Kim Lankford (born June 14, 1954) is an American businesswoman and retired actress, best known for her role as Ginger Ward on Knots Landing from 1979 to 1983.
Life and career Lankford was born in Montebello, California. She made her screen debut in the 1976 movie Harry and Walter Go to New York, and later began her television career appearing in episodes of sitcoms such as Happy Days. In 1978, she was cast as the female lead opposite Joe Namath in the short-lived NBC sitcom The Waverly Wonders. Later that year, she played the leading role in the teen comedy film Malibu Beach.
In 1979, Lankford was cast as Ginger Ward, one of the original lead characters, in the CBS prime time soap opera Knots Landing. She starred on the show during the first four seasons, before leaving in 1983. In 1980, she also had a role opposite Chuck Norris in the action film The Octagon, and in the following years co-starred with Don Meredith in the thriller Terror Among Us. After leaving Knots Landing, she guest-starred on Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, and Cheers. In 1988, she had a supporting role in the horror film Cameron's Closet, and was a regular cast member in the ABC detective drama Murphy's Law.
Lankford spent the 1990s playing guest starring roles on television series such as In the Heat of the Night, Chicago Hope and Diagnosis: Murder, as well as appearing in the films Missing Pieces (1992) and Night of the Running Man (1995). In 1996, Lankford was a co-presenter on a cult public-access television cable TV series, "The Count Smokula Show". She reprised her Knots Landing character in Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac in 1997. After retiring from acting in 2000, Lankford created her own horse business in Colorado called Kim Lankford's Living Horsemanship.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Lankford lived with, and was romantically involved with, Warren Zevon.Crystal Zevon, I'll Sleep When I'm Dead: The Dirty Life and Times of Warren Zevon. HarperCollins, 2007, pp. 170, 173–174. Lankford was close friends with Susan Berman. Lankford dated Robert Durst, who allegedly murdered Berman in 2000. In 2015, Lankford appeared in the HBO documentary series The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 1976 Harry and Walter Go to New York Young Girl1978ConvoyDarleneCut in post-production 1978 Malibu BeachDina 1980 The OctagonNancy 1981 Terror Among UsVickie Stevens 1988 Cameron's ClosetDory Lansing 1992 Missing PiecesSally 1995 Night of the Running ManWaitress 1996 Street Corner JusticeJenny Connor 1996 For Goodness Sake IIShort film 1997 Get to the Heart: The Barbara Mandrell StoryTelevision film 1998 Mixed Blessings 2015 Dead of Winter: The Donner PartyTamsen DonnerTelevision film
Television Year Title Role Notes1976Police WomanKateEpisodes: "Task Force: Cop Killer: Part 1" and "Task Force: Cop Killer: Part 2"1977Happy DaysSheenaEpisode: "A Shot in the Dark"1977Busting LooseSharonEpisodes: "The Decision: Part 1" and "The Decision: Part 2"1978The Waverly WondersConnie RafkinSeries regular, 9 episodes1978Man from AtlantisEpisode: "The Siren"1978The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew MysteriesAlice SmithEpisode: "Campus Terror"1979–1983Knots LandingGinger WardSeries regular, 75 episodes1982, 84Fantasy IslandFancy Summerfield / SandyEpisodes: "Roller Derby Dolls/Thanks a Million" and "Lady's Choice/Skin Deep"1984Finder of Lost LovesJeanine PrescottEpisode: "White Lies"1984CheersMaxineEpisode: "Sam Turns the Other Cheek"1978–1984The Love BoatCarol Kelsey / Deanna Ellis / Anne ParkerS8 E13/1985The HitchhikerRae BridgemanEpisode: "A Time for Rifles"1987HunterCharlene LindquistEpisode: "The Cradle Will Rock"1987The Law & Harry McGrawKaren StillmanEpisode: "Murder by Landslides"1988Jake and the FatmanCynthia CovingtonEpisode: "Rhapsody in Blue"1988–1989Murphy's LawMarissa DanforthSeries regular, 12 episodes1990Dream OnHannah StoneEpisode: "Premarital Ex"1991ParadiseBeckieEpisode: "A Bullet Through the Heart"1991In the Heat of the NightTamara PollardEpisode: "Liar's Poker"1991Silk StalkingsMuriel HayesEpisode: "Hardcopy"1992Bodies of EvidencePam CharlesEpisode: "The Cold Light of Day"1996Land's EndJenny's MotherEpisode: "Jenny"1997Chicago HopeLeslie BowmanEpisode: "Leggo My Ego"1997Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-SacGinger WardMiniseries1995, 1997Diagnosis: MurderChelsea Drew / Lois ClaireEpisodes: "Death in the Daytime" and "A Mime Is a Terrible Thing to Waste"2000Martial LawDr. GellerEpisodes: "Final Conflict: Part 1" and "Final Conflict: Part 2"2015The JinxHerselfMiniseries
References
External links
Kim Lankford's Living Horsemanship