Kristine Sutherland (born Kristine Young; April 17, 1955) is an American actress best known for her starring role as Buffy Summers' mother Joyce Summers on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, where she appeared in every season (1997–2003), and her role as Mae Thompson in Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989).
Early life She was born Kristine Young in Boise, Idaho, and changed her name because she was often confused with another similarly named actress. The last name "Sutherland" was after her cat, whom she named "Donald" after Donald Sutherland, who, coincidentally, had a role in the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer film, Joss Whedon's first attempt to bring Buffy to audiences.AV Club Joss Whedon Interview She is not related to the Sutherland acting family.Buffyguide.com
She attended high school in Lexington, Kentucky, where she participated in the Tates Creek Drama program. After graduating, she enrolled in the University of Kentucky.
Career Sutherland's first film role was as a secretary in Legal Eagles (1986). She appeared as Mae Thompson in the 1989 film Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Her career received a big boost when she played Buffy's mother in the action-horror television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, from 1997 to 2002. Creator Joss Whedon later stated that one of the reasons he chose Sutherland for the role was that she exuded a warm demeanor, as well as what he believed to be a close resemblance to actress Sarah Michelle Gellar, who was to portray her daughter in the series. Sutherland appeared regularly on the show for the first five seasons, with only one appearance in season 6 and two in season 7.
After leaving Buffy, Sutherland attended a photography course at the Santa Monica College and subsequently set up a studio specializing in portraits. In 2008, she appeared in the television miniseries Comanche Moon and had a guest role in an episode of New Amsterdam.
She voiced Haru's Mother in the English dub of The Cat Returns.
Personal life Sutherland is married to actor John Pankow. They have one daughter.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1986 Legal Eagles Secretary #2 1989 Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Mae Thompson 2005 The Cat Returns Naoko Yoshioka (voice) English version 2012 The Perfect Wedding Meryl Fowler 2016 Russian Doll Marjorie Ames 2016 Are You Afraid of the '90s? Jane Short film
Television Year Title Role Notes 1984 Hot Pursuit Episode: "Portrait of a Lady Killer" 1984 Remington Steele Pamela Jones Episode: "Let's Steel a Plot" 1986–1987 Easy Street Martha 2 episodes 1987 The Art of Being Nick Marlene Moore Television pilot 1994 California Dreams Ariel Lange Episode: "Daddy's Girl" 1997–2002 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Joyce Summers 58 episodes 2002 Providence Joyce Moore Episode: "Things Have Changed" 2008 Comanche Moon Elmira Forsythe 2 episodes 2008 New Amsterdam Didi Gleason Episode: "Reclassified" 2010–2011 One Life to Live Dean McKenzie 4 episodes 2013 The Following Parker's Mother Episode: "The Fall"
Video games Year Title Role Notes 2013 Grand Theft Auto V The Local Population
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