Kate Walsh is an American film and television actress. She was born in San Jose, California, on October 13, 1967. She grew up in San Jose and Tucson, Arizona, later attending the University of Arizona, where she got involved in regional theater. She later moved to Chicago where she began working with the Piven Theatre Workshop and later the Chicago Shakespeare Repertory. She performed on National Public Radio in the production of the radio play Born Guilty. Walsh later moved to New York City and joined the comedy troupe Burn Manhattan, performing in a number of Off-Broadway plays.

Her first major television appearance came on The Drew Carey Show when she portrayed Niki Fifer, Drew's girlfriend and a woman struggling with her weight. She went on to portray Carol Nelson in HBO's The Mind of the Married Man television series, and played Norm MacDonald's romantic interest in the sitcom The Norm Show. She continued to appear on television programs in supporting or bit parts until she was cast in the ABC hit, Grey's Anatomy, a prime time success, as the sexy and intriguing Addison Shepard.

Walsh has exhibited her talents on the big screen as well, with the crime drama Normal Life marking her film debut, playing the sister of bank robber Luke Perry, then starring as a kleptomaniac in Peppermills, and in the cult underground B-movie, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, Part 2, in the role as the sexy "Cricket". She had her first significant role in a major hollywood production as Will Ferrell's wife in the family comedy, Kicking And Screaming, alongside Robert Duvall and Mike Ditka.