Kathleen Burke was an American actor who is best known for her roles in Island of Lost Souls, The Last Outpost, and The Lion Man.
Personal and Family Life
Kathleen Burke was born on September 5, 1913, in Hammond, Indiana, USA. She had a career that began as a fashion model and included work on stage and radio in Chicago from a young age. Kathleen was married three times—first to Glen Nelson Rardin, then to Jose Fernandez, and lastly to Forrest Lloyd Smith, with whom she remained until her death.
Career
While working as a dental assistant, Kathleen entered a contest held by Paramount Pictures for the role of Lota the Panther Woman in Island of Lost Souls. She was chosen from over 60,000 entrants, which launched her brief film career, where she often played exotic characters and second leads in various productions during the 1930s.
Death and Legacy
Kathleen Burke passed away on April 9, 1980, in Chicago, Illinois, due to respiratory failure. Despite a relatively short film career, her role as the Panther Woman remains a significant part of her legacy, and she is remembered for her unique contributions to early horror cinema.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Island of Lost Souls | 1932-12-24 | Lota the Panther Woman |
| The Lives of a Bengal Lancer | 1935-01-11 | Tania Volkanskaya |
| Murders in the Zoo | 1933-03-31 | Evelyn Gorman |
| The Fighting Westerner | 1935-03-01 | Flora Ballard |
| Six of a Kind | 1934-02-09 | Woman (uncredited) |
| Nevada | 1935-11-29 | Hettie Ide |
| Mutiny Ahead | 1935-03-01 | Carol Bixby |
| The Lion Man | 1936-08-12 | Eulilah |
| Boy of the Streets | 1938-01-08 | Julie Stone |
| The Mad Game | 1933-10-27 | Marilyn Kirk |
| Sunset Pass | 1933-05-26 | Jane Preston |
| Craig’s Wife | 1936-09-25 | Adelaide Passmore |
| The Sheik Steps Out | 1937-09-05 | Gloria Parker |
| Rascals | 1938-05-20 | Dr. Carter’s Nurse |
| The Last Outpost | 1935-10-11 | Ilya |
| The Merry Widow | 1934-11-02 | Prisoner (uncredited) |
| Good Dame | 1934-03-16 | Zandra |
| The Awakening of Jim Burke | 1935-05-18 | Laura |
| Navy Wife | 1935-09-17 | Serena Morrison |
| Torch Singer | 1933-09-08 | Sobbing Girl |
| Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back | 1934-08-15 | Jane Sothern |
| School for Girls | 1934-03-22 | Gladys Deacon |
| Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film | 2014-08-01 | The Panther Woman (archive footage) |