Acting

Kathleen Chalfant

Born 1945-01-14 · San Francisco, California, USA

Kathleen Chalfant (b. 1945, San Francisco) is an American actress, primarily a stage performer. She earned a Tony nomination for Angels in America (1993) and won multiple awards for Wit (1998), including a Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel, and Obie. She received the Obie for Lifetime Achievement in 2018. On screen, her highlights include Old (2021) and Familiar Touch (2024), the latter earning her the Venice Orizzonti Award and the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress. She is married to photographer Henry Chalfant.

Credits

Newest first

The Copenhagen Test
as St. George
2025
Where to Land
as Elizabeth
2025
Familiar Touch
as Ruth
2025
Turning Blue
as Clara
2024
The Courtroom
as Judge Easterbrook
2022
Old
as Agnes
2021
500 Calories
as Ms. Evangeline
2020
New Amsterdam
as Molly
2018
They Shall Not Perish
as Mabel Elliot
2017
Class Rank
as Barbara – The Editor in Chief
2017
Ambition's Debt
as Soothsayer
2017
Welcome to This House
as Elizabeth Bishop
2015
The Affair
as Margaret Butler
2014
Forever
as Gloria Carlyle
2014
Madam Secretary
as Dean Felicia Ward
2014
Madam Secretary
as Dean Ward
2014
The Strain
as Abraham's Grandmother
2014
My America
2014
A Dream of Flying
as Old Woman
2013
Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight
as Ethel Harlan
2013
The Blacklist
as Alberta Gilbert
2013
Isn't It Delicious
as Joan Weldon
2013
House of Cards
as Margaret Tilden
2013
The Americans
as Aunt Helen
2013
Elementary
as Mrs. Clennon
2012
Heart of Broadway: The Ensemble Behind Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS
as Herself
2011
The Last New Yorker
as Mimi
2010
The People Speak
as Self
2009
Mercy
2009
Georgia O'Keeffe
as Mrs. Stieglitz
2009
Duplicity
as Pam Frailes
2009
Perfect Stranger
as Elizabeth Clayton
2007
First Born
as Mrs. Kasperian
2007
The Book of Daniel
as Catherine Webster
2006
Lackawanna Blues
as Mrs. Carmichael
2005
Kinsey
as Barbara Merkle
2004
Rescue Me
as Sean's Ma
2004
2BPerfectlyHonest
as Female Customer
2004
The Pornographer: A Love Story
as Mom
2004
Book of Kings
as Nina
2002
A Death in the Family
as Aunt Hannah
2002
The Laramie Project
as Anonymous Female Rancher
2002
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
as Bessie Holland
2001
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
as Priscilla Van Acker
2001
The Guardian
as Laurie Solt
2001
The Beat
2000
Company Man
as Mother Quimp
2000
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
as Judge Cutress
1999
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
as Mrs. Nash
1999
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
as President Roberts
1999
Storm of the Century
as Joanna Stanhope
1999
Side Streets
as Nanda
1998
The Last Days of Disco
as Zenia
1998
A Price Above Rubies
as Beggar Woman
1998
QM, I Think I'll Call Her QM
as Dr. Ruth Fielding
1998
David Searching
as Grandmother
1997
Spin City
as Mother Superior
1996
MURDER and murder
as Mildred
1996
Junior
as Casitas Madres Receptionist
1994
New York Undercover
1994
In the Wings: Angels in America On Broadway
1993
Bob Roberts
as Constance Roberts
1992
Jumpin' at the Boneyard
as Mom
1991
Out of the Rain
as Ruth
1991
Dangerous Music
as Therapist
1991
Law & Order
as Defense Attorney Lisa Cutler
1990
Law & Order
as Lisa Cutler
1990
Tales from the Darkside: The Movie
as Dean (segment ‘Lot 249’)
1990
Miss Firecracker
as Miss Lilly
1989
Five Corners
as Mrs. Fitzgerald
1987
L.A. Law
as Sister Marlene Branson
1986
American Playhouse
as Erna Hauser
1982
American Playhouse
as Self
1982