Kellie Suzanne Waymire (July 27, 1967 – November 13, 2003) was an American stage, television, and film actress. She was known for her television roles on Six Feet Under, Friends, and Star Trek: Enterprise.

Kellie Waymire
Born
Kellie Suzanne Waymire

(1967-07-27)July 27, 1967
Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
DiedNovember 13, 2003(2003-11-13) (aged 36)
EducationSouthern Methodist University (BFA)
University of California, San Diego (MFA)
OccupationActress
Years active1994–2003
PartnerGary Judson Smoot[1]

Life and career

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Waymire was born in Columbus, Ohio to Jack and Vickie Waymire. She had two siblings, Tony and Rebecca. The family moved frequently, living in Lake Tahoe, Nevada; Denver, Colorado; Tampa, Florida; and Houston, Texas. In Houston, Waymire attended Lamar High School where she became interested in acting and was the drama club's president.[2] She then attended Southern Methodist University (SMU) where she won the Greer Garson Award.[3]

Waymire completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater at SMU, and earned a Master of Fine Arts from the University of California, San Diego in 1993.[4]

After graduating from college, Waymire moved to New York City.[2] She began her television career in the role of Emily Haynes on the soap opera One Life to Live in 1994.[1]

In 1997, she moved to Los Angeles[2] and continued her career in a number of primetime television shows, including The Practice, Judging Amy, The X-Files, Wolf Lake, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, NYPD Blue, and Yes Dear.[5]

Waymire was predominantly cast in offbeat or humorous roles. Two of her highest-profile roles were recurring ones on Six Feet Under, where she played Melissa, a prostitute; and on Star Trek: Enterprise, as Crewman Elizabeth Cutler.[6] She had previously portrayed the role of Lanya in Star Trek: Voyager in the episode "Muse". She guest-starred in the Season 9 Seinfeld episode "The Blood", as a sickly mother who wants someone to take care of her son in the event of her death.[7]

In 2003, Waymire was cast as a regular in the short-lived Fox sitcom The Pitts.[1] It was canceled after four weeks.[8] Among her final onscreen roles were guest spots on Friends (in the episode "The One Where Ross Is Fine", aired a month before her death), Everwood, and Wonderfalls, the last two of which aired after her death.[6] The latter was dedicated to her memory. She appeared in a number of feature films, including a role as Jane in the comedy-drama Playing by Heart (1998).[1]

In addition to her film and television work, Waymire was active in regional theater around the United States.[1] She played the lead in A.R. Gurney's play Sylvia at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre in 1996. She appeared in a revival of the Noël Coward play Present Laughter at the Pasadena Playhouse in 1998, and in many other stage productions across the country.[9] At the time of her death, she was starring as Anne in the stage adaptation of Kate Crackernuts at the 24th Street Theatre in Los Angeles.[2]

Death

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On November 13, 2003, Waymire died in her home in Venice, Los Angeles, California of cardiac arrest caused by an undiagnosed cardiac arrhythmia, likely related to mitral valve prolapse, a condition with which she had been diagnosed as a teenager. Her funeral was held on November 23, 2003, in West Milton, Ohio.[2][10] Her partner at the time of her death was actor and Ovation Award winning set designer Gary Judson Smoot.[1]

On December 8, 2003, a public memorial was held at the Ralph Freud Playhouse, housed in Macgowan Hall at UCLA.[6]

The Kellie Waymire Scholarship Fund, through the UC San Diego Foundation, was established in her honor.[2][11]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1998 Playing by Heart Jane
1998 Dig a Hole, Find a Finger
1999 Buddy Boy Ireland
2000 Sunset Strip Mary
2000 Screenland Drive Nina
2001 Maniacts Beth Windsor
2003 The Vest Mom Short
2003 Something More Mrs. Avery Short

