Kate Jackson

Lucy Kate Jackson was born on October 29, 1948, in Birmingham, Alabama. She attended the University of Mississippi before transferring to Birmingham–Southern College and later studying at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. Jackson began her career as an NBC page and tour guide before landing roles in television. Her early acting credits include playing the mysterious ghost Daphne Harridge on the daytime soap opera “Dark Shadows” (1970–1971) and Tracy Collins in the related film “Night of Dark Shadows” (1971). She then joined the cast of the crime drama “The Rookies” as Nurse Jill Danko, appearing in the series from 1972 to 1976. During her time on “The Rookies,” she also appeared in several TV films, including “Limbo” (1972), which addressed the Vietnam War, and “Death Scream” (1975).

In 1976, Jackson gained widespread recognition as Sabrina Duncan, one of the original Angels in the television series “Charlie’s Angels.” She also notably suggested the series’ title. She remained with the show for three seasons, leaving in 1979 amidst scheduling conflicts that prevented her from taking on other major film roles. After “Charlie’s Angels,” Jackson starred in the feature film “Making Love” (1982), which explored the topic of homosexuality. From 1983 to 1987, she played the lead role of Amanda King in the action-drama series “Scarecrow and Mrs. King,” a show she also co-produced through her company, Shoot the Moon Enterprises. Following this, she took on the lead role in the TV sitcom adaptation of “Baby Boom” (1988), which ran for one season.

Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, Jackson continued to work in numerous television films, including “Quiet Killer” (1992), “Empty Cradle” (1993), and the remake of “Satan’s School for Girls” (2000), a film she had also appeared in in its 1973 original version. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987 and a recurrence in 1989, undergoing lumpectomy and mastectomy. In 1995, she underwent open-heart surgery to correct an atrial septal defect. Jackson has since become an advocate for breast cancer and heart health awareness. Her career includes nominations for three Emmy Awards and four Golden Globe Awards. Her last acting role was in 2007 as Elizabeth Prentiss in an episode of “Criminal Minds.”