---
name: "Kathy Baker"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/kathy-baker"
fi1m_id: "kathy-baker"
imdb_id: "nm0000834"
tmdb_id: 1907
wikidata_id: "Q236250"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "8 June 1950"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 7
average_fi1m_score: 72
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 7
updated: "2026-10-02T21:48:59.216428+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."
---

# Kathy Baker

## Identity

Kathy Baker

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/kathy-baker
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** kathy-baker
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000834
- **TMDB ID:** 1907
- **Wikidata ID:** Q236250
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathy_Baker, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q236250, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000834/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1907

Actor. Born 8 June 1950 in Midland, Texas, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 8 June 1950, Midland, Texas, USA
- **Active:** 1983–present
- **Also known as:** Katherine Whitton Baker, Katherine Baker, کتی بیکر
- **Golden Globes:** 1 Golden Globe (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 72, as actor, over 7 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 86 (1), 1990s 72 (2), 2000s 64 (2), 2010s 73 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 72 to 68 across 7 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 6 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 5, History 3, Romance 3, Comedy 2, Fantasy 2, Adventure 1
- **Screen time:** 15 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $582m across 7 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathy_Baker, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q236250, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000834/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1907

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*Edward Scissorhands*](https://film.one/film/edward-scissorhands.md) (83), [*Saving Mr. Banks*](https://film.one/film/saving-mr-banks.md) (63)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Take Shelter*](https://film.one/film/take-shelter.md) (83)
- **Netflix:** [*13 Going on 30*](https://film.one/film/13-going-on-30.md) (67)
- **Pluto TV:** [*The Cider House Rules*](https://film.one/film/the-cider-house-rules.md) (61)

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

## Fi1m on Kathy Baker

> Kathy Baker's emotionally direct acting gives supporting characters substance without fuss. We value her grounded dramatic work, but the comedy in *Edward Scissorhands* is just as important: she is too useful an actor to be reduced to dependable mothers.

Kathy Baker often plays the doctor or the mother, someone whose everyday competence could easily be taken for granted. She gives such women emotional weight without making them seem unusually grand. That grounded quality is what we value in her work, though Joyce in Tim Burton's *Edward Scissorhands* (1990) supplies a welcome comic alternative. Burton's plotting can be blunt, but Baker fits the carefully imagined neighbourhood without disappearing into its decoration. We were moved by the film because Johnny Depp and Dianne Wiest make its tenderness feel earned, and her comedy has a place alongside that feeling.

Her film debut was as Louise Shepard in *The Right Stuff* (1983); the breakthrough followed with Punchy in *Street Smart* (1987). Her naturalism makes sense alongside her stage work in Sam Shepard plays: the feeling comes across without much apparent fuss about technique. Television then gave her sustained leading work as Dr Jill Brock in *Picket Fences* (1992–1996). That part matters when assessing a career so often described through its supporting roles; she has also had to hold our attention over a much longer stretch.

In Jeff Nichols's *Take Shelter* (2011), she returns to the supporting ensemble as Sarah. Her grounded dramatic manner fits a troubling family drama in which Nichols sustains dread with care. Michael Shannon remains the central reason for our recommendation, but Baker is well suited to a film that needs its people to be convincing before its fear can take hold. There is a caveat: the slow passages sometimes leave us dwelling on a fear we already understand.

The limitation is how often films employ her in support, not an inability to lead; *Picket Fences* is the useful corrective. Still, we should judge the parts she plays rather than invent the larger ones she might have had. Her value becomes clearer across contrasting work, with Burton allowing the comedy and Nichols drawing on her dramatic steadiness. Begin with *Edward Scissorhands*, but do not expect *Take Shelter* to provide another comfortable evening.

## Biography

Kathy Baker is an American actress. She began her career in theatre, performing in plays by Sam Shepard at San Francisco's Magic Theatre, and made her screen debut in the 1983 film *The Right Stuff*.

Baker is known for her film roles including Joyce in *Edward Scissorhands* (1990), Nurse Angela in *The Cider House Rules* (1999), Sally Swanger in *Cold Mountain* (2003), and appearances in *13 Going on 30* (2004), *Take Shelter* (2011) and *Saving Mr. Banks* (2013). On television she starred as Dr Jill Brock in *Picket Fences* (1992–1996), for which she received three Primetime Emmy Awards.

She trained at the Boston University School of Fine Arts, the California Institute of the Arts and earned a BA in French from the University of California, Berkeley.

