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.
Contents
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 Jamie Callan, 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.
