Kate Mulgrew’s Best Non-Trek Roles

It’s Kate Mulgrew’s birthday! If you’re here at StarTrek.com, we don’t have to tell you that Star Trek: Voyager was arguably her finest hour as an actress, but she’s enjoyed a long and enduring career. So to celebrate Mulgrew’s big day, StarTrek.com thought we’d look at her other most-memorable roles:

Ryan’s Hope

Early in Mulgrew’s career, she co-starred on this soap opera, playing the character Mary Ryan. Mulgrew started in 1975 and beamed off (sorry, couldn’t resist) in January 1978 after more than 400 episodes. A trio of other actresses assumed the role over ensuing seasons, but none made the mark that Mulgrew had. Mulgrew eventually returned to say goodbye… as Mary’s ghost.

 

Mrs. Columbo

Mulgrew starred as Kate Columbo, the wife of the beloved, disheveled crime-solver, Lt. Columbo, in this Columbo spin-off series that debuted in 1979. Mrs. Columbo was a newswoman with a young child and a knack for solving crimes. Sadly, everyone involved with Columbo, including Peter Falk, stayed clear of Mrs. Columbo and ABC canceled the show after just one season and 13 episodes.

 

Throw Momma from the Train

Some fans might argue that their favorite film role of Mulgrew’s is Maj. Fleming in Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins, which co-starred her friend and future Voyager guest star Joel Grey, but we’re going with Throw Momma from the Train. This Danny DeVito-directed black comedy, released in 1987, is considered by many to be a classic. In it, struggling novelist and community college writing teacher Larry (Billy Crystal) announces out loud his desire to see his ex-wife Margaret (Mulgrew) dead, dead, dead. Who overhears that but Owen (DeVito), a creepy fellow who wants his vile mother, Momma Lift (Anne Ramsey) dead, dead, dead? Owen then plots to kills Margaret, believing that, Hitchcock-style, Larry will return the favor and kill Momma Lift, but nothing — including Margaret’s apparent murder — goes as planned. Among Mulgrew’s most memorable moments: a successful, boastful, Larry-hating Margaret being interviewed by Oprah Winfrey.

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