ACTOR
Kate Burton
Known for Grey's Anatomy · Supergirl · Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Kate Burton is a Swiss-born Welsh-American stage and screen actress. She is best known for her TV roles as Vice President Sally Langston on ABC's Scandal, Vera Quinn on the Audience Network's series Full Circle, and Dr. Ellis Grey on ABC's Grey's Anatomy. She holds an BA in Russian Studies and European History from Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, and an MFA from the Yale School of Drama, New Haven, Connecticut.
Snapshot 2026-10-13
- Born
- Sep 10, 1957
- Birthplace
- Geneva, Switzerland
- Known For
- Acting
Biography
Kate Burton is a Swiss-born Welsh-American stage and screen actress. She is best known for her TV roles as Vice President Sally Langston on ABC's Scandal, Vera Quinn on the Audience Network's series Full Circle, and Dr. Ellis Grey on ABC's Grey's Anatomy.
She holds an BA in Russian Studies and European History from Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, and an MFA from the Yale School of Drama, New Haven, Connecticut.
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Known For
TV
Grey's AnatomyEllis Grey · 2005
★ 8.2
★ 8.2
TV
SupergirlIsabel Nal (voice) · 2015
★ 7.3
★ 7.3
TV
Law & Order: Special Victims UnitAnnette Cole · 1999
★ 8.0
★ 8.0
TV
GrimmMarie Kessler · 2011
★ 8.3
★ 8.3
TV
Modern FamilyIris Fennerman · 2009
★ 7.9
★ 7.9
TV
ElementaryMaureen Dannon · 2012
★ 7.6
★ 7.6
TV
This Is UsBarbara · 2016
★ 8.2
★ 8.2
TV
FBIEvelyn Kates · 2018
★ 7.9
★ 7.9
Filmography
Movies
Anne of the Thousand DaysServing Maid (uncredited)
1969
Alice in WonderlandAlice
1983
Big Trouble in Little ChinaMargo
1986
Uncle Tom's CabinOphelia
1987
In from the Cold? A Portrait of Richard BurtonSelf
1988BD
Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group TheatreSelf
1989
Life with MikeyMrs. Burns
1993
Love MattersDeborah
1993NF
Notes for My DaughterBrenda Gardner
1995
AugustHelen Blathwaite
1996
Looking for RichardSelf
1996
MistrialKatherine Donohue
1996
The First Wives ClubWoman in Bed
1996
Ellen FosterAbigail Montford
1997
The Ice StormDorothy Franklin
1997
CelebrityRobin's Friend Cheryl
1998
The OpportunistsRest Home Sister
2000
ObsessedSara Miller
2002
SwimfanCarla Cronin
2002
UnfaithfulTracy
2002
The Diary of Ellen RimbauerConnie Posey
2003
Three SistersOlga
2003
Ernest Hemingway: Rivers to the SeaNarrator (voice)
2005
StayMrs. Letham
2005
SherrybabyMarcia Swanson
2006
Hidden Treasure of the MississippiAunt Birdy
2008
Max PayneNicole Horne
2008
Quid Pro QuoMerilee
2008
What Just HappenedDoctor Randall
2008
SpoonerAlice Spooner
2009
WashingtonienneJoy
2009
127 HoursAron's Mom
2010
ConsentSusan
2010
Remember MeJanine
2010
Caris' PeaceSelf
2011
PunctureSenator O'Reilly
2011
2 Days in New YorkBella
2012
Liberal ArtsSusan
2012
Mariachi GringoAnne
2012
Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel: Live from Lincoln CenterMrs. Mullin
2013
BarefootMrs. Wheeler
2014
Don't Look BackDr. Jeanette Barnes
2014
AmokDr. Wilson
2015
