Kathryn Leigh Scott is an American television and film actress and writer who is best known for playing several roles on Dark Shadows.
Early life and education Kathryn Leigh Scott's hometown was Robbinsdale, Minnesota. Her parents, Ole and Hilda Kringstad, were of Norwegian descent.
Career
Scott landed the ingénue lead in the classic gothic daytime drama Dark Shadows (ABC, 1966-1971), and starred in the 1970 MGM feature House of Dark Shadows in 1970. Scott played five roles in the series: Maggie Evans, Maggie Evans Collins (PT), Josette du Pres, Lady Kitty Hampshire and Rachel Drummond.
In 1971, Scott moved to Paris, France, with her fiance, Time/Life photojournalist Ben Martin. In Paris, Scott played twins Penny and Jennifer in the French language miniseries L'alfomega. After marrying later that year in Vikebukt, Norway, she and Martin moved to London, England, where she continued working as an actress. She appeared in several television films and series including Crime of Passion, Harriet's Back In Town, The Turn of the Screw, Marked Personal, Come Die with Me, Dial M for Murder, Space: 1999, and the miniseries Late Call, Edward the King, and Exiles. Scott also appeared in the 1980 British television series Hammer House of Horror episode, "Visitor From The Grave." She also appeared in the feature films Brannigan with John Wayne; Providence with Dirk Bogarde, directed by Alain Resnais; The Great Gatsby, with Robert Redford and Mia Farrow, directed by Jack Clayton; and The Greek Tycoon with Anthony Quinn and Jacqueline Bisset. In 1974, she played Nurse Kelly in a six-month run of Harvey with James Stewart, directed by Sir Anthony Quayle, at the Prince of Wales Theatre, London. The following year she was in a new play, Le Weekend, at the Bristol Old Vic, Bristol, England.
In 1978, Scott moved to Los Angeles to star in the CBS series Big Shamus, Little Shamus with Brian Dennehy. She guest-starred in a succession of television series, and then returned to England to film The Last Days of Patton with George C. Scott; Murrow with Daniel J. Travanti; Voice of the Heart with James Brolin; and Chandlertown with Powers Boothe.
In 1985, Scott launched Pomegranate Press, Ltd. to publish books about the entertainment industry, including guide books, biographies, textbooks and coffee table art books. She wrote The Bunny Years (the 25-year history of Playboy Clubs told through the women who worked as Playboy Bunnies), which was sold to Imagine Entertainment's Brian Grazer. She also co-produced a two-hour special for the A&E network, and a one-hour documentary for BBC One and Canadian TV, based on the book. Pomegranate has published over 50 nonfiction titles, including Scott's books Lobby Cards: The Classic Films (Benjamin Franklin Award for Best Coffee Table Book) and Lobby Cards: The Classic Comedies, both of which were published in the U.K. by Bloomsbury. She published a trade paperback edition of the hardcover Coya Knutson biography Coya Come Home, with a foreword by Walter Mondale (2012).
Scott wrote Dark Shadows Memories, to coincide with the series' 20th anniversary, and Dark Shadows Companion as a 25th anniversary tribute. She has written three novels -- Dark Passages (2012), Down and Out in Beverly Heels (2013), and Jinxed (2015); a memoir, Last Dance at the Savoy (Cumberland Press, 2016); and a trilogy of books on care-giving: Now With You, Now Without, The Happy Hours, and A Welcome Respite (Grand Harbor, 2017).
Scott plays Mamie Eisenhower in the feature film The Eleventh Green (2019) with Campbell Scott. She has also appeared in Three Christs (2018) with Richard Gere and Julianna Margulies, and Woody Allen's A Rainy Day in New York (2018). She appeared in Hallmark Channel's Broadcasting Christmas (2016) and Lifetime's A Wedding to Die For (2017), and has a recurring role as Albert Solomon (George Segal)'s girlfriend Miriam on The Goldbergs. She wrote Dark Shadows: Return to Collinwood (2012), and appeared in a cameo role in the Johnny Depp/Tim Burton film Dark Shadows (2012).
After Scott's divorce from Ben Martin in 1990, they continued as partners in Pomegranate Press and remained close until his death in 2017. Scott married Geoff Miller, founding editor and publisher of Los Angeles magazine in 1991. He died from progressive supranuclear palsy in 2011. Scott is a national volunteer spokesperson for CurePSP.
Scott has served on the Boards of the Beverly Hills Women's Club and the Woman's Club of Hollywood.
Pomegranate Press In 1986, Scott founded Pomegranate Press, which published her books about Dark Shadows, as well as other books authored by her, including The Bunny Years, about the 25-year history of Playboy Bunnies, and coffee table books on film art. Pomegranate Press has also published books by other authors, mainly nonfiction entertainment titles. Today, she continues to work as an actress (Three Christs with Richard Gere, 2017) and writer (Last Dance At the Savoy, Now With You, Now Without). She reprised a number of her Dark Shadows roles in a series of audio dramas from Big Finish Productions. Scott co-wrote (with Jim Pierson) Dark Shadows: Return to Collinwood, an updated retrospective on the original series, including the Tim Burton remake with Johnny Depp, in which Scott has a cameo role. The book was released on April 3, 2012 via Pomegranate Press.
