Kate Wilkinson
Kate Wilkinson (October 25, 1916 – February 9, 1993) was an American stage, film and television actress. Career. She is best known to TV audiences for her roles as Viola Stapleton in the CBS soap opera "Guiding Light", a role she played from 1976 to 1981, and Clara Hudson on the NBC soap opera "Another World", which she played from 1987 to 1989. In addition to making many guest appearances in supporting roles on television as well as a number of films, she also was a regular on theatre. Among her stage roles were Mrs. McCollough in 1972-73 's "Last of Mrs. Lincoln" (she also reprised her role in the 1976 film version), and Clairee in the original Off-Broadway production of "Steel Magnolias" in 1987 (a role Olympia Dukakis would play in the film version). In 1980, she originated the role of Libby in "The Whales of August", which Bette Davis played in the film version. Her last role was a 1990 guest appearance on "Law & Order". Death. Kate Wilkinson died from bone cancer in 1993, aged 76.