Kathleen Effie Widdoes^[1] (born March 21, 1939)^[2] is an American actress. She is known for playing the role ofEmma Snyder on theCBS Daytime soap operaAs the World Turns (1985 to 2010). For her work onAs the World Turns, she was nominated for aDaytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 1986, 1987, and 1991. She also received a Daytime Emmy nomination forOutstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1994. Widdoes has appeared in theatrical productions, includingThe Beggar's Opera (1972),Much Ado About Nothing (1972),Brighton Beach Memoirs (1983),The Tower of Evil (1991),Hamlet (1992),and Franny's Way (2002). She has been nominated for aTony Award and aDrama Desk Award. She has won twoObie Awards and aLucille Lortel Award. Widdoes has also appeared in films, includingThe Group (1966),The Sea Gull (1968), andCourage Under Fire (1996).

Widdoes was born on March 21, 1939 inWilmington, Delaware.^[1][2] She is the oldest of six siblings, all raised by their mother. She has said that her father ran away from the family when she was very young.^[1] She has three brothers and two sisters. In Delaware, she performed in an amateur theater group's production ofThey Ain't Done Right By Nell.^[3] Widdoes moved to New York after high school.^[2][4] She had never studied acting, but she began to land roles.^[1]

Widdoes played Teusret in the original Broadway production ofThe Firstborn. The play opened at the Coronet Theatre on April 29, 1958. She co-starred withKatharine Cornell.^[3][5] Widdoes also performed inArthur Miller'sA View from the Bridge (1958).^[1][3] She played a Tourist in the original Broadway production ofThe World of Suzie Wong. The play opened at theBroadhurst Theatre on October 14, 1958.^[6]

On television, Widdoes was cast as Jill Malone on the NBC soap operaYoung Doctor Malone, playing the role from 1958 to 1959.^[4] In October 1959, she played Irina in Chekhov'sThree Sisters at New York's Fourth Street Theater.^[7] In 1960, she performed inHenry V andMeasure for Measure at the New York Shakespeare Festival. In September 1960, she appeared in Dostoevsky'sThe Idiot at theGate Theatre.^[8][4][2]

Widdoes performed inRichard II,A Midsummer Night's Dream, andRomeo and Juliet at the New York Shakespeare Festival in 1961.^[4][2][3] She also appeared inThe Tempest for the NYSF in 1962.^[9] Widdoes had a singing role in the musicalWe Take the Town (1962), but she heard through the dressing room wall that she was going to be fired, so she gave her notice that she was leaving.^[3]

She appeared inThe Maids at the Aldana Theatre in November 1963, co-starring withLee Grant.^[10] Widdoes spent 1964 in Paris, studying at theSorbonne on aFulbright scholarship. She trained as a mime.^[3][2][4] In 1966, she played Alice Sycamore in a Broadway revival ofYou Can't Take It with You at theLyceum Theatre. She replacedRosemary Harris in the role.^[11] Widdoes made her film debut as Helena Davison inThe Group (1966), directed bySidney Lumet.^[12] She guest starred on12 O'Clock High.^[13]

She played Tina in the television filmA Bell for Adano (1967), co-starring withJohn Forsythe.^[14] In April 1967, she starred inTo Clothe the Naked at theSheridan Square Playhouse.^[15] She guest starred onThe Invaders.^[2] She appeared in productions of'Tis Pity She's a Whore andThree Sisters at theYale Repertory Theatre.^[16][17]

Widdoes played Wilma in the filmPetulia (1968), co-starring withJulie Christie.^[18] She also played Masha in a film adaptation of Chekhov'sThe Sea Gull (1968), directed again by Sidney Lumet.^[19][20] On television, she guest starred onThe F.B.I. andHere Come the Brides.^[13] In 1969, she co-starred withRobert Loggia in an Off-Broadway production ofWorld War 2 1/2.^[21]

In 1971, she played Maggie West in the horror filmThe Mephisto Waltz, co-starring withAlan Alda.^[22] In 1972, she guest starred onBonanza.^[13] She played Leslie in the filmSavages (1972), directed byJames Ivory.^[23] Widdoes shared nude scenes with her co-star,Sam Waterston, and she posed for nude photos inPlayboy to promote the movie.^[1]

In June 1972, Widdoes played Polly Peachum inThe Beggar's Opera at the McAlpin Rooftop Theatre.^[24] She won anObie Award for her performance.^[3][25] She starred as Beatrice in a New York Shakespeare Festival production ofMuch Ado About Nothing. The play was recorded and aired on CBS.^[3][26] For her work inMuch Ado, Widdoes was nominated for aTony Award for Best Actress in a Play in 1973.^[27] She appeared in the television filmThe Return of Charlie Chan (1973).^[28] She guest starred onToma.^[2] In June 1973, Widdoes played Rosalind inAs You Like It at theDelacorte Theater.^[29]

