Mary Kathleen Turner was born on June 19, 1954, in Springfield, Missouri, to Allen Richard Turner, a U.S. Foreign Service officer, and Patsy Magee (née Pillbury). Due to her father’s career, Turner spent her childhood in Canada, Cuba, Venezuela, and England. She attended the London Central School of Speech and Drama before returning to the United States. She graduated from Southwest Missouri State University in 1977 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
Turner began her acting career in television, appearing in the daytime soap opera “The Doctors” from 1978 to 1979. Her early stage work included regional theater productions.
Turner made her film debut in 1981 with a starring role in Lawrence Kasdan’s neo-noir thriller, “Body Heat.” This role established her as a prominent actress known for her sultry voice and strong screen presence. She went on to star in a variety of successful films throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
Turner has maintained a significant stage career, appearing in numerous Broadway and West End productions. Notable roles include starring as Maggie in “Cat on a