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

## On Fi1m (7)

- *Saving Mr. Banks* (2013), Fi1m 63, as Tommie — [page](https://film.one/film/saving-mr-banks.md)
- *Take Shelter* (2011), Fi1m 83, as Sarah — [page](https://film.one/film/take-shelter.md)
- *13 Going on 30* (2004), Fi1m 67, as Bev Rink — [page](https://film.one/film/13-going-on-30.md)
- *Cold Mountain* (2003), Fi1m 62, as Sally Swanger — [page](https://film.one/film/cold-mountain.md)
- *The Cider House Rules* (1999), Fi1m 61, as Nurse Angela — [page](https://film.one/film/the-cider-house-rules.md)
- *Edward Scissorhands* (1990), Fi1m 83, as Joyce — [page](https://film.one/film/edward-scissorhands.md)
- *The Right Stuff* (1983), Fi1m 86, as Louise Shepard — [page](https://film.one/film/the-right-stuff.md)

## Complete filmography (106)

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

- *Remarkably Bright Creatures* (2026), as Mary Ann Minetti
- *Teacup* (2024), series, as Ellen Chenoweth
- *Orphan Black: Echoes* (2024), series, as Melissa
- *Love Is Love Is Love* (2021), as Diana (segment "Sailing Lesson")
- *Charlie Russell's Old West* (2020), as Nancy Russell
- *The Art of Racing in the Rain* (2019), as Trish
- *Anyone Home?* (2018), as Brenda
- *Paterno* (2018), as Sue Paterno
- *The Ballad of Lefty Brown* (2017), as Laura Johnson
- *I'm Sorry* (2017), series, as Sharon
- *Sister Cities* (2016), as Janis
- *The Ranch* (2016), series, as Joanne
- *Colony* (2016), series, as Phyllis
- *The Party Is Over* (2015), as Appoline · Executive Producer
- *The Age of Adaline* (2015), as Kathy Jones
- *Big Time in Hollywood, Fl* (2015), series, as Diana Dolfe
- *Return to Zero* (2014), as Kathleen Callaghan
- *Boulevard* (2014), as Joy
- *Saving Mr. Banks* (2013), as Tommie — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/saving-mr-banks.md)
- *The Trials of Cate McCall* (2013), as Therapist
- *Applebaum* (2012), as Juliet's Mother
- *Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt* (2012), as Rose Gammon
- *Big Miracle* (2012), as Ruth McGraw
- *Too Big to Fail* (2011), as Wendy Paulson
- *Take Shelter* (2011), as Sarah — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/take-shelter.md)
- *Machine Gun Preacher* (2011), as Daisy
- *Seven Days in Utopia* (2011), as Mabel
- *Against the Wall* (2011), series, as Sheila Kowalski
- *Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost* (2011), as Rose Gammon
- *Good Day for It* (2011), as Rose Carter
- *Miss Nobody* (2010), as Claire McKinney
- *Jesse Stone: No Remorse* (2010), as Rose Gammon
- *Unstable* (2009), Actor
- *Jesse Stone: Thin Ice* (2009), as Rose Gammon
- *Last Chance Harvey* (2008), as Jean
- *Shades of Ray* (2008), as Janet Rehman
- *Private Practice* (2007), series, as Diane
- *The Jane Austen Book Club* (2007), as Bernadette
- *Saving Grace* (2007), series, as Maggie
- *Jesse Stone: Sea Change* (2007), as Rose Gammon
- *All the King's Men* (2006), as Mrs. Burden
- *Nine Lives* (2005), as Camille
- *Fathers and Sons* (2005), as Nora
- *Grey's Anatomy* (2005), series, as Anna Loomis — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/greys-anatomy.md)
- *Spring Break Shark Attack* (2005), as Mary Jones
- *Stone Cold* (2005), as Rose Gammon
- *Medium* (2005), series, as Marjorie Dubois
- *Sucker Free City* (2004), as Cleo Wade
- *Jack & Bobby* (2004), series, Actor
- *13 Going on 30* (2004), as Bev Rink — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/film/13-going-on-30.md)
- *Cold Mountain* (2003), as Sally Swanger — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/cold-mountain.md)
- *Picking Up & Dropping Off* (2003), as Jane & Georgia's Mom (uncredited)
- *Nip/Tuck* (2003), series, as Gail Pollack — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/nip-tuck.md)
- *Assassination Tango* (2003), as Maggie
- *Ten Tiny Love Stories* (2002), Actor
- *Door to Door* (2002), as Gladys Sullivan
- *Monk* (2002), series, as Sylvia Fairbourn
- *Too Young to Be a Dad* (2002), as Susan Freeman
- *A Little Inside* (2002), as Nancy
- *Law & Order: Criminal Intent* (2001), series, as Camille Hayes-Fitzgerald
- *The Guardian* (2001), series, as Janine McGregor
- *The Glass House* (2001), as Nancy Ryan
- *Sanctuary* (2001), as Aunt Kate
- *Boston Public* (2000), series, as Meredith Peters
- *Gilmore Girls* (2000), series, as Mia Halloway — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/gilmore-girls.md)
- *Bull* (2000), series, Actor
- *Ratz* (2000), as Doris Trowbridge/Regina Lee Savage
- *Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her* (2000), as Rose (segments "Someone For Rose" and "Fantasies about Rebecca")
- *Garbage Island* (2000), series, as Mom
- *The Cider House Rules* (1999), as Nurse Angela — Fi1m 61, [page](https://film.one/film/the-cider-house-rules.md)
- *A Season for Miracles* (1999), as Ruth Doyle
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Hannah Curtis
- *ATF* (1999), as ATF Director Maggie Hale
- *Oklahoma City: A Survivor's Story* (1998), as Priscilla Salyers
- *Ally McBeal* (1997), series, as Katherine Dawson — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/ally-mcbeal.md)
- *Weapons of Mass Distraction* (1997), as Margo Powers
- *Not in This Town* (1997), as Tammy Schnitzer
- *Gun* (1997), series, as Dora
- *Inventing the Abbotts* (1997), as Helen Holt
- *The Practice* (1997), series, as Evelyn Mayfield
- *To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday* (1996), as Esther Wheeler
- *Touched by an Angel* (1994), series, as Ellen Sawyer
- *Chicago Hope* (1994), series, as Mary Wyzinski
- *Lush Life* (1993), as Janis Oliver
- *Mad Dog and Glory* (1993), as Lee
- *Jennifer Eight* (1992), as Margie Ross
- *Picket Fences* (1992), series, as Jill Brock
- *Article 99* (1992), as Dr. Diana Walton
- *One Special Victory* (1991), as Ellen
- *Shake, Rattle and Roll: An American Love Story* (1991), series, as Janice Danner
- *Edward Scissorhands* (1990), as Joyce — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/edward-scissorhands.md)
- *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Camille Peterson — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)
- *Mr. Frost* (1990), as Dr. Sarah Day
- *The Image* (1990), as Marcie Guilford
- *Dad* (1989), as Annie
- *Jacknife* (1989), as Martha Flannigan
- *Marked for Murder* (1989), as Exotic Dancer
- *Clean and Sober* (1988), as Charlie Standers
- *Permanent Record* (1988), as Martha Sinclair
- *Street Smart* (1987), as Punchy
- *Nobody's Child* (1986), as Lucy Stavros
- *A Killing Affair* (1985), as Maggie Gresham
- *Amazing Stories* (1985), series, as Charlene Benton
- *The Right Stuff* (1983), as Louise Shepard — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/the-right-stuff.md)
- *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Ruth
- *Babylon Fields*, series, as Shirley Wunch

