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Kim Zimmer
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Kimberly Jo Zimmer (born February 2, 1955)[2] is an American actress, best known for her role as Reva Shayne on the CBS soap opera Guiding Light. For this portrayal, she has won four Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.[3]
Key Information
Career
[edit]Zimmer's career began with stage work; an early television role was her portrayal of the character of Bonnie Harmer on One Life to Live in 1978. In 1979, she was tapped to replace Kathleen Turner as Nola Dancy Aldrich on The Doctors. (She later appeared opposite Turner in the 1981 film Body Heat in a plot that addressed similarities in their appearance.) For much of her stint, she was the show's leading lady, but left the show in July 1982 on a maternity leave, escorted off the show by her real life husband, A.C. Weary, who played Nola's newest conquest. She would return one last time later in the year for the funeral of her former mother-in-law, Mona Croft. She had a brief return to One Life to Live from February through November 1983 as Echo DiSavoy.
In 1983, Zimmer was cast in the role for which she is best known, the character of Reva Shayne on the television soap opera Guiding Light. Her portrayal of Reva was a focus of the show until Zimmer left in 1990. She returned to Guiding Light in April 1995 and portrayed Reva until the show's conclusion in September 2009. While Zimmer's Reva was paired with several leading men, her work with Robert Newman (Josh) earned them the label of "supercouple."
Zimmer left Guiding Light in July 1990 and moved to the West Coast for five years, during which she played Jodie DeWitt Walker on Santa Barbara from 1992 to 1993. In 1995, Zimmer appeared in an episode of Seinfeld ("The Diplomat's Club"), as Mr. Pitt's attorney, who suspected Elaine and Jerry were trying to kill Mr. Pitt.
In 2010, Zimmer returned to the role of Echo on One Life to Live.[4] Zimmer was featured in a story along with former Guiding Light co-star Jerry verDorn (Clint Buchanan), Robin Strasser (Dorian Cramer) and Erika Slezak (Viki Lord).[5]
Zimmer has also appeared in several episodic television programs, including Designing Women, MacGyver, Models, Inc., and Babylon 5 (episode "And Now For a Word", year 1995). She also appeared in several made-for-television movies.
Zimmer has starred in a number of theater roles, including several at Augusta's Barn Theatre.[6] In 2011, it was announced that Zimmer would be cast in the Off-Broadway international hit Love, Loss, and What I Wore. She starred as Mrs. Hayes in Connecticut Repertory Theatre's production of Odysseus D.O.A., running through March 4, 2012. Zimmer made her musical theatre debut when she joined the first North American tour of Broadway's Wicked. She played the role of Madame Morrible from 14 August 2012 through 13 December 2013.[7] Zimmer returned to the role with the first North American tour on 30 September 2014.[8] Zimmer has also appeared in several productions of the musical Gypsy, first in 2006 at the Barn Theatre in Augusta, Michigan, and in 2015 at the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera opposite former Guiding Light leading man Robert Newman.
In 2011 she released her memoir called I'm Just Sayin'!: Three Deaths, Seven Husbands and a Clone! My Life as a Daytime Diva.[9]
In 2023, after several years off-screen, Zimmer returned to acting starring in the drama film You Sing Louder, I Sing Louder starring opposite Ewan McGregor and her son Jake Weary.[10]
Personal life
[edit]Zimmer was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the daughter of Burdina Elva (known as "Dede") Zimmer and Walter Jack Zimmer.[11][12] She has an older sister Karen Ann (née Zimmer) Witzel.[12] She graduated from Forest Hills Central High School in Ada Township, which is just east of Grand Rapids, and then studied at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, and at American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.[3] She is married to actor/director A.C. Weary (Allen Cudney Weary), and they have three children: Rachel, Max, and Jake Weary. Jake is also an actor; he appeared on As the World Turns as Luke Snyder in 2005, and has had various guest roles, including on Law and Order: Special Victims Unit and starred as Deran Cody in Animal Kingdom from 2016 to 2022. She resides in Montclair, New Jersey.
