Kim Dickens is an American actress. Her film debut was in the 1995 comedy film Palookaville. Dickens played lead roles in the films Truth or Consequences, N.M. (1997), Zero Effect (1998) and Mercury Rising (1998). Her other films include Great Expectations (1998), Hollow Man (2000), House of Sand and Fog (2003), Thank You for Smoking (2005), The Blind Side (2009), Gone Girl (2014), Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016), Lizzie (2018), Land (2021), and The Good Nurse (2022).

Kim Dickens
Dickens at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con
Born
EducationVanderbilt University (BA)
OccupationActress
Years active1995–present
Partner

On television, Dickens had regular roles in the drama series Deadwood (2004–2006; 2019), Treme (2010–2013), and House of Cards (2015–2017). She starred as Madison Clark in the AMC horror drama series Fear the Walking Dead (2015–2018; 2022–2023).[2]

Early life and education

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Dickens was born in Huntsville, Alabama, to Pam (Clark) Howell and Justin Dickens,[3] a country-western singer.[4] She graduated from that city's Lee High School and attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in communications. Dickens soon moved to New York City, where she worked as a waitress, to continue her studies at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, and graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.[4]

Career

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1990s

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Dickens made her stage debut in a student production of David Mamet's Sexual Perversity in Chicago, at Vanderbilt University.[5] In 1995, she made her professional screen debut in Alan Taylor's comedy film Palookaville, playing Vincent Gallo's character's girlfriend.[6] Dickens spent the following year playing supporting roles in the made-for-television films Voice from the Grave and Two Mothers for Zachary. In 1997, Dickens returned to film, playing the female leading role opposite Vincent Gallo again in neo-noir thriller Truth or Consequences, N.M., directed by Kiefer Sutherland. The film received negative reviews from critics.[7] In 1998, she appeared in Great Expectations, a film adaptation of the Charles Dickens's novel, and had the female leading roles in Zero Effect and Mercury Rising. In 1999, she starred alongside Antonio Banderas in the comedy film, The White River Kid.[8]

2000s

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In 2000, Dickens had co-starring roles in films Committed opposite Heather Graham, Hollow Man with Elisabeth Shue and Kevin Bacon, and The Gift starring Cate Blanchett. The following year, she played the lead in the independent film, Things Behind the Sun. Dickens received critical acclaim for her performance, and an Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead nomination.[9][10] Later in 2001, Dickens was a regular cast member in the short-lived CBS police drama series, Big Apple.[6] In 2003, she co-starred opposite Felicity Huffman and Eric Stoltz in the Showtime miniseries Out of Order.[11]

During the 2000s, Dickens mostly worked on television, playing Joanie Stubbs, the madam, in the HBO western Deadwood from 2004 to 2006. She was nominated for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2007 for this role. She was a regular cast member in the unaired HBO comedy series, 12 Miles of Bad Road starring Lily Tomlin and Mary Kay Place.[12] She had recurring roles on Lost and Friday Night Lights. In film, Dickens co-starred in House of Sand and Fog (2003) with Jennifer Connelly and Ben Kingsley, Thank You for Smoking (2005), Wild Tigers I Have Known (2006), Red (2008) and The Blind Side (2009).[13]

2010s

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From 2010 to 2013, Dickens was a regular on the HBO ensemble drama series, Treme, as chef Janette Desautel. From 2013 to 2014, she had a recurring role as Colette Jane in the FX crime drama, Sons of Anarchy.[14] In 2015, she had a recurring role in the Netflix political drama House of Cards. In film, she co-starred in Footloose (2011) and At Any Price (2012). In 2014, she had a major supporting role as Detective Rhonda Boney in the psychological thriller film Gone Girl, directed by David Fincher,[15][16] and in 2016, co-starred as the lead character's mother in Tim Burton's film Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.[17]

In August 2015, Dickens began playing Madison Clark in The Walking Dead companion series, Fear the Walking Dead, on AMC.[18][19][20] Dickens left the series in June 2018.[21] She returned to the series in 2022.

2020s

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Dickens appeared in the 2021 film Land.[22]

In December 2021, it was announced on Talking Dead that Dickens would be returning to Fear the Walking Dead in the seventh season and would be a series regular in its eighth season.[2] Dickens herself made a surprise guest appearance on the show to make the announcement to fans personally.

Personal life

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Dickens moved to Los Angeles in the late 1990s.[23] She is currently in a relationship with musician and actress Leisha Hailey, known for being a member of the musical duo The Murmurs, as well as her acting on The L Word.[24]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1995 Palookaville Laurie
1997 Truth or Consequences, N.M. Addy Monroe
1998 Zero Effect Gloria Sullivan
Great Expectations Maggie
Mercury Rising Stacey
1999 The White River Kid Apple Lisa
2000 Committed Jenny
Hollow Man Sarah Kennedy Nominated — Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Best Supporting Actress - Science Fiction
The Gift Linda
2001 Things Behind the Sun Sherry Nominated — Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead
2003 House of Sand and Fog Carol Burdon
2004 Goodnight, Joseph Parker Muriel
2005 Thank You for Smoking Jill Naylor
2006 Wild Tigers I Have Known The Counselor
2007 Waiting John's Wife Short film
2008 Red Carrie
2009 One Way to Valhalla Jenny
The Blind Side Mrs. Boswell
2011 Footloose Lulu Warnicker
2012 At Any Price Irene Whipple
2014 Gone Girl Detective Rhonda Boney Nominated — Central Ohio Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble
Nominated — Georgia Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble
2016 Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children Maryann Portman
2018 Lizzie Emma Borden
2019 The Highwaymen Gladys Hamer
2021 Land Emma
2022 The In Between Vickie
The Good Nurse Linda Garran

