Kathleen Widdoes

Kathleen Effie Widdoes (born March 21, 1939) She is the oldest of six siblings, all raised by their mother. She has said that her father ran away from the family when she was very young. She had never studied acting, but she began to land roles. Widdoes also performed in Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge.

On television, Widdoes was cast as Jill Malone on the NBC soap opera Young Doctor Malone, playing the role from 1958 to 1959. In 1960, she performed in Henry V and Measure for Measure at the New York Shakespeare Festival. In September 1960, she appeared in Dostoevsky's The Idiot at the Gate Theatre. Widdoes had a singing role in the musical We Take the Town (1962), but she heard through the dressing room wall that she was going to be fired, so she gave her notice that she was leaving. Widdoes spent 1964 in Paris, studying at the Sorbonne on a Fulbright scholarship. She trained as a mime. Widdoes made her film debut as Helena Davison in The Group (1966), directed by Sidney Lumet. She guest starred on 12 O'Clock High.

She played Tina in the television film A Bell for Adano (1967), co-starring with John Forsythe. In April 1967, she starred in To Clothe the Naked at the Sheridan Square Playhouse. She guest starred on The Invaders.

Widdoes played Wilma in the film Petulia (1968), co-starring with Julie Christie. She also played Masha in a film adaptation of Chekhov's The Sea Gull (1968), directed again by Sidney Lumet. On television, she guest starred on The F.B.I. and Here Come the Brides.

1971–1977: Much Ado About Nothing In 1971, she played Maggie West in the horror film The Mephisto Waltz, co-starring with Alan Alda. In 1972, she guest starred on Bonanza. Widdoes shared nude scenes with her co-star, Sam Waterston, and she posed for nude photos in Playboy to promote the movie. She won an Obie Award for her performance. She starred as Beatrice in a New York Shakespeare Festival production of Much Ado About Nothing. The play was recorded and aired on CBS. For her work in Much Ado, Widdoes was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play in 1973. She appeared in the television film The Return of Charlie Chan (1973). She guest starred on Toma.

She played Margaret in the television film Punch and Jody (1974), co-starring with Glenn Ford. In 1975, she starred as Viola in Twelfth Night at the Stratford Festival in Canada. Widdoes also played Mariana in Measure for Measure at the Stratford Festival. In February 1977, she starred in the musical Castaways at New York's Promenade Theater. She guest starred on Kojak.

1978–1987: As the World Turns Widdoes was cast as Rose Perrini on the NBC soap opera Another World, playing the role from 1978 to 1980. In March 1981, she starred in Stops Along the Way and In Fireworks Lie Secret Codes at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater. She guest starred on Secrets of Midland Heights and Nurse.

She played Mrs. Alving in a production of Ghosts for the American Repertory Theater. She appeared in the film I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can (1982). In December 1982, Widdoes played Gertrude in Hamlet at The Public Theater. In 1983, she had a recurring role as Una MacCurtain on the ABC soap opera Ryan's Hope. Widdoes appeared as Blanche Morton in the original Broadway production of Brighton Beach Memoirs. She replaced Anita Gillette in the role.

She was cast in the contract role of Emma Snyder on the CBS soap opera As the World Turns, first airing in July 1985. The character was the owner of a farm and the matriarch of a large family, including son Holden Snyder (Jon Hensley). Widdoes appeared in the television film Mafia Princess (1986), co-starring with Susan Lucci. For her work on As the World Turns, she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 1986. She was nominated again in the same category in 1987.

1990–present In May 1990, Widdoes played Margaret in The Tower of Evil for the Classic Stage Company. She received an Obie Award for her performance. For her work on As the World Turns, she received her third Daytime Emmy Award nomination in 1991 for Outstanding Supporting Actress. In July 1991, Widdoes played Jan Kirkland in Man in his Underwear at the Williamstown Theatre Festival.

She starred as Gertrude in a Broadway revival of Hamlet. The play opened in previews at Criterion Center Stage Right on March 11, 1992. For her work on As the World Turns, she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1994. She was switched to recurring status at ATWT in 1995. In October 1995, she played Maria in Moonlight for the Roundabout Theater Company.

Widdoes played Geraldine Walden in the film Courage Under Fire (1996), co-starring with Denzel Washington. In October and November 1996, she starred in The Rose Tattoo at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. In 1997, she began playing the recurring role of Mrs. Beecher on the HBO series Oz. In February 1998, she played Maria Callas in Master Class for North Carolina's PlayMakers Repertory Company. She starred in Long Day's Journey into Night at the American Conservatory Theater. Widdoes guest starred on Law & Order in 1999. Widdoes won the Lucille Lortel Award (Featured Actress) for her performance. In December 2004, she appeared in Noël Coward's After the Ball at The Irish Repertory Theatre. In January 2007, she starred as Lady Kitty in The Circle at the American Conservatory Theater. The cancellation of As the World Turns was announced on December 8, 2009. Widdoes made her last appearance on the show in June 2010. They were later divorced.

She is married to Jerry Senter.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations