Meet Kathryn Harrold: The actress's star life and beyond the spotlight
Kathryn Harrold is a retired actress best known for her roles in Raw Deal, Modern Romance, The Hunter, and The Sender. After retiring from acting, she trained as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and now runs a counselling practice. Meet Kathryn Harrold and explore her early life, career milestones, and personal life.

Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Kathryn Harrold is a name that resonates with numerous fans of classic Hollywood films.
- She is remembered for her excellent acting skills and tremendous impact on film and television during the late 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s.
- Kathryn retired from acting to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT).
Profile summary
Full name | Kathryn Harrold |
Gender | Female |
Date of birth | 2 August 1950 |
Age | 74 years (as of July 2025) |
Place of birth | Tazewell, Virginia, United States of America |
Current residence | Santa Monica, California, United States of America |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | White |
Zodiac sign | Leo |
Religion | Christianity |
Sexuality | Straight |
Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
Hair colour | Blonde |
Eye colour | Brown |
Marital status | Divorced |
Ex-spouse | Lawrence O’Donnell |
Children | 1 |
Father | BH Harrold |
Mother | Carolyn Harrold |
Alma mater | Tazewell High School, Mills College, HB Studio, & Antioch University |
Profession | Former actress, marital and family therapist |
Meet Kathryn Harrold: All about the former actress
Kathryn Harrold is an acclaimed former American actress best known for her roles in Raw Deal, Modern Romance, The Hunter, and The Sender. She now works as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT).
How old is Kathryn Harrold?
Harrold was born on 2 August 1950 in Tazewell, Virginia, United States of America. She is 74 years old as of July 2025, and her zodiac sign is Leo. She is an American citizen of White ethnicity.

Source: Original
Where does Kathryn Harrold live?
The former actress lives in Santa Monica, California, United States of America. She was born to Carolyn Harrold and B.H. Harrold in Tazewell, Virginia, United States of America.
Educational background
Harrold attended Tazewell High School and Mills College in Oakland, California, where she majored in drama. She then studied acting at HB Studio in New York City. She holds a Master's degree in Arts from Antioch University.
Career
Kathryn Harrold's career took off in the late 1970s and remained successful throughout the 80s and 90s. She is widely recognised for starring alongside Steve McQueen in his final film, The Hunter (1980), where she played the wife of McQueen's bounty hunter role.
Kathryn's ability to transition seamlessly across genres solidified her position in Hollywood. Her performance in the romantic comedy Modern Romance (1981) with Albert Brooks demonstrated her comedic skills.
During her active years in Hollywood, the former actress often stood her ground when she was told what a woman would or would not do on set. Talking about it, Kathryn Harrold said:
I was very fierce. I was determined. I felt at the time like a feminist—and I still do today.
Here is a look at Kathryn Harrold's notable acting roles.
Kathryn Harrold's movies (including TV movies)
Title | Year | Role |
Mystery Woman: At First Sight | 2006 | Hanna Branson McPhillips |
A Woman's a Helluva Thing | 2001 | Brandy Landau |
Outrage | 1998 | Deena Bateman |
Tell Me No Secrets | 1997 | Hillary Waugh |
Rainbow Drive | 1990 | Christine |
Raw Deal | 1986 | Monique |
Into the Night | 1985 | Christie |
Heartbreakers | 1984 | Cyd |
The Sender | 1982 | Gail Farmer |
Kathryn Harrold's TV shows
Title | Year | Role |
Greek | 2007-2011 | Mrs. Chambers |
Desperate Housewives | 2004-2006 | Helen Rowland |
CSI: NY | 2005 | Judge Beverly Fulton |
Medical Investigation | 2004 | Carla Ballard |
Miracles | 2003 | Mrs. Morgan Bright |
Mister Sterling | 2003 | Senator from Nevada |
Family Law | 2001 | Grace Larson |
Jack & Jill | 2001 | Hannah Jillefsky |
Judging Amy | 1999 | Chris Osborne |
Chicago Hope | 1996-1998 | Dr. Karen Wilder |
I'll Fly Away | 1991-1993 | Christina LeKatzis |
The Bronx Zoo | 1987-1988 | Sara Newhouse |
Who plays Helen Rowland in Desperate Housewives?
Kathryn Harrold played the role of Helen Rowland in Desperate Housewives. In the series, Helen Rowland was the mother of John Rowland. John had an affair with Gabrielle Solis.
Is Kathryn Harrold blind in real life?
No, the former actress is not blind in real life. During her active years in acting, she played characters who were blind or visually impaired.
What is Kathryn Harrold doing now?
Kathryn works as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California. She runs a private clinical practice in Los Angeles. As a licensed marriage and family therapist, she mainly serves famous actors, writers, and other artists.

Source: Getty Images
Who is Kathryn Harrold married to?
Kathryn is a divorced woman. The former Hollywood star tied the knot with Lawrence O'Donnell on 14 February 1994 and divorced in 2013.
Lawrence served as the Democratic Chief of Staff of the Senate Finance Committee under the Clinton administration from 1993 to 1995.
He is also a journalist who previously worked as a political analyst for MSNBC between 1995 and 2010. Afterwards, he began hosting The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell, which still airs on MSNBC.
Who is Kathryn Harrold's daughter?
Kathryn and Lawrence O’Donnell have a daughter named Elizabeth Buckley Harrold O'Donnell. She was born in 1995.
Where is Kathryn Harrold in 2025?
Following her divorce, Kathryn has worked as a marriage and family therapist. She has a master's degree in Arts from Antioch University.
The former Hollywood star is now a licensed marital and family therapist (LMFT) who runs her counselling practice in Los Angeles, California, USA. She resides in Santa Monica, California, with her daughter.
Trivia
- Kathryn Harrold is an animal lover.
- She enjoys working with people and is actively involved in community projects.
- The former Hollywood star enjoys spending time with her loved ones when she is not at work.
- She is an advocate of healthy living and relationships.
- Kathryn does not have verified social media pages.
Meet Kathryn Harrold, a former American actress who works as a marriage and family therapist in Los Angeles, California. She rose to prominence in the 1980s and 1990s by appearing in several hit television shows and movies.

Source: Original
Yen.com.gh recently published an article about Eloise Mumford’s husband. Mumford is an American actress known for her roles on the television series Lone Star, The River, The Right Stuff and Fifty Shades of Grey.
Between 2021 and late 2022, the American actress was romantically linked to Brett Dalton, a critically acclaimed American actor with whom they co-starred in One December Night.
Source: YEN.com.gh

Cyprine Apindi (Lifestyle writer) Cyprine Apindi is a content creator and educator with over six years of experience. She holds a Diploma in Mass Communication and a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Kenyatta University. Cyprine joined Briefly.co.za in mid-2021, covering multiple topics, including finance, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle. In 2023, she finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. She received the 2023 Writer of the Year Award. In 2024, she completed the Google News Initiative course. Email: cyprineapindi@gmail.com

Racheal Murimi (Lifestyle writer) Racheal Murimi is a content creator who joined Yen in 2022. She has over three years of experience in creating content. Racheal graduated from Dedan Kimathi University of Technology with a bachelor's degree in BCom, Finance. She has amassed sufficient knowledge on various topics, including biographies, fashion, lifestyle, and beauty. In 2023, Racheal finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques and the Google News Initiative course. You can reach her at wambuimurimi254@gmail.com