Kathleen Wilhoite (born June 29, 1964) is an American actress and musician. She made her feature film debut in Private School (1983) before having a leading role in Murphy's Law (1986), followed by supporting parts in Witchboard (also 1986), Crossing Delancey (1988), Road House (1989), and Lorenzo's Oil (1992). She also had notable guest-starring roles on several series during this time, including Twin Peaks (1990).
Beginning in 1994, Wilhoite appeared as Chloe Lewis in a recurring guest-starring role on the series ER, and voiced the role of the titular character on the ABC animated series Pepper Ann (1997–2001). Other notable film roles during the 1990s include the science fiction thriller Fire in the Sky (1993), and the survival film The Edge (1997).
In 2003, she was cast in a recurring role as Liz Danes on Gilmore Girls, and has subsequently had guest-starring roles on Criminal Minds (2008), Grey's Anatomy (2009), and Jane the Virgin (2015). In 2019, Wilhoite guest-starred on an episode of the Netflix series The OA.
Early life Kathleen Wilhoite was born June 29, 1964, in Santa Barbara, California. She began acting in theatrical productions as a child with the Santa Barbara Youth Theatre. She attended the University of Southern California before studying acting at the Lee Strasberg Institute in Los Angeles.
Career 1983–1997: Early work Wilhoite made her film debut in Private School (1983), and the same year appeared in the television film Quarterback Princess. She subsequently had guest roles on the television series The Jeffersons and Cagney & Lacey (both 1985). In 1986, she had a lead role in the film Murphy's Law, directed by J. Lee Thompson, as well as a supporting part as a psychic in the supernatural horror film Witchboard.
Wilhoite starred in two theatrical productions for New York City's Second Stage Theater in 1987: Division Street and Moonchildren. For her performance in the latter, critic Frank Rich of The New York Times praised her "frisky comic style" and likened her to "Shirley MacLaine in that star's earliest show-biz incarnation." Wilhoite also provided the voice of Cathy Andrews in the CBS animated TV special Cathy (1987) based on the comic strips by Cathy Guisewite which the show won a primetime Emmy for outstanding animated program, and its two sequels; Cathy's Last Resort (1988) and Cathy's Valentine (1989). This was followed by supporting film roles in Angel Heart (1987), the comedy Crossing Delancey (1988), and a lead role in the British-set horror film Dream Demon (also 1988), opposite Jemma Redgrave. Next, Wilhoite appeared in the Patrick Swayze-starring Road House (1989), Curtis Hanson's neo-noir Bad Influence (1990), and the drama Lorenzo's Oil (1992). She also appeared on television, portraying a resident of the titular town in David Lynch's series Twin Peaks in 1990.
Between 1993 and 1994, Wilhoite appeared in the seventh and eight seasons of L.A. Law as Rosalie Hendrickson Stulwicz. Beginning in 1994, she was cast in a recurring guest role as Chloe Lewis on ER, a role she continued to play for the following eight years. In 1995, she won a Q Award for her performance on the series, in the category of Outstanding Specialty Player by the Viewers for Quality Television. In film, Wilhoite portrayed the wife of a man who experiences alien abduction in Fire in the Sky (1993), followed by supporting parts in the drama Color of Night (1994) and the survival thriller The Edge (1997), starring Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin.
1997–2010: Film and television Wilhoite provided the voice of the titular character of the Disney animated series Pepper Ann, a role she began in 1997 and portrayed until the series' conclusion in 2001. In 2000, she appeared in several feature films, including the dark comedies Nurse Betty and Drowning Mona, as well as the drama Pay It Forward.
In the early 2000s, Wilhoite guest-starred on several series, including a voice role in Family Guy (2001), 24 (2002) and Will & Grace (2003). Beginning in late 2003, Wilhoite guest-starred in a recurring role on the series Gilmore Girls, portraying Liz Danes, the sister of Luke Danes (Scott Patterson).
In May 2006, Wilhoite wrote and performed a one-woman show, Stop Yellin''', directed by Kathy Najimy. The show consisted of autobiographical monologues and performances of songs from her albums.. She subsequently had a supporting part in the comedy King of California (2007), starring Michael Douglas and Evan Rachel Wood. Guest-starring television credits in the late 2000s included Criminal Minds (2008) and Grey's Anatomy (2009).
Wilhoite has also narrated a number of audiobooks, including Maria Semple's Where'd You Go, Bernadette and Today Will Be Different.
