Person
Kate Burton
Acting · Born 1957-09-10 · Geneva, Switzerland
Biography
Kate Burton is a Swiss-born Welsh-American stage and screen actress. She is best known for her TV roles as Vice President Sally Langston on ABC's Scandal, Vera Quinn on the Audience Network's series Full Circle, and Dr. Ellis Grey on ABC's Grey's Anatomy. She holds an BA in Russian Studies and European History from Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, and an MFA from the Yale School of Drama, New Haven, Connecticut.
Known for
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Annette Cole
Law & Order
Sister Bettina
Grey's Anatomy
Ellis Grey
Modern Family
Iris Fennerman
FBI
Evelyn Kates
The West Wing
Sarah Brainerd
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Stephanie Ufland
Grimm
Marie Kessler
The Good Wife
Victoria Adler
Great Performances
Alice
Filmography
- 2025The Beast in MeMariah Ingram
- 2025The SurrenderBarbara
- 2025Violent EndsDarlene Woodley
- 2025BULLDOZERDr. Diane Roddy
- 2025Oscar Wilde About America
- 2024gutsGabby
- 2023Our SonMaggie "Miggie"
- 2023Dumb MoneyElaine Gill
- 2023Heaven, I SupposeCheryl
- 2023The Anne Frank Gift ShopIlse
- 2022So Help Me ToddJoan
- 2022BreakingTami Stackhouse
- 2022Bosch: LegacyIda Porter
- 2022The DropoutRochelle Gibbons
- 2022Inventing AnnaNora Radford
- 2021Sandra Day O'Connor: The FirstNarrator (voice)
- 2021The Mosquito CoastMargot's Mom
- 2021The CodebreakerNarrator (voice)
- 2020The VoteNarrator (voice)
- 2019Perfect HarmonyJulie
- 2019Prodigal SonSarah Windsor
- 2019Where'd You Go, BernadetteEllen Idelson
- 2018CharmedCeleste
- 2018At First LightKate
- 2018FBIEvelyn Kates
- 2017Noël Coward's Present LaughterLiz Essendine
- 2017The GiftedDr. Madeline Risman
- 201713 Reasons WhyDr. Hughes
- 2016This Is UsBarbara
- 2015SupergirlIsabel Nal (voice)
- 2015MartyrsEleanor
- 2015Identity TheftAnna
- 2015Bleeding HeartMartha
- 2015AmokDr. Wilson
- 2014Madam SecretaryMaureen McCord
- 2014Don't Look BackDr. Jeanette Barnes
- 2014ExtantFiona Stanton
- 2014BarefootMrs. Wheeler
- 2013Full CircleVera Quinn
- 2013Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel: Live from Lincoln CenterMrs. Mullin
- 2012Mariachi GringoAnne
- 2012ElementaryMaureen Dannon
- 2012RevolutionJane Warren
- 2012Liberal ArtsSusan
- 2012VeepBarbara Hallowes
- 2012ScandalSally Langston
- 20122 Days in New YorkBella
- 2012Key & PeeleHillary Clinton
- 2011GrimmMarie Kessler
- 2011Caris' PeaceSelf
- 2011PunctureSenator O'Reilly
- 2010127 HoursAron's Mom
- 2010Remember MeJanine
- 2010ConsentSusan
- 2010The Deep EndGrace Graham
- 2009Modern FamilyIris Fennerman
- 2009The Good WifeVictoria Adler
- 2009WashingtonienneJoy
- 2009SpoonerAlice Spooner
- 2008What Just HappenedDoctor Randall
- 2008Max PayneNicole Horne
- 2008Eleventh HourGepetto / Miranda Cochran
- 2008Hidden Treasure of the MississippiAunt Birdy
- 2008Quid Pro QuoMerilee
- 2006SherrybabyMarcia Swanson
- 2006Justice
- 2005StayMrs. Letham
- 2005Ernest Hemingway: Rivers to the SeaNarrator (voice)
- 2005The CloserKate Wycoff
- 2005Empire FallsCindy Whiting
- 2005Grey's AnatomyEllis Grey
- 2005Numb3rsAnthropologist
- 2005MediumBonnie Barrister
- 2004Rescue MeRose
- 2003Working Shakespeare
- 2003The Diary of Ellen RimbauerConnie Posey
- 2003Three SistersOlga
- 2002ObsessedSara Miller
- 2002SwimfanCarla Cronin
- 2002UnfaithfulTracy
- 2001Law & Order: Criminal IntentStephanie Ufland
- 2001100 Centre StreetSheila Byrne
- 2000The OpportunistsRest Home Sister
- 1999The West WingSarah Brainerd
- 1999Law & Order: Special Victims UnitAnnette Cole
- 1999Judging AmyDr. Sheri Jordan
- 1998CelebrityRobin's Friend Cheryl
- 1997Ellen FosterAbigail Montford
- 1997The Ice StormDorothy Franklin
- 1997The PracticeA.D.A. Susan Alexander
- 1996MistrialKatherine Donohue
- 1996Looking for RichardSelf
- 1996The First Wives ClubWoman in Bed
- 1996AugustHelen Blathwaite
- 1995Notes for My DaughterBrenda Gardner
- 1994MontyFran Richardson
- 1993Love MattersDeborah
- 1993Life with MikeyMrs. Burns
- 1992Home FiresAnne Kramer
- 1991Brooklyn Bridge
- 1990Law & OrderSister Bettina
- 1989Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group TheatreSelf
- 1988American ExperienceNarrator
- 1988In from the Cold? A Portrait of Richard BurtonSelf
- 1987Uncle Tom's CabinOphelia
- 1986Big Trouble in Little ChinaMargo
- 1985Spenser: For Hire
- 1985EvergreenAgatha Bradford
- 1984Ellis IslandVanessa Ogden
- 1983Alice in WonderlandAlice
- 1982American PlayhouseAgnes Bolton O'Neill
- 1971Great PerformancesAlice
- 1969Anne of the Thousand DaysServing Maid (uncredited)
- 1956Tony AwardsSelf - Nominee
- 1951Hallmark Hall of FameAbigail
- —Death on the BrandywineAnn Riley
- —RSC Meets USA: Working ShakespeareSelf
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