Elizabeth Kemp

Elizabeth Kemp (November 5, 1951 – September 1, 2017) was an American actress, theatre director, and acting coach. She began her screen career playing Betsy in the television series Love of Life in 1973. She performed on stage many times as well as directing a number of productions in the US as well as internationally. She went on to become an acting coach and faculty member of the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University.

Early life and education Elizabeth Kemp was born on November 5, 1951 in Key West, Florida, the daughter of Nancy Jean (Haycock) and Joseph Clifton Kemp, a business executive and U.S. Navy officer and test pilot stationed at the Pentagon.

Kemp showed talent as a child painter from age 13–16, and graduated from high school with a special award for creative achievement. At 16 she applied to the Rhode Island School of Design, but was told to wait a year.

She studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and the Actors Studio in New York City, under Lee Strasberg.

Career Acting career Kemp was in the original cast of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, which began at the off-Broadway The Actors Studio before moving to Broadway, where it became a long-running hit. After the performance, Williams gave her the part, and she worked closely with him in developing the role.

She made her television debut in the series Love of Life in 1973.

Directing As a stage director, Kemp was responsible for many productions at The Actors Studio, including The Glass Menagerie, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, and the world premiere of Edward Allan Baker's Free Gift Inside. Internationally, Kemp directed The Stronger and Homesick at Strindberg's Intimate Theater in Stockholm, and Dreamstories at The Claude LeLouch Theatre Cine 13 in Paris and La Spazia Teatro in Rome.

Teaching Kemp left Los Angeles and returned to New York City, where she worked odd jobs, including waiting tables at a restaurant. — of The Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University.

At the Actors Studio Drama School, Kemp was a mentor to student actors like Bradley Cooper and Poorna Jagannathan. She worked across the country at The California Actors Theatre in San Francisco, Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Folger Theatre in Washington, D.C., Center Stage in Baltimore, and Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia.

She was also an artistic associate and tutor at 16th Street Actors Studio in Melbourne, Australia.

Personal life Kemp married actor Michael Margotta in New York City in 1984. They separated in June 1991 and later divorced.

Death Kemp died of cancer on September 1, 2017, in Venice, Los Angeles, at age 65. She received several public tributes from former students Bradley Cooper, Hugh Jackman and Lady Gaga.

She received the GLAAD Award for her work on L.A. Law (1986).

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1980 He Knows You're AloneNancy 1982 The ClairvoyantVirna Nightbourne 1988 Sticky FingersNancy 1988 Police Story: BurnoutPatriciaTelevision film 1990 Family of SpiesKay 1990 ChallengerJane SmithTelevision film 1990 EatingNancy 1991 Murderous VisionEllen GreenTelevision film 1992 Mom I Can Do ItJane Morris 1992 Venice/VeniceInterviewee 1995 Animal Room Shelly's Mom 2005 Pills Margaret NolanShort film 2012 Thanks Dad MomWinner: Final 8 "TROPFEST", 2012 2013 Manito: Brother's Sacrifice LoriShort film 2014 Welcome to New York Florence 2015 Emperor of the Free World Olympias 2017 A Crack in Everything Constance Marshall

Television Year Title Role Notes 1973-1977 Love of LifeBetsy Crawford Series regular 1979 SkywaysRosemary Episode: "Bird Strike" 1981 I Can Jump PuddlesReceptionist Episode: "Getting Your Breath" 1988 Vietnam War StoryLynn Episode: "Dusk to Dawn" 1990 ThirtysomethingKate Episode: "The Distance" 1991 L.A. LawMaggie BarnesEpisode: "The Nut Before Christmas" 2001–3 Law & Order Laila Jacobs / Debbie Grimes Episodes: "School Daze", "Blaze"