---
name: "Kay Lenz"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/kay-lenz"
roles: []
born: "4 March 1953"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 2
average_fi1m_score: 83
average_over: 2
updated: "2026-09-18T00:57:27.101159+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."
---

# Kay Lenz

Actor. Born 4 March 1953 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

## Details

- **Born:** 4 March 1953, Los Angeles, California, USA
- **Active:** 1973–1985
- **Also known as:** Kay Ann Kemper, Kay Ann Lenz, کی لنز
- **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 1 Emmy (1 won)
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 84 (1), 1980s 82 (1)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kay_Lenz, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q275476, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001464/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/42174

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*Moonlighting*](https://film.one/tv/moonlighting.md) (82)

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

## Biography

Kay Lenz is an American actress. Born Kay Ann Lenz on 4 March 1953 in Los Angeles, California, she began her career as a child performer, initially credited as Kay Ann Kemper. She appeared in *American Graffiti* (1973) as Jane and gained early recognition for the title role in *Breezy* (1973).

Lenz has worked extensively in television, with guest roles including Melissa on *Moonlighting* (1985), Sandy Sinclair in *House* (1985) and appearances in series such as *MacGyver*, *ER*, *Bones* and *NCIS*. She is known for recurring roles in *Midnight Caller* (1988–1989) and *Reasonable Doubts* (1991–1993). She won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for *Midnight Caller* and a Daytime Emmy Award.

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

## On Fi1m (2)

- *Moonlighting* (1985), Fi1m 82, as Melissa — [page](https://film.one/tv/moonlighting.md)
- *American Graffiti* (1973), Fi1m 84, as Jane — [page](https://film.one/film/american-graffiti.md)

## Complete filmography (102)

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

- *Sallywood* (2024), as Kathryn Corrigan
- *The Downside of Bliss* (2020), as Mary
- *More Beautiful for Having Been Broken* (2020), as Cassandra
- *Ding Dong, You're Dead! The Making of "House"* (2017), Acting
- *The Secret Lives of Dorks* (2013), as Mrs. Gibson
- *Adventure Time* (2010), series, as Bird Woman (voice)
- *Heartland* (2007), series, as Nadine
- *Bones* (2005), series, as Harriet White
- *The Closer* (2005), series, as Mrs. Tatem
- *House* (2004), series, as Mrs. Bradberry — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/house-2004.md)
- *Cold Case* (2003), series, as Hillary Rhodes (2009)
- *NCIS* (2003), series, as Conny Quinn Wheeler
- *Cock & Bull Story* (2003), as Clair Coleman
- *The Agency* (2001), series, as Police Interrogator
- *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation* (2000), series, as Laura Sidle
- *Cover Me: Based on the True Life of an FBI Family* (2000), series, Acting
- *Once and Again* (1999), series, Acting
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Linda Cavanaugh
- *Marry Me or Die* (1998), Acting
- *The Magnificent Seven* (1998), series, as Ella Gaines
- *The Adventures of Ragtime* (1998), as Detective Hill
- *A Gun, a Car, a Blonde* (1997), as Peep / Madge
- *Gunfighter's Moon* (1997), as Linda Yarnell
- *Journey of the Heart* (1997), as Marvelle
- *Shakespeare's Plan 12 from Outer Space* (1996), as Sebastian
- *JAG* (1995), series, as Judge Smith
- *Shame II: The Secret* (1995), as Ginny
- *Touched by an Angel* (1994), series, as Rocky McCann
- *ER* (1994), series, as Karen Palmieri — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/er.md)
- *The Tick* (1994), series, as American Maid (voice)
- *Trapped in Space* (1994), as Gillings
- *Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman* (1993), series, as Constance Hunter
- *Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa* (1992), series, as Cowlamity Kate (voice)
- *Falling from Grace* (1992), as P.J. Parks
- *Reasonable Doubts* (1991), series, as Maggie Zombro
- *Hitler's Daughter* (1990), as Leona Crawford Gordon
- *Streets* (1990), as Sargent
- *Private Affairs* (1989), as Bonnie
- *Headhunter* (1989), as Katherine Hall
- *Hardball* (1989), series, Acting
- *Murder by Night* (1989), as Karen Hicks
- *Physical Evidence* (1989), as Deborah Quinn
- *Fear* (1988), as Sharon Haden
- *Midnight Caller* (1988), series, Acting
- *CBS Summer Playhouse* (1987), series, as Ray
- *Death Wish 4: The Crackdown* (1987), as Karen Sheldon
- *Stripped to Kill* (1987), as Detective Cody Sheenan
- *Heart of the City* (1986), series, as Kathy Priester
- *Starman* (1986), series, Acting
- *House* (1985), as Sandy Sinclair
- *MacGyver* (1985), series, as Kelly Nielson
- *Scene of the Crime* (1985), series, as Cloris Morton
- *Moonlighting* (1985), series, as Melissa — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/moonlighting.md)
- *Charles in Charge* (1984), series, as Joan Robinson
- *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Jennie Wells
- *Finder of Lost Loves* (1984), series, as Ellen Ross
- *Hunter* (1984), series, as Alicia Fiori
- *Whiz Kids* (1983), series, Acting
- *Prisoners of the Lost Universe* (1983), as Carrie Madison
- *Trial by Terror* (1983), as Karen Armstrong
- *Matt Houston* (1982), series, Acting
- *Hotel* (1982), series, as Mary Morowsky / Monique Bennett
- *Fast-Walking* (1982), as Moke
- *Cagney & Lacey* (1982), series, Acting — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/cagney-and-lacey.md)
- *Simon & Simon* (1981), series, Acting
- *The Fall Guy* (1981), series, Acting
- *Hill Street Blues* (1981), series, Acting — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/hill-street-blues.md)
- *Magnum, P.I.* (1980), series, as Sally DeForest
- *The Hustler of Muscle Beach* (1980), as Jenny O'Rourke
- *Escape* (1980), as Barbara Chilcoate
- *Sanctuary of Fear* (1979), as Carol Bain
- *The Seeding of Sarah Burns* (1979), as Sarah Burns
- *The Passage* (1979), as Leah Bergson
- *Mean Dog Blues* (1978), as Linda Ramsey
- *The Initiation of Sarah* (1978), as Sarah Goodwin
- *Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II* (1976), series, as Kate Jordache
- *Moving Violation* (1976), as Cam Johnson
- *The Great Scout & Cathouse Thursday* (1976), as Thursday
- *Rich Man, Poor Man* (1976), series, as Kate Jordache
- *Upcoming Season* (1975), as Susan
- *White Line Fever* (1975), as Jerri Kane Hummer
- *Journey from Darkness* (1975), as Sherry Williams
- *The F.B.I. Story: The FBI Versus Alvin Karpis, Public Enemy Number One* (1974), as Shirley
- *Kodiak* (1974), series, as Mary Taylor
- *Petrocelli* (1974), series, Acting
- *The Underground Man* (1974), as Sue Crandell
- *Unwed Father* (1974), as Vicky Simmons
- *A Summer Without Boys* (1973), as Ruth Hailey
- *Lisa, Bright and Dark* (1973), as Lisa Schilling
- *Breezy* (1973), as Breezy
- *American Graffiti* (1973), as Jane — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/american-graffiti.md)
- *The Weekend Nun* (1972), as Audree Prewitt
- *The Streets of San Francisco* (1972), series, Acting
- *Cannon* (1971), series, Acting
- *McCloud* (1970), series, Acting
- *Medical Center* (1969), series, Acting
- *Ironside* (1967), series, Acting
- *The Monroes* (1966), series, Acting
- *The Andy Griffith Show* (1960), series, as Joy Don Wyndham
- *Gunsmoke* (1955), series, as Lettie Graham
- *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Lisa Schilling
- *Mistake*, Acting

