Kate Reid
Daphne Katherine Reid, OC (4 November 1930 – 27 March 1993) was an English-born Canadian stage, film, and television actress. She starred in over one thousand roles,[1] most notably performing onstage in Death of a Salesman, in the 1980 film Atlantic City, and in episodes of the TV show Dallas.[2] She was described by Inspiring Women: A Celebration of Herstory as "generally regarded as the finest actress ever developed in Canada."[1]
Kate Reid | |
---|---|
![]() Reid in 1966 | |
Born | Daphne Kate Reid 4 November 1930 |
Died | 27 March 1993 62) Stratford, Ontario, Canada | (aged
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1953–1993 |
Spouse(s) | Michael Sadlier (divorced) |
Children | 2 |
Life and career
Reid was born on 4 November 1930 in London, England, the daughter of Canadian parents, Helen Isabel (née Moore) and Walter Clarke Reid, who was a former Bengal Lancer in the Indian army and a retired colonel.[3][4] While Reid was still young, she and her family emigrated to Oakville, Ontario.[1]
She attended Havergal College in Toronto and university in London, and then studied acting at a performance art school in Canada.[5] She had a long and varied career on film, television and stage in both Canada and the United States. Her stage roles included Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, Katharina in The Taming of the Shrew, Henny in Bosoms and Neglect, and Martha in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf.
Reid played the scheming and domineering mother of Natalie Wood's character in 1966's This Property is Condemned, although she was only seven years Wood's senior; her other film appearances included roles in The Andromeda Strain (1971), A Delicate Balance (1973), Equus (1977), Death Ship and Atlantic City (both 1980). She also played Ray Krebbs' aunt Lil Trotter on Dallas in the early 1980s, as well as appearing in episodes of Scarecrow and Mrs. King and Columbo.
Both of Reid's marriages, to Michael Sadlier and Austin Willis, ended in divorce. She had two children, son Reid Willis and daughter Robin Willis; and two granddaughters, Jessica and Mackenzie Willis. Reid died of cancer in Stratford, Ontario, aged 62, in 1993.[2]
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1957 | A Dangerous Age | Nancy's Mother | |
1961 | One Plus One | Julia Bradley | 'Homecoming' segment |
1966 | This Property is Condemned | Hazel Starr | |
1967 | The Paper People | Rosamund Davis | |
1968 | The Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to Kaladar | Glad | |
1971 | Pigeons | Jonathan's Mother | |
1971 | Columbo Episode: Dead Weight | Mrs. Walters | |
1971 | The Andromeda Strain | Dr. Ruth Leavitt | |
1973 | The Rainbow Boys | Gladys | |
1973 | A Delicate Balance | Claire | |
1976 | Shoot | Mrs. Graham | |
1977 | Equus | Margaret Dysart | |
1979 | Plague | Dr. Jessica Morgan, Director McNaughton Labs | |
1979 | Crossbar | Clare Kornylo | TV movie |
1980 | Death Ship | Sylvia | |
1980 | Double Negative | Mrs. Swanscutt | |
1980 | Atlantic City | Grace | |
1981 | Circle of Two | Doctor Emily Reid | |
1982 | Monkey Grip | Peggy | |
1982 | Highpoint | Mrs. Hatcher | |
1984 | The Blood of Others | Madame Blomart | |
1985 | Heaven Help Us | Grandma | |
1985 | Death of a Salesman | Linda Loman | TV movie |
1986 | Fire with Fire | Sister Victoria | |
1987 | Control | Camille Dupont | |
1988 | Sweet Hearts Dance | Pearne Manners | |
1989 | Signs of Life | Mrs. Wrangway | |
1989 | Bye Bye Blues | Mary Wright | |
1991 | Deceived | Rosalie |
Honours and awards
- Officer of the Order of Canada (1974)
- ACTRA and Dora Mavor Moore awards (1980 and 1981, respectively)
- Earle Grey Award (1988)
- Honorary degrees from York University (1970) and the University of Toronto (1989)
References
- Holmlund, Mona; Youngberg, Gail (2003). Inspiring Women: A Celebration of Herstory. Regina, Sask: Couteau Books. p. 225. ISBN 978-1550502046.
- Lambert, Bruce (29 March 1993). "Kate Reid, Actress, Dead at 62; A Veteran of Hundreds of Roles". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
- "Kate Reid Biography (1930-)". www.filmreference.com.
- Sperdakos, Paula (1 January 1998). "Acting in Canada in 1965: Frances Hyland, Kate Reid, Martha Henry and John Hirsch's The Cherry Orchard at Stratford". Theatre Research in Canada. 19 (1). Retrieved 9 March 2020.
- Gardner, David (4 March 2015). "Kate Reid". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 9 March 2020.