20 Photos of Kathryn Harrold During the 1980s

Kathryn Harrold (born August 2, 1950) is a retired American actress who was a familiar leading lady in Hollywood during the late 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s. Known for her intelligence, natural screen presence, and distinctive Southern-accented voice, she starred opposite some of the era’s biggest names, including Steve McQueen, Albert Brooks, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Luciano Pavarotti. After leaving acting, she began a successful second career as a licensed marriage and family therapist.

Harrold began her professional career on the NBC daytime soap The Doctors (1976–1977), portraying Nola Dancy Aldrich. She quickly became a familiar television face, appearing in series such as Starsky & Hutch and The Rockford Files, where she played Dr. Megan Dougherty, a blind psychologist who develops a romantic relationship with Jim Rockford. Those episodes remain among her most memorable television performances.

Harrold’s film career took off in 1979 with the horror film Nightwing, but her breakthrough came the following year as Dotty in The Hunter (1980), the final film starring Steve McQueen. She followed with several notable starring roles: Modern Romance (1981), The Pursuit of D. B. Cooper (1981), The Sender (1982), Yes, Giorgio (1982), Into the Night (1985), and Raw Deal (1986). Although she never became a major box-office superstar, Harrold was respected as a dependable leading actress capable of handling drama, romance, thrillers, horror, and action.

Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Harrold remained active on television. She starred in MacGruder and Loud (1985), The Bronx Zoo (1987–1988), I’ll Fly Away (1991–1993), The Larry Sanders Show, where she played Francine Sanders. Later, she made guest appearances on series including Chicago Hope, The Practice, Judging Amy, CSI: NY, Desperate Housewives, and Greek.

Rather than remain in the entertainment industry, Harrold pursued graduate studies at Antioch University Los Angeles, earning a master’s degree. She became a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California and established a private counseling practice in Los Angeles, helping individuals and couples. She retired from acting around 2011 to focus on this new profession.