Kim Lankford | |
|---|---|
 Lankford withJim Houghton inKnots Landing (1979) | |
| Born | (1954-06-14)June 14, 1954 (age 70) Montebello, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Businesswoman, former actress |
| Years active | 1976–2000, 2015 |
Kim Lankford (born June 14, 1954) is an American businesswoman and retired actress, best known for her role as Ginger Ward onKnots Landing from 1979 to 1983.
Lankford was born inMontebello, California.[1] She made her screen debut in the 1976 movieHarry and Walter Go to New York, and later began her television career appearing in episodes of sitcoms such asHappy Days. In 1978, she was cast as the female lead oppositeJoe Namath in the short-lived NBC sitcomThe Waverly Wonders. Later that year, she played the leading role in the teen comedy filmMalibu Beach.
In 1979, Lankford was cast as Ginger Ward, one of the original lead characters, in the CBS prime time soap operaKnots Landing. She starred on the show during the first four seasons, before leaving in 1983. In 1980, she also had a role oppositeChuck Norris in the action filmThe Octagon, and in the following years co-starred withDon Meredith in the thrillerTerror Among Us. After leavingKnots Landing, she guest-starred onFantasy Island,The Love Boat, andCheers. In 1988, she had a supporting role in the horror filmCameron's Closet, and was a regular cast member in the ABC detective dramaMurphy's Law.[2]
Lankford spent the 1990s playing guest starring roles on television series such asIn the Heat of the Night,Chicago Hope andDiagnosis: Murder, as well as appearing in the filmsMissing Pieces (1992) andNight of the Running Man (1995). In 1996, Lankford was a co-presenter on a cult public-access television cable TV series, "The Count Smokula Show". She reprised herKnots Landing character inKnots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac in 1997. After retiring from acting in 2000, Lankford created her own horse business inColorado called Kim Lankford's Living Horsemanship.[3]
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Lankford lived with, and was romantically involved with,Warren Zevon.[4] Lankford was close friends withSusan Berman.[5] Lankford datedRobert Durst, who allegedly murdered Berman in 2000.[6] In 2015, Lankford appeared in the HBO documentary seriesThe Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst.[7]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Harry and Walter Go to New York | Young Girl | |
| 1978 | Convoy | Darlene | Cut in post-production |
| 1978 | Malibu Beach | Dina | |
| 1980 | The Octagon | Nancy | |
| 1981 | Terror Among Us | Vickie Stevens | |
| 1988 | Cameron's Closet | Dory Lansing | |
| 1992 | Missing Pieces | Sally | |
| 1995 | Night of the Running Man | Waitress | |
| 1996 | Street Corner Justice | Jenny Connor | |
| 1996 | For Goodness Sake II | Short film | |
| 1997 | Get to the Heart: The Barbara Mandrell Story | Television film | |
| 1998 | Mixed Blessings | ||
| 2015 | Dead of Winter: The Donner Party | Tamsen Donner | Television film |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Police Woman | Kate | Episodes: "Task Force: Cop Killer: Part 1" and "Task Force: Cop Killer: Part 2" |
| 1977 | Happy Days | Sheena | Episode: "A Shot in the Dark" |
| 1977 | Busting Loose | Sharon | Episodes: "The Decision: Part 1" and "The Decision: Part 2" |
| 1978 | The Waverly Wonders | Connie Rafkin | Series regular, 9 episodes |
| 1978 | Man from Atlantis | Episode: "The Siren" | |
| 1978 | The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries | Alice Smith | Episode: "Campus Terror" |
| 1979–1983 | Knots Landing | Ginger Ward | Series regular, 75 episodes |
| 1982, 84 | Fantasy Island | Fancy Summerfield / Sandy | Episodes: "Roller Derby Dolls/Thanks a Million" and "Lady's Choice/Skin Deep" |
| 1984 | Finder of Lost Loves | Jeanine Prescott | Episode: "White Lies" |
| 1984 | Cheers | Maxine | Episode: "Sam Turns the Other Cheek" |
| 1978–1984 | The Love Boat | Carol Kelsey / Deanna Ellis / Anne Parker | S8 E13/ |
| 1985 | The Hitchhiker | Rae Bridgeman | Episode: "A Time for Rifles" |
| 1987 | Hunter | Charlene Lindquist | Episode: "The Cradle Will Rock" |
| 1987 | The Law & Harry McGraw | Karen Stillman | Episode: "Murder by Landslides" |
| 1988 | Jake and the Fatman | Cynthia Covington | Episode: "Rhapsody in Blue" |
| 1988–1989 | Murphy's Law | Marissa Danforth | Series regular, 12 episodes |
| 1990 | Dream On | Hannah Stone | Episode: "Premarital Ex" |
| 1991 | Paradise | Beckie | Episode: "A Bullet Through the Heart" |
| 1991 | In the Heat of the Night | Tamara Pollard | Episode: "Liar's Poker" |
| 1991 | Silk Stalkings | Muriel Hayes | Episode: "Hardcopy" |
| 1992 | Bodies of Evidence | Pam Charles | Episode: "The Cold Light of Day" |
| 1996 | Land's End | Jenny's Mother | Episode: "Jenny" |
| 1997 | Chicago Hope | Leslie Bowman | Episode: "Leggo My Ego" |
| 1997 | Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac | Ginger Ward | Miniseries |
| 1995, 1997 | Diagnosis: Murder | Chelsea Drew / Lois Claire | Episodes: "Death in the Daytime" and "A Mime Is a Terrible Thing to Waste" |
| 2000 | Martial Law | Dr. Geller | Episodes: "Final Conflict: Part 1" and "Final Conflict: Part 2" |
| 2015 | The Jinx | Herself | Miniseries |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