She played Margaret in the television filmPunch and Jody (1974), co-starring withGlenn Ford.^[30] In 1975, she starred as Viola inTwelfth Night at theStratford Festival in Canada.^[31] Widdoes also played Mariana inMeasure for Measure at the Stratford Festival.^[32] In February 1977, she starred in the musicalCastaways at New York's Promenade Theater.^[33] She guest starred onKojak.^[13] Widdoes returned to Broadway, playing Cecily in a revival ofThe Importance of Being Earnest. The play opened at theCircle in the Square Theatre on May 27, 1977.^[34][35]

Widdoes was cast as Rose Perrini on the NBC soap operaAnother World, playing the role from 1978 to 1980.^[4] The character was the mother of Joe Perrini (Ray Liotta).^[36] In March 1981, she starred inStops Along the Way andIn Fireworks Lie Secret Codes at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater.^[37] She guest starred onSecrets of Midland Heights andNurse.^[2][4] Widdoes starred as authorEdith Wharton inEdith Wharton: Looking Back, an episode of the PBS seriesGreat Performances.^[38]

She played Mrs. Alving in a production ofGhosts for theAmerican Repertory Theater.^[39] She appeared in the filmI'm Dancing as Fast as I Can (1982).^[40] In December 1982, Widdoes played Gertrude inHamlet atThe Public Theater.^[41] In 1983, she had a recurring role as Una MacCurtain on the ABC soap operaRyan's Hope.^[4] She played Ms. Hauser in the filmWithout a Trace.^[42] Widdoes appeared as Blanche Morton in the original Broadway production ofBrighton Beach Memoirs. She replacedAnita Gillette in the role.^[43]

She was cast in the contract role ofEmma Snyder on the CBS soap operaAs the World Turns, first airing in July 1985. The character was the owner of a farm and the matriarch of a large family, including sonHolden Snyder (Jon Hensley).^[44] Widdoes appeared in the television filmMafia Princess (1986), co-starring withSusan Lucci.^[45] For her work onAs the World Turns, she was nominated for aDaytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 1986.^[46] She was nominated again in the same category in 1987.^[47]

In May 1990, Widdoes played Margaret inThe Tower of Evil for theClassic Stage Company.^[48] She received an Obie Award for her performance.^[49] For her work onAs the World Turns, she received her third Daytime Emmy Award nomination in 1991 for Outstanding Supporting Actress.^[50] In July 1991, Widdoes played Jan Kirkland inMan in his Underwear at theWilliamstown Theatre Festival.^[51]

She starred as Gertrude in a Broadway revival ofHamlet. The play opened in previews at Criterion Center Stage Right on March 11, 1992.^[52][53] For her work onAs the World Turns, she was nominated for aDaytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1994.^[54] She was switched to recurring status atATWT in 1995.^[44] In February 1995, Widdoes played Nora Culligan inThe Truth-Teller for the Circle Repertory Company.^[55] In October 1995, she played Maria inMoonlight for the Roundabout Theater Company.^[56]

Widdoes played Geraldine Walden in the filmCourage Under Fire (1996), co-starring withDenzel Washington.^[57] In October and November 1996, she starred inThe Rose Tattoo at theAmerican Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.^[58] In 1997, she began playing the recurring role of Mrs. Beecher on the HBO seriesOz.^[13][2] She appeared as Frankie in the comedy filmHi-Life (1998).^[59] In February 1998, she playedMaria Callas inMaster Class for North Carolina'sPlayMakers Repertory Company.^[60] She starred inLong Day's Journey into Night at the American Conservatory Theater.^[61] Widdoes guest starred onLaw & Order in 1999.^[13]

In March and April 2002, Widdoes starred inFranny's Way at The Atlantic Theatre. She co-starred withElisabeth Moss.^[62] Widdoes won theLucille Lortel Award (Featured Actress) for her performance.^[63] In December 2004, she appeared in Noël Coward'sAfter the Ball at The Irish Repertory Theatre.^[64] In January 2007, she starred as Lady Kitty inThe Circle at the American Conservatory Theater.^[65] The cancellation ofAs the World Turns was announced on December 8, 2009.^[66] Widdoes made her last appearance on the show in June 2010.^[44]

In 1961, Widdoes met actorRichard Jordan when they played the lead roles in a Shakespeare Festival production ofRomeo and Juliet. They married in Paris in 1964, while she was studying at the Sorbonne. They had a daughter, born the same year.^[3] They were later divorced.^[67]

She is married to Jerry Senter.^[4]

• Kathleen Widdoes atIMDb 
• Kathleen Widdoes at theInternet Broadway Database
• Kathleen Widdoes at theInternet Off-Broadway Database (archived)

• American film actresses
• American soap opera actresses
• American television actresses
• Living people
• Actresses from Wilmington, Delaware
• University of Paris alumni
• 20th-century American actresses
• 1939 births
• American stage actresses
• 21st-century American actresses

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