On May 16, 2024, during an appearance on a special Stand Up to Cancer benefit episode of the YouTube podcast series The Locher Room, Zimmer revealed that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2023 and was undergoing treatment.[13]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | One Life to Live | Bonnie Harmon | May 3, 1978 – 1978 |
| 1979–1982 | The Doctors | Nola Dancy Aldrich | Series regular: August 18, 1979 – 1982 |
| 1981 | Body Heat | Mary Ann | |
| 1983, 2010–2011 | One Life to Live | Echo DiSavoy | Series regular, from March to October 1983, October 1, 2010 – October 14, 2011 |
| 1983–1990, 1995–2009 | Guiding Light | Reva Shayne | Series regular, from November 28, 1983 – August 1990, April 28, 1995 – September 18, 2009 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (1985, 1987, 1990, 2006) Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama (1988, 2000) Nominated - Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (1986, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007) Nominated - Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama (1986, 1989, 1990, 1998, 1999, 2003) Nominated — Gold Derby Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (2004, 2006) |
| 1989 | Trenchcoat in Paradise | Claire Hollander | TV movie |
| 1989 | Designing Women | Mavis | Episode: "The Rowdy Girls" |
| 1989–1990 | MacGyver | Police Lt. Kate Murphy | 3 episodes |
| 1991 | Hell Hath No Fury | Marlene | TV movie |
| 1991 | Keeping Secrets | Maureen | TV movie |
| 1992 | FBI: The Untold Stories | Barbara Oswald | Episode: "Lady Skyjacker" |
| 1992–1993 | Santa Barbara | Jodie Walker | Series regular Nominated - Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama (1993) |
| 1994 | The Disappearance of Vonnie | Vonnie Kaczmarek Rickman | TV movie |
| 1994–1995 | Models Inc. | Joan | 6 episodes |
| 1995 | University Hospital | Dr. Karen Hale | Episode: "Shadow of a Doubt" |
| 1995 | Babylon 5 | Cynthia Torqueman | Episode: "And Now for a Word" |
| 1995 | Seinfeld | Lenore | Episode: "The Diplomat's Club" |
| 2003 | Shortcut to Happiness | Patty | |
| 2006 | Little Secrets | Nico | |
| 2008 | The Van Pelt Family | Janet Van Pelt | Short film |
| 2010 | Steamboat | Rhonda | Web-series Nominated — Indie Series Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress |
| 2010 | Freshman Father | Dean Frost | TV movie |
| 2013 | 23 Blast | Mary Freeman | |
| 2019 | Venice the Series | Tori | 8 episodes |
| 2023 | You Sing Louder, I Sing Louder | Elsie |
References
[edit]- ^ "Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- ^ "Archive of American Television -- Kim Zimmer Inverview". emmytvlegends.org. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
- ^ a b "Kim Zimmer: Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
- ^ Michael Logan (September 21, 2010). "Soap Veteran Kim Zimmer Joins One Life to Live - Today's News: Our Take". TVGuide.com. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
- ^ Matt Webb Mitovich (April 15, 2011). "AMC and OLTL: Stars From Daytime and Primetime Sound Off on ABC's Scrubbed Soaps". TVLine. Archived from the original on August 28, 2011. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
- ^ "See Kim Live..." Archived from the original on March 16, 2012.
- ^ Gioia, Michael (August 14, 2012). "Kim Zimmer and Cliffton Hall Fly Into Wicked North American Tour Aug. 14; Patti Murin Is in the Wings". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (August 18, 2014). "Four-Time Emmy Winner Will Return to National Tour of Wicked". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
- ^ Michael Logan (July 22, 2011). "Finally, A Tell-All That Tells All: Kim Zimmer Dishes About Her New Memoir". TV Guide. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
- ^ James, Caryn (March 12, 2023). "'You Sing Loud, I Sing Louder' Review: Ewan McGregor and Daughter Clara McGregor in an Uneven Parent-Child Drama". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ "Kim Zimmer". TVGuide.com.