## Gallery

- ![Kathy Baker](https://film.one/media/person/77368/gallery-0a5586601a50.jpg) Kathy Baker — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/KathyBaker_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Actress Kathy Baker, Photo taken at the 45th Emmy Awards - Governor's Ball](https://film.one/media/person/77368/gallery-9c5b675e652c.jpg) Actress Kathy Baker, Photo taken at the 45th Emmy Awards - Governor's Ball — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/22/KathyBaker.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![1993 Emmy Awards NOTE: Permission granted to copy, publish, broadcast or post any of my photos, but please credit "photo by Alan Light" if you can. Thanks. Scan](https://film.one/media/person/77368/gallery-be4396fc71c9.jpg) 1993 Emmy Awards NOTE: Permission granted to copy, publish, broadcast or post any of my photos, but please credit "photo by Alan Light" if you can. Thanks. Scan — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Kathy_Baker_%282078438828%29.jpg/1280px-Kathy_Baker_%282078438828%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Kathy Baker](https://film.one/media/person/77368/gallery-1a517fa51b8f.jpg) Kathy Baker — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Golden Globes — 1 won

- 1994: Best Actress – Television Series Drama (won)

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 3 won

- 1996: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (won), for *Picket Fences*
- 1995: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (won), for *Picket Fences*
- 1993: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (won), for *Picket Fences*

### Other awards — 7 won

- Locarno International Film Festival Best Actress Award 2005: Locarno International Film Festival Best Actress Award (won)
- Viewers for Quality Television 1995: Viewers for Quality Television (won)
- Viewers for Quality Television 1994: Viewers for Quality Television (won)
- Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress 1988: Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress (won)
- National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress 1988: National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress (won)
- Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress 1984: Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress (won)
- Theatre World Award 1984: 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/kathy-baker