Kathryn Harrold was once a star in the era of New Hollywood. She has appeared in well over 50 movies and TV series, and her career spans 35 years. But what is the former actress doing now? This article covers Kathryn Harrold’s early life, career, and current profession.
Who Is Kathryn Harrold?
Kathryn Harrold is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and former television and film actress. She’s best known for her roles in Modern Romance (1981), Yes, Giorgio (1982), and Raw Deal (1986). Harrold’s film biography is quite extensive, credited in no less than 50 movies and TV shows. One of her earliest notable roles was playing Nola Dancy on the NBC daytime soap opera The Doctors from 1976 to 1977, where she appeared in over 220 episodes. She has since retired as an actress and is currently working as a marriage and family therapist in Santa Monica, California.
Image Source: IMDb
Early Life
Kathryn Harrold was born on August 2, 1950, in Tazewell, Virginia. Much of the information relating to her early childhood is kept private, but we do know that her parents’ names were Carolyn Harrold and BH Harrold and that she grew up on a farm with five older siblings.
Kathryn attended Tazewell High School and pursued higher education at Mills College in Oakland, California, where she earned a degree in Dramatic Arts and Psychology. She later moved to New York City to study acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse.
Acting Career
Kathryn Harrold’s career as an actress began in 1976 when she was hired to play Nola Dancy Aldrich on the NBC soap opera The Doctors. Despite her being a relatively new actress at the time, the role she was given was a prominent one. She appeared in 229 episodes from 1976 to 1977 before leaving the show.
Less than a year later, Harrold appeared in several episodes of The Rockford Files from 1978 to 1979 and landed leading roles in short-lived dramas and made-for-television movies. Among these include The Bronx Zoo (1987 to 1988), The Practice, CSI: NY, and Desperate Housewives.
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Harrold also played the leading lady in several notable films, including The Hunter (1980), starring Steve McQueen, Yes, Giorgio (1982), starring Luciano Pavarotti, and Raw Deal (1986), starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Kathryn Harrold appeared on television for 35 years before retiring in 2011. Her most recent role was in the TV series Greek, where she played as Mrs. Chambers for four episodes from 2007 to 2011.
Personal Life
On February 14, 1994, Kathryn Harrold married fellow American actor Lawrence O’Donnell and had one child, Elizabeth. The couple eventually divorced in 2013, though details about the separation are scarce. When Harrold entered her mid-40s, she claims to have experienced “a kind of awakening.” At the time, She was grappling with the challenges of divorce, single motherhood, the loss of her father, and the slow decline of her career as an actress.
She decided to undergo intensive therapy and, with the teachings of a Tibetan Buddhist, committed to a daily meditation practice for 25 years. In her 60s, Harrold went back to school and earned a degree in Antioch, LA, as a licensed therapist. She now runs her own practice in Santa Monica, CA.
Image source: Psychology Today
Final Thoughts
Kathryn Harrold was a former actress who’s best known for her roles in Modern Romance (1981), Yes, Giorgio (1982), and Raw Deal (1986). Her acting career lasted 35 years before she decided to study and become a licensed therapist. Today, Kathryn Harrold runs a private practice for individuals and couples in Santa Monica, California.
Featured image source: IMDb
