Biography

Katherine McNeil, known professionally as Kate McNeil, is an American actress. She was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and grew up in the suburb of Gladwyne. Her father served as president of the U.S. Cocoa Corporation. McNeil developed an early interest in performing, participating in numerous high school plays before studying theater at Ithaca College in New York.

McNeil began her professional acting career in 1981 with a role on the CBS daytime soap opera As the World Turns. In 1982, she appeared in the comedy Beach House, and the following year, she starred as the lead in the horror film The House on Sorority Row. She continued to build her career with significant roles in television miniseries such as Kane & Abel in 1985 and North and South Book II in 1986. In 1988, McNeil co-starred in George A. Romero's film Monkey Shines.

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, McNeil maintained a steady presence on television, with recurring and guest roles in series including WIOU, Bodies of Evidence, Quantum Leap, The X-Files, Murder, She Wrote, Babylon 5, Diagnosis Murder, Veronica Mars, Bones, The Mentalist, Mad Men, and Grey's Anatomy. She also appeared in several made-for-TV movies and miniseries, notably as Janet Gilchrist in The Waltons reunion films. Her film credits include Space Cowboys, Sudden Death, and The Caveman's Valentine.

McNeil has contributed to the industry with a diverse range of roles across genres, from daytime drama to horror and primetime television. Her performances, particularly in cult classics like The House on Sorority Row and Monkey Shines, have earned her recognition among fans of genre cinema. She continues to work in television and film, reflecting a career marked by versatility and longevity.
- IMDb mini biography by: Angel

Auditioned for the 1983 slasher movie The House on Sorority Row (1982) by answering an ad in "Backstage" magazine. Another actress had already been cast in the part but had bowed out.

Teaches Creative Writing at New Village Charter High School in Los Angeles, California.

Earned a Masters Degree in Special Education at California State University, Northridge.

Kate McNeil is a Scottish descendant.