Did you know who Kate Mulgrew was when she got the part of Janeway?

[Therin of Andor]

Re: Did you know who Kate Mulgrew was when she got the part of Janeway

I remembered her as Mrs. Columbo.

Me too, and I recall Peter Falk ("Columbo") kicking up a big stink about a spin-off series featuring the ever-elusive Mrs Columbo (who was only ever mentioned in the original series), and he ended up getting Mulgrew's show renamed "Kate Loves a Mystery".

 

[NCC1701MF]

Re: Did you know who Kate Mulgrew was when she got the part of Janeway

In addition to what's already mentioned I had seen her in the mini series "The Manions of America", which also introduced Pierce Brosnan to US audiences. I'd also seen her in a tv movie about Mother Seton - "A Time For Miracles", an appearance on Murphy Brown as a newscaster with a drinking problem (IIRC), and someone who was running in some election and a love interest for Sam in 3 episodes of "Cheers".

 

[Red Ranger]

Re: Did you know who Kate Mulgrew was when she got the part of Janeway

Yes, I did know of Kate Mugrew before VOY, first as Mrs. Columbo, and as the vengeful ex-wife of Billy Crystal in Throw Momma From the Train.

The rest of the cast I really didn't know, except for Robert Picardo from movies like The Howling -- he was one of the werewolves -- and from China Beach.

Red Ranger

 

[NinjaMonkey]

Re: Did you know who Kate Mulgrew was when she got the part of Janeway

Well, no, I can't say that I did, but then I strongly suspect that I probably had enough trouble knowing who I was when she got the part, so it's probably not much of a surprise. I also don't tend to watch a lot of television as a general rule and, living in Australia, I don't always get the full gamut of programs that allow me to spy on actors before they become characters in shows I actually like!

 

[Saxman1]

Re: Did you know who Kate Mulgrew was when she got the part of Janeway

I recognized Kate from a short lived series she co-starred in with James Garner...I think it was "The Councilman" oer somthing like that. Garner played a so-called corrupt town councilman who wound up doing thr right thing. Mulgrew played the totally corrupt mayor and was mega hot, always in mini-skirts which showcased her great legs. Man, she was hot! This was maybe late 80s early 90s. I think the show didn't last 10 eps IIRC.

Ethan I recognized as Pete from Benson, who was always hungry and stupid...the extent of his character development. Robby MacNeil was of course in TNG's "The First Duty." I always figured Paris was Locano renamed to not pay the writer royalties.

 

[sevenstars]

Re: Did you know who Kate Mulgrew was when she got the part of Janeway

She was very recognizable, but I remembered her especially as Elizabeth Seton... and of course, Mary Ryan.

 

[Malcom]

Re: Did you know who Kate Mulgrew was when she got the part of Janeway

The name meant absolutely nothing to me, but when told she'd been Murphy Brown's drunken secretary, I remembered her.

 

[Kio]

Re: Did you know who Kate Mulgrew was when she got the part of Janeway

... also spent the first season going "hmmmm, it is like Katharine Hepburn is on Star Trek"

Exactly! Glad someone else noticed this. It took me ages to figure out who she reminded me of. She also speaks a bit like Hepburn.

As for recognizing her, no, I didn't recognize anyone at all on Voyager. And I still haven't seen any of them elsewhere. I only caught a few episodes during the original run, but now that I'm watching the whole collection, it seems packed with cameos (though that's not really the right word). I've seen so many of the one-off characters elsewhere. There's Badger from Firefly (as Icheb's dad), the short gay guy from Sex in the City (as an underwater alien), the guy from Seinfeld (in Think Tank), Jin from Lost (as an astronaut), and more that aren't coming to mind right now.

 

[Malcom]

Re: Did you know who Kate Mulgrew was when she got the part of Janeway

... also spent the first season going "hmmmm, it is like Katharine Hepburn is on Star Trek"

Exactly! Glad someone else noticed this. It took me ages to figure out who she reminded me of. She also speaks a bit like Hepburn.

In Avery Brooks and Kate Mulgrew, Trek played cautiously and got James Earl Jones Lite and Katharine Hepburn Lite. The talents of both actors made it work out fine.

 

[exodus]

Re: Did you know who Kate Mulgrew was when she got the part of Janeway

... also spent the first season going "hmmmm, it is like Katharine Hepburn is on Star Trek"

Exactly! Glad someone else noticed this. It took me ages to figure out who she reminded me of. She also speaks a bit like Hepburn.

In Avery Brooks and Kate Mulgrew, Trek played cautiously and got James Earl Jones Lite and Katharine Hepburn Lite. The talents of both actors made it work out fine.

Actually Brooks reminds me more of Paul Robeson, who is the actor/activist he admires the most.

 

[Malcom]

Re: Did you know who Kate Mulgrew was when she got the part of Janeway

Yes, some do make that comparison. I still lean James Earl Jones. No doubt Robeson was a tremendous influence on both.

 

[Balthier the Great]

Re: Did you know who Kate Mulgrew was when she got the part of Janeway

I must really suck at remembering the actors on movies. I saw Innerspace like 50 times as a kid nad never recognized Picardo. I loved throw momma and missed the ex-wife. I think I've even seen most of Family matters and never noticed Russ either.

The on;y one I recognized from before was the guy who plays Q. But I can't remember the name of the movie he was in. It was something set in a high school, and he was a guy who sold anything you wanted in this school -- from a stall in the men's bathroom. Q was a step up, I think.

 

[Malcom]

Re: Did you know who Kate Mulgrew was when she got the part of Janeway

Throw Momma From the Train, is a great movie. Terrific send-up of Strangers on a Train.

 

[Cyrus]

Re: Did you know who Kate Mulgrew was when she got the part of Janeway

I also knew KM from Throw Mama From the Train. She was quite sexy in that movie (at least that's how I remember it).

 

[Mr. Fergy]

Re: Did you know who Kate Mulgrew was when she got the part of Janeway

I never knew who she was before being cast.

 

[Lynx]

Re: Did you know who Kate Mulgrew was when she got the part of Janeway

No, I hadn't heard about her. Later on someone told me that she had been in an episode of "Dallas".