Kate Walsh

Known primarily for her television role as Dr. Addison Shepherd, actress Kate Walsh's lengthy career has run the gamut, from Shakespearean drama to situation comedies to action movies. Emerging from Chicago's respected Piven Theatre Workshop and the city's lauded Shakespeare Repertory, Walsh moved to the screen with several TV guest spots and small films roles in projects like John McNaughton's harrowing "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer" (1998). She donned a fat suit to play Nicki Fifer, Drew Carey's big and bubbly girlfriend on the long-running sitcom "The Drew Carey Show" (ABC, 1995-2004) and was later seen as Will Ferrell's exasperated wife in the soccer comedy, "Kicking & Screaming" (2005). But it was as Dr. Addison Shepherd - the adulterous ex-wife of Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) - on the hit medical melodrama "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC, 2005- ) that Walsh at last gained widespread recognition. So popular was her strong-willed character that series creator Shonda Rhimes made her the focus of the "Grey's" spin-off, "Private Practice" (ABC, 2007-2013). Despite the demands of starring in her own weekly series, the busy actress still made time for occasional film forays, like the creepy actioner "Legion" (2010). Multi-faceted and graced with an impressive onscreen magnetism, Walsh excelled as both leading lady and supporting player