Biography for
Kate Burton (I) More at IMDb Pro »

Date of Birth

Spouse

Trivia

Daughter of Richard Burton and Sybil Williams.

Her husband is a theatre director, born c. 1958.

Son, Morgan Ritchie, and daughter, Charlotte, with Michael Ritchie.

Husband Ritchie is the director of Massachusetts' Williamstown Theatre Festival.

Earned a BA in Russian studies and European history from Brown University.

Studied at Yale University School of Drama, where she was a classmate of Jane Kaczmarek.

In 2002, she was nominated for two Tony Awards: as Best Actress (Play) for portraying the title character in a revival of Henrik Ibsen's "Hedda Gabler," and as Best Actress (Featured Role - Play) for a revival of "The Elephant Man". This made her one of only three actors (the others are Amanda Plummer and Dana Ivey) to be Tony-nominated for two acting awards in the same year.

Step-daughter of actor Jordan Christopher.

Mother of Morgan Ritchie.

Former stepdaughter of Elizabeth Taylor and Sally Hay.

Highly respected and talented audio book reader. She is constantly represented among best-selling audio titles.

Playwright/actor Emlyn Williams was her godfather.

Played the mother of Ellen Pompeo in TV show Grey's anatomy, although Kate was 12 years older than Ellen.

Co-starred with her father, Richard Burton in the critically-received CBS miniseries "Ellis Island" (1984). He died shortly thereafter.

At first intent on a diplomatic career, she majored in history and Russian studies at Brown University in Rhode Island, before being swayed by her acting heritage in her senior year. She went on to earn an MFA at the Yale School of Drama.

Has retained her British citizenship, yet considers herself an American actress.

Born in Switzerland, she was raised in Manhattan after her parents' famous divorce.

Met future husband 'Michael Ritchie (II) while she was making her Broadway debut in "Present Laughter" in 1982. He was the stage manager.

She has an autistic sister, Jessica, and a half-sister, Amy Cristopher, from her mother's marriage to actor Jordan Christopher.

Personal Quotes

(Describing her acting roles) "I'm usually the sweet wife. Or the sweet dead wife."

(Referring to her extended, rather bohemian family) "Basically, I'm part of this large, creative, mildly crazy, loosely connected loving family. But really, these days, who isn't?"

Where Are They Now

(January 2006) Performing in Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard in Boston's Huntington Theater.

(January 2008) On Broadway, in the hit show "Spring Awakening" playing all the adult female roles. She had worked on the musical before when it was in workshop.

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