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1995 New York News Unknown Episode: "Cost of Living"
1996 Swift Justice Annie Peters Episode: "Out on a Limb"
Voice from the Grave Terry Deveroux Television film
Two Mothers for Zachary Nancy
1997 Spin City Veronica Episode: "Kiss Me, Stupid"
Heart Full of Rain Susan Doyle Television film
2001 Big Apple Sarah Day 8 episodes
2003 Out of Order Danni 6 episodes
2004–2006 Deadwood Joanie Stubbs 33 episodes
Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
2006 Numb3rs Crystal Hoyle 2 episodes
2006–2009 Lost Cassidy Phillips 4 episodes
2008 12 Miles of Bad Road Jonelle Shakespeare 6 episodes
1% Rhonda Unsold television pilot
2008–2009 Friday Night Lights Shelby Saracen 11 episodes
2009 FlashForward Kate Stark Episode: "137 Sekunden"
2010 Reviving Ophelia Le Anne Television film
2010–2013 Treme Janette Desautel 36 episodes
2013 Second Sight Samantha Wilde Unsold television pilot
2013–2014 Sons of Anarchy Colette Jane 7 episodes
2013 White Collar Jill Episode: "Quantico Closure"
2014 Red Zone Helen Weller Unsold television pilot[25]
2015–2017 House of Cards Kate Baldwin 9 episodes
2015–2018;
2022–2023
Fear the Walking Dead Madison Clark Lead role (seasons 14, 8)
Guest star (season 7)
Nominated — Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television (2016–2017)[26][27]
2016–2018; 2021 Talking Dead Herself 7 episodes
2019 Deadwood: The Movie Joanie Stubbs Television film
2020 Briarpatch Eve Raytek 9 episodes

Video games

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Year Title Voice role Notes
2020 Half-Life: Alyx Scientist

References

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  1. ^ Kate Moennig and Leisha Hailey (September 14, 2022). "Honey Pot". PANTS with Kate and Leisha (Podcast). Apple. Event occurs at 11:00. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Bonomolo, Cameron (December 6, 2021). "Kim Dickens Returns for Fear the Walking Dead Seasons 7 and 8". comicbook.com. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  3. ^ "Lee High School". Huntsville Alabama Alumni. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
  4. ^ a b Hollywood Life
  5. ^ "Kim Dickens biography and filmography". Tribute.ca. June 18, 1965. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  6. ^ a b Dargis, Manohla (2016). "Movies". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  7. ^ "Truth or Consequences, N.M.". Rotten Tomatoes. May 2, 1997. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  8. ^ "The White River Kid". Rotten Tomatoes. November 12, 1999. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  9. ^ "Things Behind the Sun". Rotten Tomatoes. January 19, 2001. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  10. ^ "Paedophile film leads awards race". BBC News. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  11. ^ "Out of Order". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  12. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (March 18, 2008). "HBO won't run 12 Miles". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
  13. ^ "Kim Dickens". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  14. ^ Ausiello, Michael (May 10, 2013). "Sons of Anarchy Season 6 Cast: Kim Dickens to Play Madame". TVLine. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  15. ^ Fleming, Mike (September 5, 2013). "David Fincher, Fox Set Gone Girl Cast; Tyler Perry To Play Defense Attorney". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  16. ^ "Gone Girl". Rotten Tomatoes. October 3, 2014. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  17. ^ Kroll, Justin (March 9, 2015). "Kim Dickens Joins Tim Burton's Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children". Variety. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  18. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (December 23, 2014). "Kim Dickens To Star In The Walking Dead Companion Series On AMC". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
  19. ^ Prudom, Laura (December 23, 2014). "Walking Dead Companion Series Sets Kim Dickens as Female Lead". Variety. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
  20. ^ Zuckerman, Esther (December 23, 2014). "Gone Girl actress Kim Dickens cast in Walking Dead spinoff". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
  21. ^ Ross, Dalton (June 11, 2018). "Fear the Walking Dead star Kim Dickens 'heartbroken' about finale shocker". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  22. ^ Linden, Sheri (January 31, 2021). "'Land': Film Review | Sundance 2021". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  23. ^ "Kim Dickens". Filmbug. Retrieved July 30, 2011.
  24. ^ Kate Moennig and Leisha Hailey (September 14, 2022). "Honey Pot". PANTS with Kate and Leisha (Podcast). Apple. Event occurs at 11:00. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  25. ^ "Kim Dickens Lands Female Lead In CBS Drama Pilot 'Red Zone'". Deadline Hollywood. March 17, 2014. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  26. ^ "2016 Saturn Awards Nominees Announced". Dread Central. February 24, 2016.
  27. ^ "The Academy of Science Fiction Fantasy and Horror Films". www.saturnawards.org. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
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