---
name: "Kate Burton"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/kate-burton"
fi1m_id: "kate-burton"
imdb_id: "nm0123632"
tmdb_id: 20879
wikidata_id: "Q460457"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "10 September 1957"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 8
average_fi1m_score: 73
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 7
updated: "2026-10-23T04:10:32.663122+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Kate Burton

## Identity

Kate Burton

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/kate-burton
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** kate-burton
- **IMDb ID:** nm0123632
- **TMDB ID:** 20879
- **Wikidata ID:** Q460457
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Burton_(actress), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q460457, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0123632/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/20879

Actor. Born 10 September 1957 in Geneva, Switzerland.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 10 September 1957, Geneva, Switzerland
- **Active:** 1986–present
- **Also known as:** Katherine Burton, 케이트 버튼, Katherine "Kate" Burton
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 8: 7 acting, 1 other
- **Average Fi1m score:** 73, as actor, over 7 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1960s 60 (1), 1980s 78 (1), 1990s 85 (1), 2000s 77 (1), 2010s 81 (1), 2020s 63 (3)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 75 to 70 across 5 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 3 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 6, Adventure 2, Comedy 2, Action 1, Fantasy 1, History 1
- **Screen time:** 7 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $84m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Burton_(actress), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q460457, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0123632/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/20879

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*127 Hours*](https://film.one/film/127-hours.md) (81)
- **Disney+:** [*Dumb Money*](https://film.one/film/dumb-money.md) (64)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Kate Burton is a Swiss-born Welsh-American actress. She is the daughter of actors Richard Burton and Sybil Williams. She graduated from Brown University in 1979 with a BA in Russian Studies and European History, and received an MFA from the Yale School of Drama in 1982.

Burton has appeared in numerous stage productions, earning three Tony Award nominations. On screen, she is known for her recurring role as Ellis Grey in the television series *Grey's Anatomy* (2005–), Vice President Sally Langston in *Scandal*, and film roles including Aron's mother in *127 Hours* (2010) and Elaine Gill in *Dumb Money* (2023). She has received three Primetime Emmy Award nominations.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (8)

### Performed in (7) — the average rests on these

- *Ransom Canyon* (2025), Fi1m 57, as Katherine Bullock — [page](https://film.one/tv/ransom-canyon.md)
- *The Beast in Me* (2025), Fi1m 67, as Mariah Ingram — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-beast-in-me.md)
- *Dumb Money* (2023), Fi1m 64, as Elaine Gill — [page](https://film.one/film/dumb-money.md)
- *127 Hours* (2010), Fi1m 81, as Aron's Mom — [page](https://film.one/film/127-hours.md)
- *Rescue Me* (2004), Fi1m 77, as Rose — [page](https://film.one/tv/rescue-me.md)
- *The Ice Storm* (1997), Fi1m 85, as Dorothy Franklin — [page](https://film.one/film/the-ice-storm.md)
- *Big Trouble in Little China* (1986), Fi1m 78, as Margo — [page](https://film.one/film/big-trouble-in-little-china.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Anne of the Thousand Days* (1969), Fi1m 60, as Serving Maid (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/anne-of-the-thousand-days.md)

