Peggy Sue Got Married
Advertisements:
$20 Million
”You shouldn't get to live in a society and give nothing back. People complain about their taxes, yet do nothing for the community. That makes me furious." Kathleen Turner first rose to prominence as an actor in the 1980s. With roles in films like Romancing the Stone (1984), The Man with Two Brains (1983) and Peggy Sue Got Married (1986). At a young age, Turner was able to establish herself as a powerhouse performer. Now, years later, she is still an active performer on television.
Throughout her career, Turner has worked in theater, on film, and even as a voice actress. Despite being impacted rheumatoid arthritis, Turner refused to let herself be slowed down. Always a proud and powerful performer, there is something to be learned from Turner's story. As Turner prepares for the release of her newest film, Lovestruck (2019), fans can take a moment to go back to where it all started for the talented actress.
Growing Up In A Strict Home
Kathleen Turner was born on June 19, 1954, in the city of Springfield, MO. Turner's mother was Patsy Turner (1923 – 2015) and her father was Allen Richard Turner (d. 1973). Turner was one of four siblings which included a sister and two brothers. Turner recalls growing up in a strict, religious household. During her childhood, performances were heavily discouraged by both of her parents. As a result, Turner had to fight for the approval of her family to pursue her career. Turner says of her parent's thought process, "Theater and acting were just one step up from being a streetwalker, you know? He (Allen) would drive my mom and sit in the car. She'd come out at intermissions and tell him, 'She's doing very well."
As a child, Turner was always on the move due to her father's professional. Allen Turner was a U.S. Foreign Services official who had grown up in China. Turner would end up traveling the world as a child, growing up both at home and abroad. Turner would attend The American School in London before graduating in 1972. Her father would pass away shortly after she graduated from coronary thrombosis. The Turner family would make their way back home to the United States.
After returning to the U.S.A., Turner would begin volunteering for Planned Parenthood while attending Missouri State University. After attending MSU for two years, Turner would go on to study at the University of Maryland. Turner would earn her Bachelor of Fine Arts upon graduation in 1977. During that period of her life, Turner appeared in a variety of productions under Steve Yeager.
Becoming a Movie Star
While Turner's upbringing was not conducive to a career in the arts, Turner continued to plunge every onward. After graduating from the University of Maryland, Turner would focus her attention solely on performing. After graduation, Turner would appear in several minor roles, including the television series, The Doctors (1978) which would serve as her big break. Turner would play the character Nola Aldrich in the show for 74 episodes spanning from 1978 to 1979. The role would serve to break Turner into the industry, and she would take that momentum and run with it.
After Turner wrapped her role on The Doctors, she would go on to make her film debut in Body Heat (1981) as Matty Walker. In the film, Turner played Matty Walker with an intensity and ferocity that stunned audiences around the world. Turner would cite the role as being pivotal in her ascent to becoming a leading actor. As the film reached critical and commercial acclaim, Turner would see her star brighten exponentially. Before long, Turner was getting calls from everyone in Hollywood.
Due to her fierce good looks and deep voice, Turner quickly gained a reputation for being an intimidating lead. To offset any potential typecasting, Turner would take on a pair of projects in order to show her true range. In 1983, Turner appeared in the comedy, The Man With Two Brains. Turner showed that she was able to laugh at herself and that she didn't need to play a fierce warrior-type in every picture. Turner would then co-star in Romancing the Stone (1984) with Danny DeVito and Michael Douglas. Turner would catapult to instant fame with the role, winning a Golden Globe for her performance. Romancing the Stone would become a high watermark for Turner as the film became a commercial and critical darling. Turner would go on to appear in the sequel, The Jewel of the Nile in 1985.
The mid-80s were notoriously good to Turner as she earned her second Golden Globe award for the film, Prizzi's Honor (1985). The film also starred Jack Nicholson. Turner's ability to show stunning chemistry with every leading actor of the era would help her to continually land high-profile roles. After Prizzi's Honor, Turner would star alongside Nicolas Cage in Peggy Sue Got Married (1986). The film would bring Turner her first, and only, Oscar nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Turner would parlay that performance into a starring voiceover role in Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988). Turner would play the sultry Jessica Rabbit, a character that had been seemingly tailor-made for Turner's persona.
As the '80s came to an end, Turner found herself on top of the game. She was a serial leading lady in A-List films and her work was gaining critical acclaim across the board. However, the good times slowed down when Turner was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. As a result of the horrific disease, Turner had to turn down leading roles in both The Bridges of Madison County and Ghost. Turner recalls the pain being so terrible that she could barely turn her head, much less walk. Initially, Turner was told that she would end up in a wheelchair.
After slowing down in order to accommodate her disease, Turner would begin seeking progressive therapeutic options to treat herself. Treating her condition would take eight years before it would go into remission. While Turner had stayed active in the industry, she had largely been restricted in the type of work that she could do. She would return for an appearance on the hit sitcom, Friends (2001) before also showing up on Law & Order (2006) and Marley & Me (2008). Turner would score a starring role on the hit series Californication (2009) and from there, she'd be back on track. Turner would go on to appear in a string of shows since Californication, with her most recent work being on the film Lovestruck (2010).
Outside of her time in front of a camera, Turner had also developed herself as a serious theatrical performer. Turner would earn a Tony Award nod for her work on Cat on a Hot Tin Roof before earning a second nomination for the play, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Turner most recently appeared on stage in 2019 for the Metropolitan Opera as part of La Fille du Regiment.
When Turner isn't performing, she is focused on her advocacy work. Turner has been a supporter of Planned Parenthood of America since she was a teenager. Turner would later become a chairperson for the foundation. Turner has also become an advocate for raising awareness of the problems that rheumatoid arthritis can inflict upon people. Turner has one child from a previous relationship, and she is currently single.
->