- ^ a b LLC, LifeStoryNet. "Burdina Zimmer : April 9, 2009 - Bellaire, MI". www.lifestorynet.com.
- ^ "Daytime Stands Up: A Benefit for Stand Up To Cancer - We All Have a Story" – via www.youtube.com.
External links
[edit]Kim Zimmer
View on GrokipediaEarly life and education
Upbringing
Kimberly Jo Zimmer was born on February 2, 1955, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to parents Jack and Didi Zimmer.[1] She grew up in a middle-class Midwestern family alongside an older sister, Karen, in a close-knit environment that valued community involvement.[1][6] During her childhood, Zimmer participated in various activities that highlighted her athletic and creative sides, including competitive diving, in which she eventually became a professional.[1] Her early interest in performing arts was sparked through involvement in local theater and school productions, fostering a passion for acting amid the supportive cultural scene of Grand Rapids.[6] Although she initially aspired to become a veterinarian, these experiences shifted her focus toward the stage.[6] Zimmer graduated from Forest Hills Central High School in 1973, where the emphasis on education and extracurricular creativity in her suburban Michigan upbringing solidified her commitment to pursuing a career in the performing arts.[1] At age 18, she transitioned to formal acting training at nearby Hope College.[7]Training
After graduating from high school, Kim Zimmer pursued higher education at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, where she studied acting.[1] During this period, she participated in the college's summer repertory theater program, gaining initial hands-on experience in performance.[8] These opportunities allowed her to develop foundational skills through stage work and regional auditions during breaks, building her confidence in live theater settings. She then continued her training at the American Conservatory Theatre (ACT) in San Francisco. The program's rigorous curriculum emphasized voice training, movement, and classical theater techniques, equipping her with essential tools for professional performance.[9] At ACT, she honed skills in improvisation and dialect work, which became integral to her versatile acting approach. Influences from the faculty further shaped her understanding of method acting and stage presence, fostering a disciplined artistic foundation.[10]Career
Soap opera roles
Kim Zimmer began her soap opera career in 1978 with a brief role as the escaped fugitive Bonnie Harmon on ABC's One Life to Live, a character inspired by the Patty Hearst case.[11] This debut marked her entry into daytime television, where she portrayed a terrorist involved in high-stakes drama.[2] In 1979, Zimmer joined NBC's The Doctors as Nola Dancy Aldrich, replacing Kathleen Turner in the role of a quirky, scheming young woman navigating family secrets and romantic entanglements; she remained with the series until 1982.[11] Her performance helped solidify her presence in the genre, showcasing her ability to handle comedic and dramatic elements in a show known for its medical and personal storylines.[12] Zimmer's breakthrough came in 1983 when she originated the role of Reva Shayne on CBS's Guiding Light, a bold farm girl from Oklahoma who became a central figure in Springfield's drama, appearing in over 1,600 episodes across two stints from 1983 to 1990 and 1995 to 2009.[13] Reva's arcs included multiple marriages—to Josh Lewis, Kyle Sampson, Billy Lewis, Alan Spaulding, Richard Winslow, and Jeffrey O'Neill—amnesia following a plane crash, and a battle with breast cancer that highlighted themes of resilience and survival.[1] For her portrayal, Zimmer earned four Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1985, 1987, 1990, and 2006, recognizing her dynamic depiction of a complex, unapologetic female lead.[1] Later in 1983, Zimmer returned to One Life to Live as Echo DiSavoy, a scheming singer and ex-wife of the late Charles Delaware, involved in custody battles and romantic rivalries until October; she reprised the role from 2010 to 2011 during the show's final season. In 1992, she took on the role of Jodie DeWitt Walker on NBC's Santa Barbara, a determined mother entangled in mystery and family conflicts, staying until 1993.[14] Over more than 25 years in daytime soaps, Zimmer's roles, particularly Reva, influenced the genre by embodying empowered women who drove narratives through passion, conflict, and redemption, setting tropes for enduring female protagonists.[15]Theater and prime-time work
