Katherine Woodville was a British actress who appeared in many films and television shows, most notably as Natira, the leader of the Yonada, in the original Star Trek series. She died of cancer on June 5, 2013, at the age of 75. In this article, we will explore her life, career, and the cause of her death.
Early Life and Career
Katherine Woodville was born as Catherine Woodville on March 12, 1938, in Ewell, England. She was the daughter of Rosemary Henn Woodville Mason and Richard Woodville, a solicitor. She had two sisters, Susan and Jane.
She began her acting career in 1955, appearing in various British films and television shows, such as The Clue of the New Pin, The Avengers, Danger Man, and The Saint. She changed her professional name to Kate Woodville in 1967, when she moved to the United States.
Star Trek and Other Roles
In 1968, she landed one of her most memorable roles as Natira, the political and spiritual leader of the Yonada, a generation ship that was unaware of its true nature. She appeared in the Star Trek episode “For the World Is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky”, where she fell in love with Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley), who discovered that he had a terminal illness.
She continued to work in various American films and television shows, such as Mission: Impossible, It Takes a Thief, Mannix, The Rockford Files, Days of Our Lives, and Eight Is Enough. She also appeared in two episodes of The Saint with her first husband, Patrick Macnee.
She retired from acting in 1979, after appearing in The New Adventures of Wonder Woman as Adele Kobler.
Personal Life and Death
Katherine Woodville was married four times. Her first husband was Michael Julian Anderson Wenn, whom she married in 1959 and divorced shortly after. Her second husband was Patrick Macnee, the star of The Avengers, whom she married in 1965 and divorced in 1969. Her third husband was Jerrold Freedman, an American film and television director and novelist, whom she married in 1970 and divorced in 1975. Her fourth and final husband was Edward Albert, an actor and son of Eddie Albert, whom she married in 1979 and remained with until his death in 2006. They had one daughter together, Thais Albert, who is a singer/songwriter and poet.
Katherine Woodville died of cancer on June 5, 2013, in Portland, Oregon. She was 75 years old. Her ashes were sprinkled off Malibu, California at Point Dume.