Personal life Scott married her first husband, photographer Ben Martin, in 1971. They divorced in 1990, although the two remained business partners in Pomegranate Press. Martin died in February 2017.
In 1991, she married Los Angeles magazine founder Geoff Miller (1936–2011). She and Miller remained together until his death from progressive supranuclear palsy in 2011.
In 2025, she married author and journalist Patrick Oster.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1970 House of Dark Shadows Maggie Evans 1974 The Great Gatsby Catherine 1975 Brannigan Miss Allen 1977 Providence Miss Boon 1978 The Gypsy WarriorsLady Asten-Forbes The Greek Tycoon Nancy Cassidy 1980 Witches' Brew Susan Carey 1987 Assassination Polly Sims 1997 One Eight Seven Anglo Woman 2008 Parasomnia Nurse Margaret Evans 2012 Dark Shadows Barnabas Guest 2013 Doctor Mabuse Madame Von Harbau The Rising Light Aya 2014 Doctor Mabuse: Etiopomar Madame Von Harbau 2017 Three Christs Victoria Rogers 2019 A Rainy Day in New York Wanda Loon Lake Lena Janson2020 The 11th Green Mamie Eisenhower 2024 The Great Nick D Helen Zimmerman
Television Year Title Role Notes1966–1970 Dark Shadows Maggie Evans*Josette DuPres CollinsParallel counterpart played by Mary Cooper during episodes 1206 to 1238.Rachel DrummondKitty SoamesMaggie Evans Collins (PT) 310 episodes1973 Harriet's Back in TownLouisa Vernon 2 episodes1974 The Turn of the Screw Miss Jessel TV movie 1976 Space: 1999 Yesta Episode: "Dorzak"1978 Hawaii Five-O Jemilla Episode: "My Friend, the Enemy"1979 The Incredible Hulk Dr. Gail Collins Episode: "A Solitary Place"Little House on the Prairie Belle Harrison Episode: "Blind Man's Bluff" Big Shamus, Little Shamus Stephanie Marsh 10 episodes1980 Hammer House of Horror PennyEpisode: "Visitor From The Grave" 1981 DynastyJennifer 2 episodes 1982 Police Squad!Sally Decker Episode: "A Substantial Gift (The Broken Promise)"1983 Philip Marlowe, Private EyeAnnie Riordan 3 episodes 1984 Hardcastle and McCormickLenore Alcott Episode: "Whistler's Pride"Call to GloryElaine Farrell Episode: "Call It Courage"1985 Cagney & Lacey Barbara CodyEpisode: "Play It Again, Santa" 1986 Murrow Janet Murrow TV movie The Last Days of Patton Jean Gordon TV movie The A-Team Sheriff Ann Plummer Episode: "The Little Town with an Accent" Shadow Chasers Gwen Page Episode: "Let's Make a Deal" 1987 Hotel Linda Anderson Episode: "Hail and Farewell"1988 Jake and the Fatman Holly Poole Episode: "I Guess I'll Have to Change My Plan"Mr. Belvedere Woman Episode: "Hooky"Paradise Lucy Cord Carroll 2 episodesKnots Landing ArchitectEpisode: "The Blushing Bride"Probe Dr. Deanna Hardwick Episode: "Metamorphic Anthropoidic Prototype Over You"1989 Star Trek: The Next Generation Nuria Episode: "Who Watches the Watchers" Dallas Bunny Harvard 3 episodesVoice of the Heart Arlene Mason TV movieMatlock Janice Barelli 2 episodes1990 Judge Marla Cordante Episode: "The Talk Show" 21 Jump Street Margaret Episode: "Change of Heart"Jake and the Fatman Denise Episode: "I Ain't Got No Body"1999 CI5: The New Professionals Dr. Sheperd Episode: "Choice Curts"2006 Huff Swanson Episode: "Which Lip Is the Cervical Lip?"2013–2014 The Goldbergs Miriam 2 episodes2014 Petals on the Wind Society Lady TV movie2014–2016 Old Dogs & New Tricks Lillianne Carter 2 episodes2015 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. The Baroness Episode: "Aftershocks"2016 Broadcasting Christmas Ruth Morgan TV movie2019 First Wives Club Judith Episode: "Pilot"The Blacklist Homeowner Episode: "Dr. Lewis Powell (No. 130)"2021-2023 Smartphone Theater Ruth 2 episodes
Notes
References
External links
Interview with Kathryn Leigh Scott Audio interview with Kathryn Leigh Scott on Deep Dish Radio re: Acting career and publishing Kathryn Leigh Scott interview at Classic Film & TV Cafe Interview at The Norwegian American Facebook page (official)