## Complete filmography (112)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Death on the Brandywine* (2026), as Ann Riley
- *The Beast in Me* (2025), series, as Mariah Ingram — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-beast-in-me.md)
- *The Surrender* (2025), as Barbara
- *Violent Ends* (2025), as Darlene Woodley
- *BULLDOZER* (2025), series, as Dr. Diane Roddy
- *Oscar Wilde About America* (2025), Actor
- *guts* (2024), as Gabby
- *Our Son* (2023), as Maggie "Miggie"
- *Dumb Money* (2023), as Elaine Gill — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/dumb-money.md)
- *Heaven, I Suppose* (2023), as Cheryl
- *The Anne Frank Gift Shop* (2023), as Ilse
- *So Help Me Todd* (2022), series, as Joan
- *Breaking* (2022), as Tami Stackhouse
- *Bosch: Legacy* (2022), series, as Ida Porter
- *The Dropout* (2022), series, as Rochelle Gibbons — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-dropout.md)
- *Inventing Anna* (2022), series, as Nora Radford
- *Sandra Day O'Connor: The First* (2021), as Narrator (voice)
- *The Mosquito Coast* (2021), series, as Margot's Mom
- *The Codebreaker* (2021), as Narrator (voice)
- *The Vote* (2020), series, as Narrator (voice)
- *Perfect Harmony* (2019), series, as Julie
- *Prodigal Son* (2019), series, as Sarah Windsor
- *Where'd You Go, Bernadette* (2019), as Ellen Idelson
- *Charmed* (2018), series, as Celeste
- *At First Light* (2018), as Kate
- *FBI* (2018), series, as Evelyn Kates
- *Noël Coward's Present Laughter* (2017), as Liz Essendine
- *The Gifted* (2017), series, as Dr. Madeline Risman
- *13 Reasons Why* (2017), series, as Dr. Hughes
- *This Is Us* (2016), series, as Barbara — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/this-is-us.md)
- *Supergirl* (2015), series, as Isabel Nal (voice), Isabel Nal
- *Martyrs* (2015), as Eleanor
- *Identity Theft* (2015), as Anna
- *Bleeding Heart* (2015), as Martha
- *Amok* (2015), as Dr. Wilson
- *Madam Secretary* (2014), series, as Maureen McCord
- *Don't Look Back* (2014), as Dr. Jeanette Barnes
- *Extant* (2014), series, as Fiona Stanton
- *Barefoot* (2014), as Mrs. Wheeler
- *Full Circle* (2013), series, as Vera Quinn
- *Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel: Live from Lincoln Center* (2013), as Mrs. Mullin
- *Mariachi Gringo* (2012), as Anne
- *Elementary* (2012), series, as Maureen Dannon
- *Revolution* (2012), series, as Jane Warren
- *Liberal Arts* (2012), as Susan
- *Veep* (2012), series, as Barbara Hallowes — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/veep.md)
- *Scandal* (2012), series, as Sally Langston
- *2 Days in New York* (2012), as Bella
- *Key & Peele* (2012), series, as Hillary Clinton — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/key-and-peele.md)
- *Grimm* (2011), series, as Marie Kessler — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/grimm.md)
- *Puncture* (2011), as Senator O'Reilly
- *127 Hours* (2010), as Aron's Mom — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/127-hours.md)
- *Remember Me* (2010), as Janine
- *Consent* (2010), as Susan
- *The Deep End* (2010), series, as Grace Graham
- *Modern Family* (2009), series, as Iris Fennerman — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/modern-family.md)
- *The Good Wife* (2009), series, as Victoria Adler — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-good-wife.md)
- *Washingtonienne* (2009), as Joy
- *Spooner* (2009), as Alice Spooner
- *What Just Happened* (2008), as Doctor Randall
- *Max Payne* (2008), as Nicole Horne
- *Eleventh Hour* (2008), series, as Gepetto / Miranda Cochran
- *Hidden Treasure of the Mississippi* (2008), as Aunt Birdy
- *Quid Pro Quo* (2008), as Merilee
- *Sherrybaby* (2006), as Marcia Swanson
- *Justice* (2006), series, Actor
- *Stay* (2005), as Mrs. Letham
- *Ernest Hemingway: Rivers to the Sea* (2005), as Narrator (voice)
- *The Closer* (2005), series, as Kate Wycoff
- *Empire Falls* (2005), series, as Cindy Whiting
- *Grey's Anatomy* (2005), series, as Ellis Grey — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/greys-anatomy.md)
- *Numb3rs* (2005), series, as Anthropologist
- *Medium* (2005), series, as Bonnie Barrister
- *Rescue Me* (2004), series, as Rose — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/rescue-me.md)
- *Working Shakespeare* (2003), series, Actor
- *The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer* (2003), as Connie Posey
- *Three Sisters* (2003), as Olga
- *Obsessed* (2002), as Sara Miller
- *Swimfan* (2002), as Carla Cronin
- *Unfaithful* (2002), as Tracy
- *Law & Order: Criminal Intent* (2001), series, as Stephanie Ufland
- *100 Centre Street* (2001), series, as Sheila Byrne
- *The Opportunists* (2000), as Rest Home Sister
- *The West Wing* (1999), series, as Sarah Brainerd — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-west-wing.md)