## Gallery

- ![Kay Lenz in trailer for "Breezy" (1973) (2013)](https://film.one/media/person/162656/gallery-146fa662a175.jpg) Kay Lenz in trailer for "Breezy" (1973) (2013) — Trailer for "Breezy" (1973), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/Kay-lenz-trailer.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Publicity still of actresses Kay Lenz and Morgan Brittany in the 1978 TV movie, The Initiation of Sarah/](https://film.one/media/person/162656/gallery-970e17181af3.jpg) Publicity still of actresses Kay Lenz and Morgan Brittany in the 1978 TV movie, The Initiation of Sarah/ — ABC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Kay_Lenz_%26_Morgan_Brittany_-_The_Initiation_of_Sarah_%281978%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Publicity still of actresses Shelley Winters and Kay Lenz in the 1978 TV movie, The Initiation of Sarah.](https://film.one/media/person/162656/gallery-bfb20f50e672.jpg) Publicity still of actresses Shelley Winters and Kay Lenz in the 1978 TV movie, The Initiation of Sarah. — ABC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/Shelley_Winters_%26_Kay_Lenz_-_The_Initiation_of_Sarah_%281978%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Kay Lenz](https://film.one/media/person/162656/gallery-f8ade1d51c26.jpg) Kay Lenz — Image via TMDB
- ![Kay Lenz](https://film.one/media/person/162656/gallery-b29f8f5bd415.jpg) Kay Lenz — Image via TMDB
- ![Kay Lenz](https://film.one/media/person/162656/gallery-5de5749d43b0.jpg) Kay Lenz — Image via TMDB
- ![Kay Lenz](https://film.one/media/person/162656/gallery-6832f2d8bc2a.jpg) Kay Lenz — Image via TMDB
- ![Kay Lenz](https://film.one/media/person/162656/gallery-62cc3e940315.jpg) Kay Lenz — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won

- 1989: Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series (won), for *Midnight Caller*

*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/kay-lenz