Mary Kathleen Turner, born on June 19, 1954, is an American actress whose distinctive deep, husky voice and commanding screen presence have made her one of the most memorable performers of her generation. Over a career spanning more than four decades, she has earned two Golden Globe Awards, an Academy Award nomination, and Tony and Grammy Award nominations, cementing her status as a versatile and enduring talent in film, television, and theater.
Turner began her professional journey on stage, making her Broadway debut in 1977 before transitioning to television with a role as Nola Dancy Aldrich on the NBC soap opera The Doctors from 1978 to 1979. Her breakthrough came in 1981 with her film debut in Body Heat, where her portrayal of the sultry and manipulative Matty Walker instantly established her as a major sex symbol and a formidable dramatic actress. Throughout the 1980s, Turner became one of Hollywood's most bankable stars, delivering a string of iconic performances in a wide range of genres. She starred opposite Steve Martin in the comedy The Man with Two Brains, followed by the romantic adventure Romancing the Stone and its sequel The Jewel of the Nile, both alongside Michael Douglas. She also showcased her dramatic range in Crimes of Passion, the dark comedy Prizzi's Honor with Jack Nicholson, and the bittersweet The Accidental Tourist. In 1986, Turner earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her poignant and layered performance as the time-traveling title character in Peggy Sue Got Married, directed by Francis Ford Coppola. She continued her remarkable run with the dark marital comedy The War of the Roses, again pairing with Michael Douglas.
Beyond live-action roles, Turner lent her unmistakable voice to one of cinema's most iconic animated characters, Jessica Rabbit, in Who Framed Roger Rabbit in 1988. Her distinctive vocal work also extended to Monster House and guest appearances on animated series such as The Simpsons, Family Guy, King of the Hill, and Rick and Morty. In the 1990s and 2000s, Turner continued to work steadily, appearing in films like V.I. Warshawski, Serial Mom, Baby Geniuses, The Virgin Suicides, and Marley & Me. In 2014, she returned to comedy with a role in Dumb and Dumber To.
Turner also made a significant impact on television, most notably with a memorable guest appearance on the seventh season of Friends in 2001, where she played Charles Bing, the transgender father of Chandler Bing, a role that was both groundbreaking and widely praised. She later guest-starred as the formidable Sue Collini on Californication in 2009 and earned further acclaim for her recurring role as Roz Volander on the Netflix series The Kominsky Method from 2019 to 2021. Turner has also remained active on stage, earning Tony Award nominations for her performances in productions such as "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" and "Indiscretions." Her autobiography, "Send Yourself Roses," was published in 2008, offering an intimate look at her life and career. Now in her seventies, Kathleen Turner continues to be a respected and influential figure in entertainment, celebrated for her fearless choices, her powerful voice, and her lasting contributions to film, television, and theater.