick as American Maid (voice role)
- 2000: ER as Karen Palmieri
- 2008: NCIS as Connie Quinn Wheeler
- 2014: Bones as Harriet White
See also
In Spanish: Kay Lenz para niños
