Kathleen Turner

Biography

Mary Kathleen Turner, born on June 19, 1954, is a celebrated American actress renowned for her unique deep, husky voice. Throughout her illustrious career, she has garnered two Golden Globe Awards and received nominations for an Academy Award, a Grammy, and two Tony Awards.

Turner made her theatrical debut in 1977, both off-Broadway and on Broadway. She transitioned to television with a role as Nola Dancy Aldrich in the NBC soap opera The Doctors (1978–1979). Her breakthrough came with the film Body Heat (1981), where her portrayal of Matty Walker established her as a sex symbol. Throughout the 1980s, she starred in a series of successful films, including The Man with Two Brains (1983), Romancing the Stone, and Crimes of Passion (both 1984), as well as Prizzi's Honor and The Jewel of the Nile (both 1985). Her performance in Peggy Sue Got Married (1986) earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

In addition to her film work, Turner has made notable guest appearances, including Sue Collini on Showtime's Californication (2009) and Roz Volander on Netflix's The Kominsky Method (2019–2021). She also portrayed Charles Bing, Chandler's drag queen father, on Friends (2001). Turner's voice acting includes iconic roles such as Jessica Rabbit in Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) and Constance in Monster House (2006), along with appearances in popular animated series like The Simpsons and Family Guy.

Beyond her entertainment career, Turner has shared her expertise by teaching acting classes at New York University.