Kate Walsh

Bio:
Kate Walsh (born Kathleen Erin Walsh on October 13, 1967 in San Jose, California) is an American film and television actress. She grew up partially in San Jose and partially in Tucson, Arizona, later attending University of Arizona. During college, Kate started her acting career by becoming involved in regional theater. She taught English and worked as a model in Japan during the 1980s. Upon returning to the States, she moved to Chicago and worked with the Piven Theatre Workshop, honing her acting craft. Her early career involved roles on television shows Homicide and Law & Order. Her breakout came when she portrayed Nicki Fifer on The Drew Carey Show in 1997. Her success on the show led to roles on The Mind of The Married Man, The Norm Show and CSI. Her career took off when she landed the role of Dr. Addison Montgomery on Grey’s Anatomy in 2005. Two years later, Kate would star in the spin-off, Private Practice, until the show’s end in 2013. After Private Practice, she appeared in the Fargo TV series and the short-lived Bad Judge show. In addition to television, Kate has acted in a handful of films, including Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer – Part 2, Kicking & Screaming and The Perks of Being A Wallflower.

Best Known For:
Kate is best known for her role as Dr. Addison Montgomery on the ABC dramas Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice.

Personal Life:
In early 2007, Kate began dating movie executive Alex Young. They married later that year, but filed for divorce in 2008. Since 2007, Kate has been the spokesperson for Narcolepsy Network, promoting narcolepsy awareness. She was elected to serve on the Screen Actors Guild board from 2008-2011. She frequently campaigns for pet adoption, ocean conservancy and comprehensive sex education.