A blonde bombshell from the 1980s cut a sprightly figure when she was spotted out and about in Los Angeles this week at the age of 61.
She broke through with a star turn opposite Charles Bronson and went on to act with some of the era’s most enduring names, such as Patrick Swayze and Jane Fonda.
In her more recent career, she has held guest spots on beloved television shows ranging from Gilmore Girls and Will & Grace to ER and 24.
This week she was spotted on a casual outing with her husband of nearly three decades, along with one of their grandchildren.
Last year on Instagram she gushed about her current stage in life, writing: ‘Friends with adult children, there is nothing in this world like a grand kid falling asleep in your arms. You have so much to look forward to.’
Can you guess who she is?
A blonde bombshell from the 1980s cut a sprightly figure when she was spotted out and about in Los Angeles this week at the age of 61
She is none other than Kathleen Wilhoite, whose breakthrough role was a tart-tongued jailbird opposite Charles Bronson in the 1968 crime thriller Murphy’s Law.
When she was glimpsed this week in Los Angeles, she was accompanied by her husband David Harte, whom she has been married to since 1997.
Through their son James and his wife, the longtime couple share two grandchildren, and Kathleen often proudly posts pictures of the tykes to her Instagram.
They brought their beloved granddaughter along for their latest outing, and Kathleen was seen sweetly gathering the little girl up into her arms.
Born in Santa Barbara, Kathleen caught the acting bug as a child, recalling years ago that she felt ‘pitifully ugly’ at first but later came into her own in school productions.
‘I was a clown. I liked to make people laugh, even if it was at my own expense,’ she explained in an interview with the fan site Retro Junk.
‘I’m sure I was a grotesque prima-donna when it came to theater. I know this because it’s what I’m now told at all of my reunions. In general, I had a lot of laughs.’
Her movie debut came with the 1983 cult classic Private School, starring Phoebe Cates and Matthew Modine as two teens on a quest to consummate their romance.
This week she was spotted on a casual outing with her husband of nearly three decades, along with one of their grandchildren
She is none other than Kathleen Wilhoite, whose breakthrough role was a tart-tongued jailbird opposite Charles Bronson in the 1968 crime thriller Murphy’s Law
In 1989 came another one of her beloved movies, the action comedy Road House starring Patrick Swayze as New York bar bouncer James Dalton
When she was glimpsed this week in Los Angeles, she was accompanied by her husband David Harte, whom she has been married to since 1997
Through their son James and his wife, the longtime couple share two grandchildren, and Kathleen often proudly posts pictures of the tykes to her Instagram
Born in Santa Barbara, Kathleen caught the acting bug as a child, recalling years ago that she felt ‘pitifully ugly’ at first but later came into her own in school productions
‘I liked to make people laugh, even if it was at my own expense,’ she explained in an interview with the fan site Retro Junk
‘I’m sure I was a grotesque prima-donna when it came to theater,’ she confessed: ‘I know this because it’s what I’m now told at all of my reunions’
However her big break was Murphy’s Law in 1986, starring Charles Bronson as an alcoholic detective framed for murder by a woman he once put in prison
Kathleen featured in Murphy’s Law as a thief the Bronson character finds himself in custody with, prompting the pair to escape together and become unlikely allies
However her big break was Murphy’s Law in 1986, starring Charles Bronson as an alcoholic detective framed for murder by a woman he once put in prison.
Kathleen featured as a thief whom he finds himself in custody with, prompting the two characters to escape together and become unlikely allies.
She later recalled that Charles Bronson was ‘Fantastic’ and ‘Everything you’d imagine. He was smart, funny, tight-lipped, and a really good actor.’
‘He was kind to me and we joked around a lot. I stayed out of his way though and never got too familiar with him. I had a healthy respect that I felt was well deserved.’
That same year she starred in another thriller called The Morning After, helmed by 12 Angry Men director Sidney Lumet and starring Jane Fonda and Jeff Bridges.
In 1989 came another one of her beloved movies, the action comedy Road House starring Patrick Swayze as New York bar bouncer James Dalton, who winds up working at a small-town nightclub in Missouri.
Kathleen also guested on such classic series as Gilmore Girls, ER, Family Guy, 24, Twin Peaks, Mad About You, Will & Grace and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
She has multiple projects in the pipeline now, including a Hulu miniseries about the Alex Murdaugh murder case starring Patricia Arquette and Jason Clarke
As he tries to keep his gruesome past shrouded in mystery, he finds himself confronted with the corrupt, violent underbelly of his new stomping grounds.
Kathleen featured as a slightly gawky bartender at the club, amid a cast including Sam Elliott, Kelly Lynch and Broadway legend Ben Gazzara.
A few year ago, Kathleen remarked that the movie’s lasting draw to fans was ‘Patrick, Sam and all the good old fashion redneck a** kicking.’
She added: ‘It’s a theme the men in my life will never tire of. I love it – the mysterious millionaire philosopher, but what he’s really passionate about is being a bouncer.’
Her career continued apace in the 1990s, including with the tearjerker Lorenzo’s Oil starring Nick Nolte and Susan Sarandon at the peak of their stardom.
Kathleen also guested on such classic series as Gilmore Girls, ER, Family Guy, 24, Twin Peaks, Mad About You, Will & Grace and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
She has multiple projects in the pipeline now, including a Hulu miniseries about the Alex Murdaugh murder case starring Patricia Arquette and Jason Clarke.