2013–present: Later roles
In 2013, Wilhoite had a supporting part in the romantic comedy Crazy Kind of Love, followed by a central role in the independent drama A Sort of Homecoming (2015). Also in 2015, she guest-starred on the comedy series Jane the Virgin, followed by a guest role on the fantasy series Kevin (Probably) Saves the World in 2018. Beginning in 2018, she provided the voice of Sue Peltzer in the Cartoon Network animated series Summer Camp Island, and in 2019 had a guest-starring role on the Netflix series The OA.
Music
As a musician, Wilhoite released two albums, Pitch Like a Girl (1997, Daves' Record Company) and Shiva (2000, Ruby Ray Records). Her songs have been in such films as Murphy's Law (1986), which she also starred in; her songs have also appeared in Road House (1989), Valerie Flake (1999), East of A (2000), and Touched by an Angel (2000), as well as on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. ("Wish We Never Met" from Pitch Like a Girl'' appeared in the season three episode "Consequences".)
Personal life Wilhoite married musician David Harte in 1997, with whom she has three children: a son named James, a daughter named Ruby and a son named Adugna, adopted from Ethiopia by Wilhoite and Harte in the early 2010s.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes1983Private SchoolBetsy Newhouse1986Murphy's LawArabella McGee1986The Morning AfterRed1986WitchboardSarah 'Zarabeth' Crawford1987Angel HeartNurse1987Campus ManMolly Gibson1987Under CoverCorrinne Armour1988Dream DemonJenny Hoffman1988Crossing DelanceyMyla Bondy1989Road HouseCarrie Ann1989Brenda StarrHank O'Hare1990Everybody WinsAmy1990Bad InfluenceLeslie1992Lorenzo's OilDeirdre Murphy1993Fire in the SkyKatie Rogers1994BendersTerri1994Getting Even with DadKitty Gleason1994Color of NightMichelle1997The EdgeGinny1997The MazeMira2000Drowning MonaLucinda2000East of ASpark2000Nurse BettySue Ann Rogers2000Angels!Georgeanne2000Pay It ForwardBonnie2003QuicksandBeth Ann2003Welcome to the NeighborhoodJennifer2004Perfect OppositesTerri Curtis2005FirecrackerJessica2007King of CaliforniaKelly2008Winged CreaturesJennAKA, Fragments2009Endless BummerPeggy2012California SoloCatherine2013Crazy Kind of LoveDoris2015A Sort of HomecomingAnnie Landry2015DeathlyDianne Short film2016The Dog LoverMrs. Gold2017The RideAmanda2021VioletWaitress (Jones)
Television Year Title Role Notes1983Quarterback PrincessCarolynTV film1984AfterMASHSandyEpisode: "Yours Truly, Max Klinger", "It Had to Be You"1984Family TiesKathyEpisode: "Ready or Not"1984Flight 90: Disaster on the PotomacKelly DuncanTV film1984Single Bars, Single WomenDee DeeTV film1985Not My KidPennyTV film1985The JeffersonsRobinEpisode: "State of Mind"1985Cagney & LaceyAdrien Wickart"On the Street"1986CBS Schoolbreak SpecialPaulie"Have You Tried Talking to Patty?"1986FameRobertaEpisode: "W.S.O.A."1986Heart of the CityMary / Tiger LadyEpisode: "Cold Steal and Neon"1986ThrobTina ToxoidEpisode: "My Fair Punker Lady"1987CathyCathy Andrews (voice)TV film1988HeartbeatWendy MoranEpisode: "Pilot"1988Cathy's Last ResortCathy Andrews (voice)TV film1989Cathy's ValentineCathy Andrews (voice)TV film1990Cop RockPatricia Spence3 episodes1990Twin PeaksGwen MoranEpisode: "Drive with a Dead Girl"1992CrossroadsSelenaEpisode: "Miles Away from Home"1992Live! From Death RowLorraineTV film1992Quantum LeapNorma Jean PilcherEpisode: "Moments to Live"1993When Love Kills: The Seduction of John HearnCherylTV film1993Broken Promises: Taking Emily BackLily WardTV film1993–1994L.A. LawRosalie Hendrickson StulwiczRecurring role (seasons 7–8)1994–2002ERChloe LewisRecurring role (seasons 1–2, 