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Kathleen Quinlan

Kathleen Quinlan

Actor · Born November 19, 1954 (71) · Pasadena, California, USA

Kathleen Denise Quinlan Abbott (born November 19, 1954) is an American film and television actress. She is best known for her Golden Globe-nominated performance in the 1977 film of the novel I Never Promised You a Rose Garden, and her Golden Globe and Academy Award-nominated role in the 1995 film Apollo 13, along with many roles in other feature films, television movies and series, in a career spanning almost five decades. She made her feature film debut in Mel Stuart's One Is a Lonely Number (1972) follwed by George Lucas' American Graffiti (1973) and made her definite breakthrough in I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (1977) as Deborah Blake.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 19, 1954 (71)
From
Pasadena, California, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
74 on MovieCove · 106 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 2% in 30 days

What are Kathleen Quinlan's films like?

Across their 50 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Bonds.

Genres

Drama23 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 29th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Horror5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Horror movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 42nd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 19th percentile
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Survival
26%
Bonds
24%
Morality
22%
Self
13%
Society
6%
Ideas
5%
Power
4%
Survival14 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice12 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds14 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief8 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love6 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception7 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 50 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 16 · Serious 5 · Dark 29

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 41 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 13 · Charged 16 · Intense 21

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 20 · Shifting 23 · Whiplash 7

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 37 · Some laughs 10 · Funny 3

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 21 · Even-paced 25 · Relentless 4

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 21 · Engaged 24 · Full focus 5

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 15 · Affecting 14 · Heavy 21

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 35 · Open-ended 11 · Ambiguous 4

Roles they play

27 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 10 of 27 analyzed roles.

Ally
10 of 27
Hero
6 of 27
Shapeshifter
3 of 27
Threshold guardian
3 of 27
Herald
2 of 27
Mentor
2 of 27
Shadow
1 of 27
Show the 27 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
36
Melancholic
18
Dread
13
Contemplative
14
Warm
10
Other
40

How their films linger

Hopeful25 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 10 with a twist

  • Happy14
  • Bittersweet27
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous8

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Kathleen Quinlan's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 45 of their 74 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (24).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Kathleen Quinlan's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

106 credits, 74 with a MovieCove page; 6 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Okay (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Loretta

  • Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2(2024)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Walking with Herb(2021)

    as Sheila Amable-Amo

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Stairs(2021)

    as Grandma Bernice

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Devil Has a Name(2019)

    as Nancy

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Saving My Baby(2018)

    as Virginia

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Mayans M.C.(2018)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mrs. Buksar

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Parallel(2018)

    as Marissa

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Chimera Strain(2018)

    as Masterson

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Runaways(2017)

    Show 3 episodes · as Susan Ellerh

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all shows

  • Elizabeth Blue(2017)

    as Carol

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • ADDicted(2017)

    as Kate Dawson

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • How Not to Propose(2015)

    as Susan

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • How to Get Away with Murder(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Britt

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • After(2014)

    as Nora Valentino

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Horns(2013)

    as Lydia Perrish

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Life's an Itch(2012)

    as Audrey

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Blue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 7 episodes · as Jessica

  • Eagles in the Chicken Coop (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Mary Bernstein

  • Cinema Verite(2011)

    as Mary Every

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Elektra Luxx(2010)

    as Rebecca Linbrook

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • The Event(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Erika Jarvis

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • 2 Everything 2 Terrible 2: Tokyo Drift(2010)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The River Why(2010)

    as Ma

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Stargate Universe(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Senator Michaels

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Prison Break: The Final Break(2009)

    as Christina Rose Scofield

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Glee(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Shane

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • The Dissection of Thanksgiving (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Carol

  • Made of Honor(2008)

    as Joan

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Harm's Way (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Bea

  • Breach(2007)

    as Bonnie Hanssen

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Humble Pie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Agnes Orbison

  • The Hills Have Eyes(2006)

    as Ethel

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Prison Break(2005)

    Show 6 episodes · as Christina Rose Scofield

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • House(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Arlene McNeil

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • The Dead Will Tell(2004)

    as Beth Hytner

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • El padrino(2004)

    as Judge Scorsi

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Riverman(2004)

    as Sande Keppel

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Perfect Romance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Tess Kelley

  • Blessings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Meredith Blessing

  • Hollywood's Magical Island: Catalina(2003)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Battle of Shaker Heights(2003)

    as Eve

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Barbara Tallman

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Family Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 68 episodes · as Lynn Holt

  • Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 4 episodes · as Nanaline Duke

  • A Civil Action(1998)

    as Anne Anderson

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • My Giant(1998)

    as Serena Kamin

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Lawn Dogs(1997)

    as Clare Stockard

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Event Horizon(1997)

    as Peters

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Breakdown(1997)

    as Amy Taylor

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Zeus and Roxanne(1997)

    as Mary Beth Dunhill

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • In the Lake of the Woods(1996)

    as Kathy Waylan

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Picture Windows: Lightning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Hooker

  • Perfect Alibi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Melanie Bauers

  • Apollo 13(1995)

    as Marilyn Lovell

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Trial by Jury(1994)

    as Wanda

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Diagnosis Murder(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Kate Delieb

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Last Light(1993)

    as Kathy Rubicek

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Stolen Babies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Bekka

  • An American Story(1992)

    as Hope Tyler

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Strays(1991)

    as Lindsey Jarrett

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The Hidden Room (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Julia

  • The Doors(1991)

    as Patricia Kennealy

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Operation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Ginnie

  • Trapped (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Mary Ann Marshall

  • Clara's Heart(1988)

    as Leona Hart

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Sunset(1988)

    as Nancy Shoemaker

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Man Outside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Grace Freemont

  • Dreams Lost, Dreams Found (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Sarah McAllister

  • Wild Thing(1987)

    as Jane

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Children of the Night(1985)

    as Lois Lee

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Ann Foley · as Karen Wilson

  • Warning Sign(1985)

    as Joanie Morse

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Blackout (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Chris Graham

  • When She Says No(1984)

    as Rose Michaels

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Last Winter(1983)

    as Joyce

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Twilight Zone: The Movie(1983)

    as Helen Foley

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Independence Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Mary Ann Taylor

  • Hanky Panky(1982)

    as Janet Dunn

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • She's in the Army Now(1981)

    as Pvt. Cass Donner

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Sunday Lovers(1980)

    as Laurie (segment "Skippy")

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Runner Stumbles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Sister Rita

  • The Promise(1979)

    as Nancy McAllister / Marie Adamson

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Nightmare in Blood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Actor

  • I Never Promised You a Rose Garden(1977)

    as Deborah Blake

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Airport '77(1977)

    as Julie

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Little Ladies of the Night(1977)

    as Karen Brodwick

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Lifeguard(1976)

    as Wendy

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Joe Forrester (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Bethany

  • Switch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Robin Morgan

  • Three for the Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Turning Point of Jim Malloy(1975)

    as Edith Evans

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Abduction of Saint Anne(1975)

    as Anne Benedict

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Missing Are Deadly(1975)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Where Have All the People Gone(1974)

    as Deborah Anders

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Police Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Lucas Tanner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Lucas Tanner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Joyce Howell

  • Can Ellen Be Saved?(1974)

    as Melissa

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Kojak(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Janet Conforti

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • American Graffiti(1973)

    as Peg

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Waltons(1972)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Emergency!(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Janet

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Ironside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show Actor

  • Holiday Hearts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Barbara Morgenstern

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 106 titles, 105 of them dated from 1951 to 2026; peak year 1997.

Biggest box office

Apollo 13 (1995)

$356M worldwide

Highest rated

Apollo 13 (1995)

Midcredits 97th

Film career

19512026

Peak 1997 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 7 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting106 of 106: 106 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score45th

By decade

1950s1 · acting1960s1 · acting1970s22 · acting1980s17 · acting1990s21 · acting2000s19 · acting2010s20 · acting2020s4 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 6% of 34 roles
7378939808

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Kathleen Quinlan's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 41st percentile, the median of all 61; across their 50 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 40th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

40thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 50

Approval · how many liked their films

36thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 50

Reach · how many have seen their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 50

Midcredits score across 74 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up17
  • 50th to 74th14
  • 25th to 49th26
  • Below 25th17

Shape of the crowd

34 of their 74 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Divisive3
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser22
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed34

Most divisive · actor

Walking with Herb (2021)

94th percentile spread · 35% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Apollo 13 (1995)

Midcredits 97th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the acting 67/100 in their films, across 48 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 47. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Kathleen Quinlan's work okay for kids?

Across up to 13 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore9 titles10–94 · median 42 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity13 titles19–65 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity10 titles48–83 · median 63 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles31–54 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles23–92 · median 67 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Kathleen Quinlan work with?

People who share at least 2 of Kathleen Quinlan's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Alexandre Aja shares the most, 2.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles