Katherine Callan (born January 9, 1936) is an American actress and writer. In a career spanning more than six decades, Callan appeared in more than 150 film and television productions. She made her big screen debut starring in the 1970 satirical drama Joe and later appeared in films A Touch of Class (1973), The Onion Field (1979), American Gigolo (1980), Frankie & Johnny (1991), Nine Lives (2005) and Knives Out (2019). On television she played Clark Kent's mother Martha in the ABC comedy-drama series, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993-1997). She also had recurring roles on Dallas, Coach, Carnivàle, How I Met Your Mother, Getting On, Veep and Widow's Bay.
Early life Katherine Callan was born in Dallas, Texas. When she was 5 years old, she felt that she wanted to act. She did so in school, and as a student at North Texas State University at Denton, she studied drama. She went on to teach drama at a Catholic girls' school, and she began an arena theatre at that high school with James Callan.
Career Callan first appeared on television in an episode of Route 66 that happened to be shooting in Dallas. She later moved to New York and received her acting training with Herbert Berghof at HB Studio, as well as Stella Adler, Larry Ross and others in Los Angeles. In 1964, she had a recurring role in soap opera, The Secret Storm. In 1970, Callan made her big screen debut starring as Mary Lou Curran, the long-suffering, mousy wife of Peter Boyle's title character in the 1970 satirical drama Joe directed by John G. Avildsen. She later played supporting roles in films A Touch of Class (1973) and The Onion Field (1979).
In 1972, Callan starred as Evelyn Jackson in the television adaptation of the 1966 Lanford Wilson play The Rimers of Eldritch. Callan made TV commercials for products, including Anacin, Endust, Geritol, and Sanka. She resumed her television career in 1976 playing the recurring role on CBS sitcom One Day at a Time, and guest-starring parts on Barney Miller, All in the Family, Rhoda, Family and The Waltons. In 1979, she starred in the short-lived drama series, Married: The First Year, and from 1979 to 1980 was female lead on the sitcom Joe's World. In 1980 she also appeared in films American Gigolo and A Change of Seasons and later went to appear in made-for-television movies such as This House Possessed (1981), Splendor in the Grass (1981), Flight 90: Disaster on the Potomac (1984) and Hollywood Wives (1985). From 1980 to 1981 she had supporting role on the short-lived prime time soap opera, Secrets of Midland Heights and in 1983 was regular cast member on the medical drama Cutter to Houston. During the 1980s, Callan also guest-starred on Quincy M.E., Father Murphy, Lou Grant, Newhart, Knots Landing, Remington Steele, St. Elsewhere, Moonlighting and Quantum Leap.
In 1990, Callan portrayed Amy Stevens, the mother of April Stevens Ewing in several episodes of the penultimate season of prime time soap opera, Dallas and the same time had recurring role on sitcom Coach. In 1993 she was cast as Clark Kent's mother Martha in the ABC comedy-drama series, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. The series ended in 1997 after four seasons. During the 1990s, Callan also appeared in films The Unborn (1991), Frankie & Johnny (1991) and Safe (1995), and made guest appearances on L.A. Law, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, NYPD Blue, Chicago Hope and Dawson's Creek. In 2000s, Callan performed in a recurring role as Eleanor McGill in the HBO series, Carnivàle (2003-2005), and guest-starred in shows such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Nip/Tuck, The Closer, the third-season finale of Desperate Housewives as Ilene Britt, the mother of Edie Britt (Nicollette Sheridan), ER and Castle. From 2009 to 2010 she was regular cast member on the TBS sitcom Meet the Browns playing the role of Miss Daisy LaRue. She also portrayed Lily's maternal grandmother on several episodes of How I Met Your Mother from 2007 to 2012.
In 2013, Callan had a recurring role on the HBO comedy series, Getting On and in 2016 in the political comedy Veep. In 2019, she played Wanetta "Great Nana" Thrombey in the mystery film Knives Out (2019). In 2022, she played her first leading film role in the comedy-drama Pie in the Sky based on stage play. In 2023 she starred in an episode "Time of the Monkey" of murder mystery series, Poker Face. The following year she played Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist on The Chosen and appeared in the thriller film Sew Torn. In 2026, Callan had a recurring role as Ruth Livingston in the horror comedy series, Widow's Bay.
Personal life Callan was married for 11 years. She lived in Oklahoma while her husband worked on his doctorate. When the marriage ended, she took her three children, including Kelly Callan and Kristi Callan, and moved to New York.
She has written several books, including The Los Angeles Agent, The Script Is Finished, Now What Do I Do?, Directing Your Directing Career, and How to Sell Yourself as an Actor.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes1970JoeMary Lou CurranAs K. Callan1971Lady LibertySubway LadyUncredited1972HailMrs. Burd1973A Touch of ClassPatty MenkesAs K. Callan1979Fast BreakMs. TidwellThe Onion FieldMrs. Powell1980American GigoloLisa WilliamsA Change of SeasonsAlice Bingham1982Fast-WalkingMotel Manager1991The UnbornMartha WellingtonFrankie and JohnnyFrankie's Mother1995SafeMotherUncredited1998Border to BorderMrs. Piston1999A Fare to RememberGinny2002Devious BeingsLady Jane2005Nine LivesMarisaCrazyloveMrs. Hallstrom2006Midnight ClearEva2007Coyote County LoserMaggie Hopps2010Why Did I Get Married Too?Ms. Tannenbaum2012Not That FunnyToogey Richmonde2013Samuel BleakElaine2019Knives OutWanetta "Great Nana" Thrombey2022Pie in the SkyMama2024Sew TornMs. Engel 2026Bad Day Complete
Television Year Title Role Notes1962Route 66Western Union OperatorEpisode: "Aren't You Surprised to See Me?"1964The Secret StormGloria1972Great PerformancesEvelyn JacksonEpisode: "The Rimers of Eldritch"1976–1977One Day at a TimeAlice Butterfield4 episodes1977Barney MillerGwen BaxterEpisode: "Fire '77"The Four of UsMarieUnsold pilotFishMrs. Lester2 episodesFernwood 2 NightAlberta CornwallJames at 16Mrs. StevensEpisode: "Pilot"All in the FamilyVeronica CartwrightEpisode: "Cousin Liz"RaffertyBetty DaneForever Fernwood1st WomanRhodaDr. SandersEpisode: "Who's Why"1978FamilySophie SullivanEpisode: "Starting Over"KazMrs. RiceA Question of LoveReporterTV movie1979VisionsMary LouInsightLorraineIke: The War YearsMrs. WesterfieldTwo-part TV movieBlind AmbitionMrs. KleindienstTV miniseriesThe WaltonsNurse Corrigan1979–1980Joe's WorldKatie WabashRegular role1980When the Whistle BlowsBulldog's wife1980–1981Secrets of Midland HeightsHilda Carroll1981This House PossessedLucilleTV movieFloMrs. CarlinSplendor in the GrassMiss MetcalfTV movie1982House CallsQuincy, M.E.Karen SaundersenBosom BuddiesMrs. WilsonFather MurphyJane SandersPolice Squad!Charlotte BurtonEpisode: "The Butler Did It (A Bird in the Hand)"Lou GrantLouise Florence1983Private BenjaminHarriet BenjaminCutter to HoustonConnie BufordRegular roleKnots LandingMrs. DunneEpisode: "The Fatal Blow"NewhartJanet EbersolEpisode: "The Visitors"1984AfterMASHMrs. BergstromFlight 90: Disaster on the PotomacBarbara HamiltonTV movieE/RGail Parker1985Remington SteeleMartha RyanSaraClaire McKennaHollywood WivesCatherineTV miniseriesSt. ElsewherePatty Galecki2 episodes1985–1989HunterMrs. Jorgensen / Linda Ryan2 episodes1986MoonlightingCarolyn KandinskyEpisode: "In God We Strongly Suspect"You Again?KathrynIt's a LivingDot's MomEpisode: "Oddest Couple"1987Highway to HeavenMrs. LowellEpisode: "Normal People"Night CourtMrs. Jane FletzkerMr. PresidentJanet BradenThe Hope DivisionCaroline BradenTV movieCBS Summer PlayhouseJeanDuetRose KellyThe Magical World of DisneyBetty's MomRags to RichesLouis McMillan1989Live-InRoslynQuantum LeapLenore MackenzieEpisode: "The Americanization of Machiko – August 4, 1953"Incident at Dark RiverConstance BlackTV movie1989–1991CoachMarion Williamson1990 DallasAmy Stevens4 episodes1991Flight of Black AngelMrs. GordonTV movie1992NursesLila1993–1997Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of SupermanMartha KentRegular role1993FBI: The Untold StoriesJoreneL.A. LawFlorence Hackett1994Star Trek: Deep Space NineAlsiaEpisode: "Rivals"BirdlandLaurel1995Saved by the LightMarionTV movie1997NYPD BlueMrs. HastingsChicago HopeEmily Beck19987th HeavenGrandma JamesMr. MurderAlice StillwaterTV miniseries1999Dawson's CreekMiss Constance Freckling2000Family LawMyra HollenbeckDiagnosis: MurderJake's LandladyEpisode: "Death by Design"2000–2003King of the HillTilly Hill (voice)3 episodes2001The FugitiveEvelyn ButlerKate BrasherMrs. Warmus2001–2004The DivisionMary Johnson / Halle McAdams3 episodes2002Crossing JordanPenelope ZimmermanBody & SoulCora Kilabrough2003JAGEsther Gale2003–2005CarnivàleEleanor McGillRecurring role, 8 episodes2004CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationMartha AbernathyDragnetLee's Adoptive Mother2005Without a TraceLuanne CountrymanNip/TuckEllie Harkness2006Four KingsMrs. GraysonHeistHelenCold CaseHelen RussellEpisode: "The Hen House"The CloserJulia Rose2007Desperate HousewivesIlene BrittEpisode: "Getting Married Today"'Til DeathMrs. BauerDriveCeal Cousins2007–2012How I Met Your MotherGrandma Lois3 episodes2008ERKelly Robinson2009CastleMrs. Delores MarshMentalAlexis Vilcek2009–2010Meet the BrownsMiss Daisy/Daisy LaRue20 episodes2010HeroesCharlie AndrewsThe MentalistAnnabelle DraberLaw & Order: LALouise Hammond2011Good Luck CharlieMrs. Monroe2011, 2020NCISVarious roles2 episodes2013Emily Owens, M.D.Lorraine ParksGetting OnSusan Dayward 3 episodes 2015JustifiedLoretta's GrandauntCode BlackRuth2016VeepJudy ShermanRecurring role2017Grey's AnatomyJanis Episode: "In the Air Tonight"2021Brooklyn Nine-NineCarol Episode: "Renewal"2023Poker FaceBettyEpisode: "Time of the Monkey"2024The ChosenElizabethEpisode: "Promises"2026Widow's BayRuth LivingstonRecurring role
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