Lee Garlington

Biography

Ann Leslie "Lee" Garlington, born on July 20, 1953, is a talented American actress celebrated for her diverse roles across television and film. She gained recognition for portraying Kirsten, the daughter of Rose Nylund (played by Betty White), during the final season of the beloved series The Golden Girls. Additionally, she made a memorable impact as Ronnie, the mistress of Joey Tribbiani's father on Friends, and had a recurring part as Brenda Baxworth on Everwood, further showcasing her versatility.

Garlington's impressive television resume includes guest appearances on iconic shows such as The West Wing, 7th Heaven, 8 Simple Rules, and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, as well as classics like Matlock, L.A. Law, and Roseanne. Her film career features notable roles in the sequels to Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, specifically Psycho II (1983) and Psycho III (1986). She also starred alongside Sylvester Stallone and Brigitte Nielsen in the action thriller Cobra (1986) and played Dr. Elena Rhyzkov in Sneakers (1992), sharing the screen with Robert Redford.

Interestingly, Garlington was initially cast as the female lead in Seinfeld, appearing as the waitress Claire in the pilot episode "The Seinfeld Chronicles." However, the character was ultimately replaced by Elaine Benes due to concerns about social dynamics within the cast. In 2018, she earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for her role as Darlene in Broken.