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1994 One Life to Live Emily Haynes 1 episode
1997 When the Cradle Falls Lucy Becknell TV movie
1997 Seinfeld Vivian Episode: "The Blood"
1997 Cracker Diana's Landlady Episode: "Sons and Lovers"
1998 Ally McBeal Chrissa Episode: "Worlds Without Love"
1998 The Practice Dr. Marshall Episode: "One of Those Days"
1998 Maggie Jenny Episode: "Every Little Star"
1998 Nothing Sacred Cecil Episode: "Holy Words"
1999 Stark Raving Mad Tess Episode: "The Man Who Knew Too Much"
1999 Snoops Diana Keppler Episode: "Constitutions"
2000 Cover Me Mrs. Krost Episode: "Domestic Terrorism"
2000 Then Came You Denise Episode: "Then Came a Wedding"
2000 Star Trek: Voyager Lanya Episode: "Muse"
2000 M.Y.O.B. Mary Beth Farber Episode: "Boys in the Band"
2000 Strong Medicine Angela Episode: "Misconceptions"
2000 Popular Penelope Poppins Episode: "Baby, Don't Do It!"
2000 Freedom Maggie Ford Episode: "The Chase"
2000 The Fugitive Deputy Dixmont Episode: "Miles to Go"
2001 The X-Files Tammi Peyton Episode: "Surekill"
2001 Judging Amy Vickie Spencer Episode: "The Claw Is Our Master"
2001 Kate Brasher Nell Macrae Episode: "Simon"
2001 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Carla Dantini Episode: "Justice Is Served"
2001 Yes, Dear Rosanna Episode: "No Room to Spare"
2001–2002 Wolf Lake Miranda Devereaux 5 episodes
2001–2002 Star Trek: Enterprise Crewman Elizabeth Cutler Episodes: "Strange New World", "Dear Doctor", "Two Days and Two Nights"
2002 Six Feet Under Melissa Recurring role (season 2)
2003 The Pitts Liz Pitt Main role
2003 NYPD Blue Candace Hewitt Episode: "Meet the Grandparents"
2003 Friends Colleen Episode: "The One Where Ross Is Fine"
2003 Less Than Perfect Party Guest Uncredited, Episode: "Picture Perfect Party"
2004 Everwood Helen McGinns Episode: "Family Dynamics"
2004 Wonderfalls Penelope Episode: "Safety Canary", (final appearance)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Oliver, Myrna (November 23, 2003). "Obituaries Kellie Waymire, 36; TV, Stage Actress Played a Dog in Offbeat 'Sylvia'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2017-07-07.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Haney, Angelle (November 23, 2003). "A Life Well-Lived; Actress' Face Familiar to Film, Television and Stage Audiences". Dayton Daily News. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved 2011-07-17.
  3. ^ Simonson, Robert (November 24, 2003). "Actress Kellie Waymire, who won a Drama-Logue Award for playing the lead role in Sylvia at California's Old Globe Theatre, died Nov. 13 of a previously undetected medical condition. She was 36". Playbill. playbill.com. Retrieved 2017-07-07.
  4. ^ Associated Press (November 23, 2003). "TV, stage actress Kellie Waymire dies". USA Today. usatoday.com. Retrieved 2017-07-07.
  5. ^ Lentz, Harris M. III (2004). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2003: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture. McFarland. p. 423. ISBN 0-786-41756-0.
  6. ^ a b c "Kellie Waymire". Variety. variety.com. November 2003. Retrieved 2017-07-07.
  7. ^ Tracy, Kathleen (1998). Jerry Seinfeld: The Entire Domain. Carol Publishing Group. p. 303. ISBN 1-559-72474-9.
  8. ^ Andreeva, Nellie; Nordyke, Kimberly (October 10, 2007). "Fox reviving failed sitcom as a cartoon". Reuters. reuters.com. Retrieved 2017-07-07.
  9. ^ Associated Press (November 24, 2003). "TV, stage actress Waymire dead at 36". CNN. Archived from the original on 2008-10-08.
  10. ^ "Kellie Waymire". Found a Grave. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
  11. ^ "Kellie Waymire". backstage.com. Backstage. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
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