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Annette Cole, Bethany Allen
- *Judging Amy* (1999), series, as Dr. Sheri Jordan
- *Celebrity* (1998), as Robin's Friend Cheryl
- *Ellen Foster* (1997), as Abigail Montford
- *The Ice Storm* (1997), as Dorothy Franklin — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/the-ice-storm.md)
- *The Practice* (1997), series, as A.D.A. Susan Alexander
- *Mistrial* (1996), as Katherine Donohue
- *The First Wives Club* (1996), as Woman in Bed
- *August* (1996), as Helen Blathwaite
- *Notes for My Daughter* (1995), as Brenda Gardner
- *Monty* (1994), series, as Fran Richardson
- *Love Matters* (1993), as Deborah
- *Life with Mikey* (1993), as Mrs. Burns
- *Home Fires* (1992), series, as Anne Kramer
- *Brooklyn Bridge* (1991), series, Actor
- *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Sister Bettina, Erica Gardner, Defense Attorney Erica Gardner — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)
- *American Experience* (1988), series, as Narrator
- *Uncle Tom's Cabin* (1987), as Ophelia
- *Big Trouble in Little China* (1986), as Margo — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/big-trouble-in-little-china.md)
- *Spenser: For Hire* (1985), series, Actor
- *Evergreen* (1985), series, as Agatha Bradford
- *Ellis Island* (1984), series, as Vanessa Ogden
- *Alice in Wonderland* (1983), as Alice
- *American Playhouse* (1982), series, as Agnes Bolton O'Neill
- *Great Performances* (1971), series, as Alice
- *Anne of the Thousand Days* (1969), as Serving Maid (uncredited) — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/anne-of-the-thousand-days.md)
- *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Abigail
- *A Great Depression*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Kate Burton at the Off-Broadway opening night of "Kyoto," 2025](https://film.one/media/person/15858/gallery-d53359b5a3a6.jpg) Kate Burton at the Off-Broadway opening night of "Kyoto," 2025 — PhilipRomanoPhoto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/KateBurton-byPhilipRomano.jpg/1280px-KateBurton-byPhilipRomano.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![www.redcarpetreporttv.com Mingle Media TV and Red Carpet Report host Quinn Marie were invited to come out to cover Doris Bergman's 5th Annual Pre-Emmys Gift Lou (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/15858/gallery-5cfcdec9aaa4.jpg) www.redcarpetreporttv.com Mingle Media TV and Red Carpet Report host Quinn Marie were invited to come out to cover Doris Bergman's 5th Annual Pre-Emmys Gift Lou (2014) — Mingle MediaTV, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Kate_Burton_August_2014.jpg/1280px-Kate_Burton_August_2014.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![www.redcarpetreporttv.com Mingle Media TV and Red Carpet Report host Quinn Marie were invited to come out to cover Doris Bergman's 5th Annual Pre-Emmys Gift Lou (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/15858/gallery-283dcf26fbd1.jpg) www.redcarpetreporttv.com Mingle Media TV and Red Carpet Report host Quinn Marie were invited to come out to cover Doris Bergman's 5th Annual Pre-Emmys Gift Lou (2014) — Mingle MediaTV, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/Kate_Burton_August_2014_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Sundance, Park City, Utah (2012)](https://film.one/media/person/15858/gallery-d40e036132f1.jpg) Sundance, Park City, Utah (2012) — PunkToad from oakland, us, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/02/Two_Nights_in_New_York_Cast%2C_in_2012.jpg/1280px-Two_Nights_in_New_York_Cast%2C_in_2012.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Kate Burton](https://film.one/media/person/15858/gallery-140169a2beb2.jpg) Kate Burton — Image via TMDB
- ![Kate Burton](https://film.one/media/person/15858/gallery-15936dab0be3.jpg) Kate Burton — Image via TMDB
- ![Kate Burton](https://film.one/media/person/15858/gallery-3283f9befb20.jpg) Kate Burton — Image via TMDB
- ![Kate Burton](https://film.one/media/person/15858/gallery-3b0a4c5d04b8.jpg) Kate Burton — Image via TMDB
- ![Kate Burton](https://film.one/media/person/15858/gallery-196c4d7fcef6.jpg) Kate Burton — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Other awards — 1 won, 3 nominated

- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play 2006: Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play (nominated)
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play 2002: Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play (nominated)
- Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play 2002: Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play (nominated)
- Theatre World Award 1983: Theatre World Award (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/kate-burton