Bleeding HeartMartha
2015
Identity TheftAnna
2015
MartyrsEleanor
2015
Noël Coward's Present LaughterLiz Essendine
2017
At First LightKate
2018
Where'd You Go, BernadetteEllen Idelson
2019
Sandra Day O'Connor: The FirstNarrator (voice)
2021
The CodebreakerNarrator (voice)
2021
BreakingTami Stackhouse
2022
Dumb MoneyElaine Gill
2023
Heaven, I SupposeCheryl
2023
Our SonMaggie "Miggie"
2023
The Anne Frank Gift ShopIlse
2023
gutsGabby
2024
Oscar Wilde About America
2025
The SurrenderBarbara
2025
Violent EndsDarlene Woodley
2025
Death on the BrandywineAnn Riley
2026AG
A Great Depression
RM
RSC Meets USA: Working ShakespeareSelf
Television
Hallmark Hall of FameAbigail · 1 eps
1951
Tony AwardsSelf - Nominee · 1 eps
1956
Great PerformancesAlice · 1 eps
1971
American PlayhouseAgnes Bolton O'Neill · 1 eps
1982
Ellis IslandVanessa Ogden · 3 eps
1984
EvergreenAgatha Bradford · 1 eps
1985
Spenser: For Hire1 eps
1985
American ExperienceNarrator · 2 eps
1988
Law & OrderSister Bettina · 1 eps
1990Law & OrderErica Gardner · 1 eps
1990Law & OrderDefense Attorney Erica Gardner · 3 eps
1990
Brooklyn Bridge1 eps
1991HF
Home FiresAnne Kramer · 6 eps
1992
MontyFran Richardson · 13 eps
1994
The PracticeA.D.A. Susan Alexander · 9 eps
1997
Judging AmyDr. Sheri Jordan · 1 eps
1999
Law & Order: Special Victims UnitAnnette Cole · 1 eps
1999Law & Order: Special Victims UnitBethany Allen · 1 eps
1999
The West WingSarah Brainerd · 1 eps
1999
100 Centre StreetSheila Byrne · 1 eps
2001
Law & Order: Criminal IntentStephanie Ufland · 1 eps
2001
Working Shakespeare5 eps
2003
Rescue MeRose · 8 eps
2004
Empire FallsCindy Whiting · 2 eps
2005
Grey's AnatomyEllis Grey · 29 eps
2005
MediumBonnie Barrister · 1 eps
2005
Numb3rsAnthropologist · 2 eps
2005
The CloserKate Wycoff · 1 eps
2005
Justice1 eps
2006
Eleventh HourGepetto / Miranda Cochran · 1 eps
2008
Modern FamilyIris Fennerman · 1 eps
2009
The Good WifeVictoria Adler · 3 eps
2009
The Deep EndGrace Graham · 1 eps
2010
GrimmMarie Kessler · 2 eps
2011
ElementaryMaureen Dannon · 1 eps
2012
Key & PeeleHillary Clinton · 1 eps
2012
RevolutionJane Warren · 1 eps
2012
ScandalSally Langston · 42 eps
2012
VeepBarbara Hallowes · 3 eps
2012
Full CircleVera Quinn · 24 eps
2013
ExtantFiona Stanton · 6 eps
2014
Madam SecretaryMaureen McCord · 1 eps
2014
SupergirlIsabel Nal (voice) · 1 eps
2015SupergirlIsabel Nal · 2 eps
2015
This Is UsBarbara · 2 eps
2016
13 Reasons WhyDr. Hughes · 1 eps
2017
The GiftedDr. Madeline Risman · 2 eps
2017
CharmedCeleste · 1 eps
2018
FBIEvelyn Kates · 1 eps
2018
Perfect HarmonyJulie · 1 eps
2019
Prodigal SonSarah Windsor · 1 eps
2019
The VoteNarrator (voice) · 2 eps
2020
The Mosquito CoastMargot's Mom · 1 eps
2021
Bosch: LegacyIda Porter · 5 eps
2022
Inventing AnnaNora Radford · 3 eps
2022
So Help Me ToddJoan · 1 eps
2022
The DropoutRochelle Gibbons · 4 eps
2022B
BULLDOZERDr. Diane Roddy · 1 eps
2025
Ransom CanyonKatherine Bullock · 3 eps
2025
The Beast in MeMariah Ingram · 2 eps
2025Photos
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