Kate Levering (born January 3, 1979) is an American actress[2][3] and dancer. She was nominated for a Tony Award for her role in the 2001 musical 42nd Street.[4] She is best known for her role as Kim Kaswell in the Lifetime comedy-drama series Drop Dead Diva.

Kate Levering
Born (1979-01-03) January 3, 1979 (age 45)
OccupationActress
Years active1998–present
Spouse
(m. 2013)
Children2[1]
External image
image icon Kate Levering in August 2010

Life and career

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Levering was born in Sacramento, California.[5] Levering attended El Camino Fundamental High School, where she took part in school musicals and dance classes before graduating in 1997 and leaving for New York City to pursue a career on Broadway. In 2001 she was cast as Peggy Sawyer in the revival of 42nd Street. She was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical category[4] and won the Fred Astaire Award for Best Female Dancer for her tap dancing in the show. She only performed the role on Broadway for a short three-month period, and is featured on the cast album, but is not taped for Lincoln Center Archives.

Levering left 42nd Street to star in the notorious Broadway flop Thou Shalt Not, composed by Harry Connick, Jr., and choreographed by Susan Stroman.[4]

On television, Levering has made guest appearances on shows such as Home Improvement, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Cold Case (episode: "Dog Day Afternoons") and Witchblade. In 2002, she played the role of Jeanne Martin in the TV movie Martin and Lewis, starring Sean Hayes and Jeremy Northam. In 2004 she played whip-smart attorney Veronica Carter on the UPN series Kevin Hill, starring Taye Diggs.[5] Although critically acclaimed, the show was canceled in 2005 after only one season. Kate has had guest roles in CSI: Miami ("The Score" (2006)), Las Vegas (2007), Medium (2007), K-Ville (2007), Ghost Whisperer (2007), Cashmere Mafia (four episodes 2008), NCIS (2010), and White Collar (2010).[6]

From 2009 to 2014, Levering played the role of Kim Kaswell in Lifetime's comedy-drama series Drop Dead Diva.[6] Levering also has starred in independent films: Like Dandelion Dust in 2009, and Breaking the Girls in 2012.

In 2016, Levering was cast as the adult Annette Hargrove in the NBC drama Cruel Intentions, based on the 1999 film of same name. The role was played by Reese Witherspoon in the film.[7]

Personal life

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Levering married businessman Reza Jahangiri on April 20, 2013 at The Beverly Hills Hotel.[8] Their son, Holden Robert Jahangiri, was born in July 2013. Kate's pregnancy was written into her role on Drop Dead Diva.[9][10] In March 2016, Levering announced that she had given birth to a second son.[1]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1999 Home Improvement Girl Episode: "Neighbors"
2001 The Lullaby of Broadway: Opening Night on 42nd Street Peggy Sawyer TV movie
2002 Witchblade Lucrezia Borgia Episode: "Ubique"
2002 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Kittie Episode: "Lust"
2002 Martin and Lewis Jeanne Martin
2003 Hotel Natalie TV Pilot
2004–05 Kevin Hill Veronica Carter Series regular, 22 episodes
2005 Out of Practice Jennifer Episode: "New Year's Eve"
2006 CSI: Miami Heather Larkin / Karen Manning Episode: "The Score"
2006 The Hunters Addison Cole TV Pilot
2006 Cold Case Darla Dunaway Episode: "Dog Day Afternoons"
2007 Las Vegas Nicole Episode: "Fleeting Cheating Meeting"
2007 Close to Home Tess Middleton Episode: "Barren"
2007 Medium Dr. Elizabeth Randall Episode: "Whatever Possessed You"
2007 K-Ville Christina Dubois Episode: "Pilo"
2007 Ghost Whisperer Gina Prince Episode: "Haunted Hero"
2008 Blue Blood Colt TV Pilot
2008 Cashmere Mafia Katherine Cutler Recurring role, 4 episodes
2009 Like Dandelion Dust Molly Campbell
2009–14 Drop Dead Diva Kim Kaswell Series regular, 70 episodes
2010 White Collar Grace Quinn Episode: "Bottlenecked"
2010 NCIS: Los Angeles Jillian Leigh Episode: "Anonymous"
2013 Breaking the Girls Nina Layton
2013 Chlorine Devon Stone

References

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  1. ^ a b Levering, Kate (March 3, 2016). "I'm baaaaaack!!! Mostly I was gone because I was growing a second human, birthing him and now coming back from the dead. That is all". Official Twitter Status. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  2. ^ Erickson, Hal (October 7, 2009). Encyclopedia of Television Law Shows: Factual and Fictional Series About Judges, Lawyers and the Courtroom, 1948-2008. McFarland. pp. 158–. ISBN 9780786438280. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
  3. ^ Suskin, Steven (May 29, 2003). Broadway Yearbook 2001-2002: A Relevant and Irreverent Record. Oxford University Press. pp. 83–. ISBN 9780195158779. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c "Kate Levering". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
  5. ^ a b "Kate Levering: Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
  6. ^ a b "Kate Levering: Credits". TV Guide. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
  7. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (March 1, 2016). "'Cruel Intentions': Kate Levering To Play Reese Witherspoon's Annette In NBC Pilot". deadline.com. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  8. ^ Nudd, Tim (May 3, 2013). "Kate Levering Marries Reza Jahangiri". People. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  9. ^ Eggenberger, Nicole (August 19, 2013). "Kate Levering, Drop Dead Diva Star, Welcomes Baby". Us Weekly. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  10. ^ "Kate Levering Welcomes Son Holden Robert". People. August 28, 2013. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
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