Zimmer's theater career gained momentum following her initial soap opera appearances, with notable off-Broadway work including the role of Collette in Four Dogs and a Bone in 1993, a satirical play by John Patrick Shanley that highlighted her comedic versatility.[16] In the 1990s, she also performed her own nightclub acts, showcasing her singing and dancing talents developed during her training.[1] These performances provided a platform for her multifaceted skills beyond television. In prime-time television and film, Zimmer demonstrated her range in select non-soap roles during the 1980s and 1990s. She debuted on the big screen in Body Heat (1981), playing Mary Ann, a seductive neighbor whose resemblance to the protagonist leads to a fatal case of mistaken identity in a boathouse explosion.[17] On television, she guest-starred as Murphy in the MacGyver episode "Deadly Dreams" (1989), portraying a woman entangled in a psychological thriller involving nightmares and murder.[18] Later, she recurred as Joan, a sophisticated older woman hiring a young escort, in the Fox prime-time soap Models Inc. (1994–1995).[19] A significant milestone came in musical theater when Zimmer took on the role of the scheming headmistress Madame Morrible in the first national tour of Wicked, performing from August 2012 through December 2013. She returned to the character in the first national tour from September 2014 to March 2015, earning acclaim for her powerful vocals and sharp comedic timing that brought fresh energy to the villainous role.[20][21] Zimmer continued her stage work with the off-Broadway ensemble rotation in Nora and Delia Ephron's Love, Loss, and What I Wore in 2011, sharing anecdotes through a series of monologues that drew on her personal experiences.[16] She also appeared in regional productions, such as Rose in Gypsy at Michigan's Barn Theatre in 2006, emphasizing her ability to lead musicals with emotional depth.[22] Theater offered Zimmer a vital creative outlet during breaks from her soap commitments, enabling her to amass over 20 stage credits focused on complex, character-driven roles that allowed for live audience interaction and vocal performance. Her established television profile often facilitated these opportunities, bridging her daytime fame to live theater bookings.[23][22]Later projects
Following the cancellation of Guiding Light in 2009, Kim Zimmer entered a hiatus from acting during the 2010s, prioritizing family and pursuing only selective projects. This period marked a deliberate step back from the demands of regular television work, allowing her to focus on personal life while maintaining a low profile in the industry.[24] Zimmer made a notable return to the screen in 2023 with the independent drama Bleeding Love, directed by Emma Westenberg, where she portrayed Elsie, an eccentric tow truck driver encountered by the protagonists on their road trip.[25] The film, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2023 and was released theatrically in February 2024, featured Zimmer sharing scenes with her son, Jake Weary, who played a supporting role as Kip. This mother-son collaboration highlighted a familial dynamic on set, adding a layer of authenticity to the production's themes of reconnection and vulnerability.[24] Her performance as the quirky, no-nonsense Elsie was praised for injecting energy and humor into the film's introspective narrative.[26] In 2025, Zimmer returned to the stage in a lead role for Theatre Raleigh's revival of Horton Foote's Pulitzer Prize-winning play The Trip to Bountiful, running from March 26 to April 6.[27] She embodied Carrie Watts, an elderly widow yearning for one last visit to her childhood home, in a production that emphasized themes of aging, independence, and quiet defiance against familial constraints.[5] Directed by Judy Long, the revival drew on Zimmer's decades of dramatic experience to deliver a poignant portrayal, resonating with audiences through its exploration of personal freedom in later life.[28] Post-2020, Zimmer's projects have remained limited in number but strategically impactful, reflecting a resurgence shaped by personal challenges and a commitment to meaningful roles.[3] She made a public appearance in October 2025 on The Locher Room, joining her husband A.C. Weary for a live interview discussing her career longevity and selective comebacks.[29] This emphasis on quality over quantity underscores how her recovery from personal hurdles has guided a thoughtful revival, leveraging her four prior Daytime Emmy wins to secure roles that align with her artistic priorities.[24]Personal life
