Kate Burton
Born
September 10, 1957 (67 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Geneva, Switzerland
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.

The Surrender
Barbara
2025

Oscar Wilde About America
2025

guts
Gabby
2024

Our Son
Maggie "Miggie"
2023

Dumb Money
Elaine Gill
2023

Heaven, I Suppose
Cheryl
2023

The Anne Frank Gift Shop
Ilse
2023

Breaking
Tami Stackhouse
2022
Sandra Day O'Connor: The First
Narrator (voice)
2021

The Codebreaker
Narrator (voice)
2021

Where'd You Go, Bernadette
Ellen Idelson
2019

At First Light
Kate
2018

Noël Coward's Present Laughter
Liz Essendine
2017

Martyrs
Eleanor
2015

Identity Theft
Anna
2015

Bleeding Heart
Martha
2015

Amok
Dr. Wilson
2015

Don't Look Back
Dr. Jeanette Barnes
2014

Barefoot
Mrs. Wheeler
2014

Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel: Live from Lincoln Center
Mrs. Mullin
2013

Mariachi Gringo
Anne
2012

Liberal Arts
Susan
2012

2 Days in New York
Bella
2012

Caris' Peace
Self
2011

Puncture
Senator O'Reilly
2011

127 Hours
Aron's Mom
2010

Remember Me
Janine
2010

Consent
Susan
2010

Washingtonienne
Joy
2009

Spooner
Alice Spooner
2009

What Just Happened
Doctor Randall
2008

Max Payne
Nicole Horne
2008

Hidden Treasure of the Mississippi
Aunt Birdy
2008

Quid Pro Quo
Merilee
2008

Sherrybaby
Marcia Swanson
2006

Stay
Mrs. Letham
2005

Ernest Hemingway: Rivers to the Sea
Narrator (voice)
2005

The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer
Connie Posey
2003

Three Sisters
Olga
2003

Obsessed
Sara Miller
2002

Swimfan
Carla Cronin
2002

Unfaithful
Tracy
2002

The Opportunists
Rest Home Sister
2000

Ellen Foster
Abigail Montford
1998

Celebrity
Robin's Friend Cheryl
1998

The Ice Storm
Dorothy Franklin
1997

Looking for Richard
Self
1996

August
Helen Blathwaite
1996

Love Matters
Deborah
1993

Big Trouble in Little China
Margo
1986
Violent Ends

Mistrial
Katherine Donohue
1996

The First Wives Club
Woman in Bed
1996

Life with Mikey
Mrs. Burns
1993
Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre
Self
1989

In from the Cold? A Portrait of Richard Burton
Self
1988

Uncle Tom's Cabin
Ophelia
1987

Alice in Wonderland
Alice
1983

Anne of the Thousand Days
Serving Maid (uncredited)
1969

Death on the Brandywine
Ann Riley
BULLDOZER
Dr. Diane Roddy · (1 episode)
2025

So Help Me Todd
Joan · (1 episode)
2022

Bosch: Legacy
Ida Porter · (5 episodes)
2022

The Dropout
Rochelle Gibbons · (4 episodes)
2022

Inventing Anna
Nora Radford · (3 episodes)
2022

The Mosquito Coast
Margot's Mom · (1 episode)
2021

The Vote
Narrator (voice) · (2 episodes)
2020

Perfect Harmony
Julie · (1 episode)
2019

Prodigal Son
Sarah Windsor · (1 episode)
2019

Charmed
Celeste · (1 episode)
2018

FBI
Evelyn Kates · (1 episode)
2018

The Gifted
Dr. Madeline Risman · (2 episodes)
2017

13 Reasons Why
Dr. Hughes · (1 episode)
2017

This Is Us
Barbara · (2 episodes)
2016

Supergirl
Isabel Nal (voice) · (1 episode)
2015

Supergirl
Isabel Nal · (2 episodes)
2015

Madam Secretary
Maureen McCord · (1 episode)
2014

Extant
Fiona Stanton · (6 episodes)
2014

Full Circle
Vera Quinn · (24 episodes)
2013

Elementary
Maureen Dannon · (1 episode)
2012

Revolution
Dr. Jane Warren · (1 episode)
2012

Veep
Barbara Hallowes · (3 episodes)
2012

Scandal
Sally Langston · (42 episodes)
2012

Key & Peele
Hillary Clinton · (1 episode)
2012

Grimm
Marie Kessler · (2 episodes)
2011

The Deep End
(1 episode)
2010

Modern Family
Iris Fennerman · (1 episode)
2009

The Good Wife
Victoria Adler · (3 episodes)
2009

Eleventh Hour
(1 episode)
2008

Justice
(1 episode)
2006

The Closer
Kate Wycoff · (1 episode)
2005

Empire Falls
Cindy Whiting · (2 episodes)
2005

Grey's Anatomy
Ellis Grey · (28 episodes)
2005

Numb3rs
(2 episodes)
2005

Medium
Bonnie Barrister · (1 episode)
2005

Rescue Me
Rose · (8 episodes)
2004

Working Shakespeare
(5 episodes)
2003

Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Stephanie Ufland · (1 episode)
2001

100 Centre Street
Sheila Byrne · (1 episode)
2001

The West Wing
Sarah Brainerd · (1 episode)
1999

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Annette Cole · (1 episode)
1999

Judging Amy
Dr. Sheri Jordan · (1 episode)
1999

The Practice
A.D.A. Susan Alexander · (9 episodes)
1997
Notes For My Daughter
Brenda Gardner
1995

Monty
Fran Richardson · (13 episodes)
1994
Home Fires
Anne Kramer · (6 episodes)
1992

Brooklyn Bridge
(1 episode)
1991

Law & Order
Sister Bettina · (1 episode)
1990

Law & Order
Erica Gardner · (1 episode)
1990

Law & Order
Defense Attorney Erica Gardner · (3 episodes)
1990

American Experience
Narrator · (2 episodes)
1988

Spenser: For Hire
(1 episode)
1985

Evergreen
Agatha Bradford · (1 episode)
1985

Ellis Island
Vanessa Ogden · (3 episodes)
1984

Great Performances
Alice · (1 episode)
1971

Tony Awards
Self - Nominee · (1 episode)
1956

Hallmark Hall of Fame
Abigail · (1 episode)
1951