Kim Walker[1] (born Kimberly Anne Walker; June 19, 1968 – March 6, 2001[2]), was an American film and television actress. She is best known for her role as Heather Chandler in the 1988 black comedy Heathers.[3] Walker's sole starring role came in the 1995 independent drama film A Reason to Believe, where she portrayed the character Judith.
Kim Walker | |
---|---|
Born | Kimberly Anne Walker June 19, 1968 New York, U.S. |
Died | March 6, 2001 Los Angeles, California, U.S. | (aged 32)
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1986–2000 |
Walker was born on June 19, 1968, in New York. She attended Grace Church School and Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School, where she was classmates with Christian Slater and Jennifer Aniston. She reportedly remained close friends with both Slater and Aniston throughout her life. After high school, Walker and Aniston shared an apartment in Los Angeles during the early stages of their acting careers.[4][5]
Walker was the daughter of Ruth Mary (née Weigel) and Herb Walker. She died at her home in Studio City on March 6, 2001, at the age of 32, from cerebral herniation due to a malignant glioma. A craniotomy had been performed in January 1999 in an attempt to treat the tumor. She was buried at Pinelawn Memorial Park in Farmingdale, New York. Walker had been diagnosed with the brain tumor several years before her death.[6][7]
In 2002, the Kim Walker Memorial Fund was established at Grace Church School. Walker's family established the Kim Walker Shining Star Drama Fund to celebrate her life, her love of performing, and to honor her memory. The annual Kim Walker "Shining Star" Drama Award, created by her mother and brother, honors students with dedication and talent in the performing arts.[8]
Filmography
editYear | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1986 | Crime Story | Teenager | Episode: "Old Friends, Dead Ends" |
1987 | Student Exchange | Kit | Television movie |
1989 | Heathers | Heather Chandler | |
1989 | TV 101 | Becky | Episode: "Clicks" |
Say Anything... | Sheila | ||
Highway to Heaven | Ellen Kayhill | Episode: "The Source" | |
Deadly Weapon | Traci | ||
The Preppie Murder | Candace | Television movie | |
1990 | The Outsiders | Cherry Valance | 13 episodes |
Hunter | Allison Janowitz | Episode: "Where Echoes End" | |
1991 | The Julie Show | Kiki | Television movie |
1992 | Nervous Ticks | Janice | |
Picket Fences | Debbie Caton | Episode: Pilot | |
Down the Shore | Hillary | Episode: Hey Sis, You Up? | |
1993 | Matlock | Becky Smith | Episode: "The Competition" |
The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. | Caitlin Ward | Episode: "Mail Order Brides" | |
1994 | The Favor | Jill Topical | Alternative title: The Indecent Favour |
Gambler V: Playing for Keeps | Louisa | Television movie | |
1995 | A Reason to Believe | Judith | |
1998 | Somewhere in the City | Molly, Texas Acting Student | |
2000 | Killing Cinderella | Laurel | Final role |
References
edit- ^ Steen, M. F. (2010). Celebrity Death Certificates 3. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 258. ISBN 978-0-7864-5935-3.
- ^ Wilson, Scott (2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 783. ISBN 978-0-7864-7992-4.
- ^ Maslin, Janet (March 31, 1989). "When a Not-So-Bad Girl Turns Very, Very Bad". The New York Times.
- ^ "Daily News from New York, New York". November 10, 1998.
- ^ "The Tragic Death of 'Heathers' Star Kim Walker". August 12, 2024.
- ^ "Obituary of Ruth M. Walker | Weigand Brothers Funeral Home".
- ^ "Kim Walker".
- ^ "GCS Kim Walker Shining Star Video 2022".
External links
edit- Kim Walker at IMDb
- Kim Walker at AllMovie