Family
Zimmer has been married to actor and director A.C. Weary since August 29, 1981.[30] The couple met early in their careers while working in daytime television, where Weary had roles on series such as Ryan's Hope and The Edge of Night, and they have since collaborated professionally in the industry.[7] Their enduring partnership, spanning over 44 years as of 2025, has been a cornerstone of Zimmer's personal life amid her acting commitments.[24] Zimmer and Weary have three children: a daughter, Rachel, and two sons, Max and Jake Weary.[7] Jake Weary, born in 1990, has followed in his parents' footsteps as an actor, with notable roles including Cyrus Petrillo on Pretty Little Liars and a part alongside his mother in the 2024 film Bleeding Love.[24][31] The family has shown strong support for Jake's career, mirroring Zimmer's own path in entertainment.[32] The family resides in Montclair, New Jersey, where they have lived since 1984, fostering a close-knit environment that balances professional pursuits with personal milestones.[33] Zimmer has often highlighted the joys of family life, including supporting her children's endeavors while maintaining her own artistic interests.[11]Health
In November 2023, Kim Zimmer was diagnosed with breast cancer following a routine mammogram.[34] She publicly disclosed the diagnosis on May 16, 2024, during the Daytime Stands Up to Cancer virtual event, where she shared her experience to raise awareness among soap opera fans and the broader community.[35] Zimmer underwent a mastectomy as her initial treatment and completed a course of chemotherapy, with her final infusion occurring on May 21, 2024.[36] By early 2025, she had finished her primary therapy and was focusing on recovery, crediting her resilience and support system for helping her through the process; in interviews, she described herself as a "tough broad" who prioritized early detection through regular screenings.[34] Her diagnosis briefly impacted project scheduling, allowing time for treatment before resuming professional commitments.[5] The real-life health challenge echoed a storyline from Zimmer's tenure on Guiding Light, where her character Reva Shayne faced a breast cancer diagnosis in 2006, though Zimmer has noted no direct influence from the plot on her personal situation.[37] Post-diagnosis, Zimmer has actively participated in cancer awareness initiatives, including the 2024 Stand Up to Cancer benefit, drawing on her soap opera legacy to advocate for mammograms and community support in the fight against the disease.[38]Filmography
Television
Kim Zimmer began her television career in daytime soap operas, quickly establishing herself with recurring and leading roles before branching into guest spots on prime-time series. Her extensive work in soaps spanned decades, with notable long-term commitments that garnered critical acclaim and multiple Daytime Emmy Awards for her performances.[15]| Year(s) | Show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | One Life to Live | Bonnie Harmer | Brief recurring role as a terrorist character.[1] |
| 1979–1982 | The Doctors | Nola Dancy Aldrich | Series regular; replaced Kathleen Turner in the role; appeared in approximately 800 episodes.[11] |
| 1983–1990, 1995–1999, 2006–2009 | Guiding Light | Reva Shayne | Iconic leading role; multiple stints totaling over 3,500 episodes; earned four Daytime Emmy Awards (1985, 1987, 1990, 2006).[39] |
| 1983, 2010–2011 | One Life to Live | Echo DiSavoy | Series regular (1983, ~150 episodes); recurring return (2010–2011, ~50 episodes).[40] |
| 1989 | MacGyver | Police Lt. Kate Murphy | Guest role in episode "Deadly Dreams." |
| 1989 | Designing Women | Mavis | Guest role in episode "The Rowdy Girls." |
| 1992–1993 | Santa Barbara | Jodie DeWitt Walker | Recurring role as love interest to Warren Lockridge; approximately 100 episodes.[41] |
| 1994 | Models Inc. | Joan | Recurring guest; 6 episodes.[42] |
| 1995 | Seinfeld | Lenore | Guest role as Justin Pitt's attorney in episode "The Diplomat's Club."[43] |
| 1995 | Babylon 5 | Cynthia Torqueman | Guest role in episode "And Now for a Word." |