8)1996Mad About YouIris2 episodes1996Terror in the FamilyJudithTV film1997Crisis CenterSarah MorrowEpisode: "Where Truth Lies"1997Perversions of SciencePaulaEpisode: "Snap Ending"1997Breast MenTimmie Jean LindseyTV film1997–2001Pepper AnnPepper Ann Pearson (voice)65 episodes1998Ally McBealJanie BittnerEpisode: "Body Language"1999L.A. DoctorsClaire ElliottEpisode: "Been There, Done That"1999Maggie WintersSelfEpisode: "Girls Night Out"2000Family LawJanel MarchEpisode: "Metamorphosis"2000Touched by an AngelKathy BensonEpisode: "An Angel on My Tree"2001Family GuySam (voice)Episode: "To Love and Die in Dixie"2001Law & Order: Special Victims UnitJane RuddEpisode: "Care"200224Lauren ProctorEpisode: "8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m."2002My Sister's KeeperMonaTV film2002PhillyLori MillerEpisode: "Tall Tales"2002Third WatchChloe LewisEpisode: "Unleashed"2002For the PeopleMaxine DarwellEpisode: "Dog Day"20023-SouthCindy (voice)3 episodes2003BoomtownSally McBrideEpisode: "Sinaloa Cowboys"2003Judging AmyNancy GilbertEpisode: "The Best Interests of the Child"2003Will & GraceSallyEpisode: "Fagmalion Part 3: Bye Bye Beardy"2003The DivisionChristine PhillipsEpisode: "Wish You Were Here"2003Audrey's RainMarguerite WalkerTV film2004Family SinsNadine DevereauxTV film2004Century CityLauraEpisode: "A Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Lose"2004The 4400Grace MorrisseyEpisode: "The New and Improved Carl Morrissey"2004–2007Gilmore GirlsLiz Danes16 episodes2005CharmedNadineEpisode: "The Seven Year Witch"2006Boston LegalSophia WilsonEpisode: "The Nutcrackers"2007Ghost WhispererValerie ParkerEpisode: "Children of Ghosts"2008The CleanerIrene KempEpisode: "Rag Dolls"2008Criminal MindsKathy EvansonEpisode: "Minimal Loss"2009Without a TraceSherri BrinkmanEpisode: "Wanted"2009The New Adventures of Old ChristineMrs. Dee SellickEpisode: "Hair"2009In Plain SightIngrid BerrensonEpisode: "A Frond in Need"2009Grey's AnatomyLeslie GoldmanEpisode: "Invasion"2009Ice DreamsDebra LastonTV film2010The MentalistMargo KetchumEpisode: "Red Sky in the Morning"2011The DefendersNatalieEpisode: "Nevada v. Wayne"2011The GladesMrs. WyattEpisode: "Iron Pipeline"2014Jennifer FallsCherylEpisode: "Triangle"2015Jane the VirginWendyEpisode: "Chapter Sixteen"2015Battle CreekSusanEpisode: "Stockholm"2017Wisdom of the CrowdKaren SanfordEpisode: "Trojan Horse"2018Kevin (Probably) Saves the WorldPhoebe PowellEpisode: "Caught White-Handed"2018The ResidentClaudia WebbEpisode: "Run, Doctor, Run"2018–2020Summer Camp IslandSue Peltzer (voice)7 episodes2019The OAAmy BroderickEpisode: "Mirror Mirror"2020YellowstoneCarolyn NelsonEpisode: "Cowboys and Dreamers"2022CSI: VegasDr. Diane Auerbach3 episodes 2025 Murdaugh: Death in the Family Gloria Satterfield Miniseries
Stage credits Year Title Role Notes 1987 Division Street Second Stage Theater 1987 Moonchildren Shelly Second Stage Theater
Discography Year Album Songs Performers1998Pitch Like a Girl "Whatever It Takes" (4:24) "No One Can Touch Me" (4:47) "Wish We Never Met" (4:36) "Olivia Says" (3:56) "Symphony" (5:00) "Suck the Joy" (3:45) "Look But Don't Touch" (4:31) "Dumb Ol' Girl" (3:39) "Old Familiar" (4:13) "Yard Sale" (5:28) "Stop Yelling" (3:49) "Pick Up Where You Left Off" (4:01) Kathleen Wilhoite - vocals, acoustic guitar, piano Tony Gilkyson - guitars Chris Wagner - bass David Harte - drums, background vocals Chris Joyner - piano Chris Frankfort - lap steel Nikka Costa - background vocals2000Shiva "Witches' Hill" (4:29) "Ground Zero" (4:06) "Back Home" (4:58) "I Stopped Asking" (3:29) "Safari Song" (4:06) "It Ain't My Fault" (3:46) "On My Couch" (4:02)