Cady McClain

Cady McClain Biography

Cady McClain (born Katie McClain on October 13, 1969) is an American actress, singer, and author.

Early career

McClain's professional acting career began in 1978 at the age of 9, when she was featured in a commercial for Band-Aid bandages. She went on to appear in over thirty commercials for products including McDonald's, Amtrak, Kenner's "Strawberry Shortcake" dolls, Burger King, Mattel, Barbie, Maybelline, Shout Detergent, Pillsbury Pop 'n Fresh Rolls, Apple Kool Aid, Prell, Texaco and McCain's Chicken.

Among her notable early TV credits was a recurring role on St. Elsewhere, and an appearance on Cheers, as Coach's niece Joyce when she was 16 years old.

Other TV credits were as Virginia in Emmy Award winning TV Movie "Who WIll Love My Children," opposite Ann-Margret, "Robert Kennedy and His Times," as young Pat Kennedy (with River Phoenix and Chad Lowe), the ABC After School Special "Just a Regular Kid- An AIDS story" (with Christian Hoff and Dana Ashbrook), Danny Thomas' "One Big Family" (w/Michael DeLuise), Spenser for Hire, (w/Robert Urich and Ron LcLarty), Lou Grant, (w/Ed Asner) the TV Movie Home Fires (w/Guy Boyd and Juliette Lewis) and the Michael McKean TV Movie, Town and Gown.

Film

Her first film was in 1982 starring opposite Peter O'Toole in My Favorite Year as Tess, his daughter. She then appeared as a dancer in the Herb Ross film, Pennies From Heaven starring Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters.

Cady later appeared in the independent films "Simple Justice," (1989) with Doris Roberts and Cesar Romero, Alma Mater (2008) with Alexander Chaplin and WIll Lyman, Retreat (2004) with Michael E. Knight, and Soldier's Heart," (2008).

"Soldier's Heart," a film about veterans and PTSD (w/ James Kiberd, directed by Brian Delate), won the prestigious "Best Narrative Feature" award at the GI Film Festival in Washington D.C.

In 2008 Cady also appeared in "Home Movie." In the film, Cady plays Claire Poe, a psychiatrist, mother and wife. Home Movie, The story is of a family's descent into darkness. In a "Blair Witch" style mockumentary we follow the Poe children's violent tendencies and their parents effort to help them. Directed by Chris Denham, it won the Sitgis Film Festival Citizen Cane Award for Best Direction.

Theatre

Cady began working in the theatre at a very young age. Her first professional production was as a chorus girl in "The Music Man" and "Finian's Rainbow" at Fullerton College. Other small California productions followed such as "Wait Until Dark" and "Dames at Sea." She was cast in a workshop production of the then titled "40" starring Bonnie Franklin, and was brought to New York with the production as part of a pre-Broadway tryout at the John Drew Theater in East Hampton. With Lyrics by Judith Viorst, the production title was changed to "Happy Birthday and Other Humiliations." She went on to work with Mary Beth Piel and Ron Rains in "A Little Night Music" at the New York Opera Ensemble, "Quiet on the Set" at the Westbeth Theater, as Hero in "Much Ado About Nothing" at the Lincoln Center Stages, "Comedy of Errors" at the Hudson Theatre Guild, "Barefoot in the Park" at the Westbury Music Fair, "Self Offense" with the Cucaracha Theatre Company, "Inventions of Farewell" at HERE Theatre (a one woman show directed by Estep Nagy), and "The Red Address" as Lady, written by David Ives.

She also wrote, produced and acted in a one-woman piece of performance art called "Mona 7," which dealt with abuse and its affect on a young woman.

Daytime television

McClain is best known for two high-profile roles she has had on daytime television: the role of Dixie Cooney Martin on All My Children and her role on As the World Turns as Rosanna Cabot Montgomery.

McClain won her first Daytime Emmy in 1990 for "Outstanding Ingenue" on All My Children and in 2004, won her second Daytime Emmy Award for her portrayal of Rosanna on As the World Turns.

After McClain's stint at As the World Turns concluded, rumors circulated about a return to All My Children. In December 2005, McClain made an appearance on the show, and her popular character returned full-time a few months later. In a surprising turn of events, the character of Dixie was killed off via poisoned pancakes on January 30, 2007, which caused a massive negative outcry from longtime fans and soap opera media. A front page headline on a Soap Opera Weekly cover story quoted McClain as saying, "There was no negotiation."

McClain confirmed via a blog entry on her official site that she would return to her Emmy-winning role of Rosanna on As the World Turns. McClain returned to the screen July 30, 2007, when her character woke up from a two-year coma. After a six month run, McClain decided to leave the show again. Her last air date was January 28, 2008.

McClain then returned to All My Children on May 2, 2008 for six weeks as a ghostly Dixie to help guide Tad Martin (the character's former lover and husband) to their daughter Kate. She departed the series on June 12, 2008.

On March 2, 2009, McClain confirmed on her blog that had agreed to return to As the World Turns for another six month contract beginning May 20, 2009. When it announced ATWT was cancelled in 2010, she returned again for the shows final episodes.

McClain returned once again to All My Children in March 2010 for a short stint as a ghostly Dixie to help son J.R. fight his battle with cancer. She again returned on April 20, 2010 to welcome Palmer Cortlandt to heaven at the end of a tribute episode for James Mitchell.

She was wooed back to All My Children one last time by the new head writer Lorraine Broderick in October 2010. Unfortunately, the show was cancelled before she could complete negotiations on a year long contract. She did agree to return for the last summer of the show's airing on ABC, from May to August 2011. She has recently agreed to appear on the show's online revival, much to the delight of fans. When asked about it, she wrote on her blog:

"Since word got out that AMC/PP [All My Children/Prospect Park] contacted me, I thought it was best to wait a bit until I confirmed it out of respect for the fact that I am still sorting out the details of the situation. However, I feel confident in telling you that I will be part of the AMC Internet Re-boot."

Filmography

Film
Year	Title	Role	Notes
1982	My Favorite Year	Tess
1983	Who Will Love My Children?	Virginia Fray	TV Movie
1989	Simple Justice	Janet DiLorenzo
2002	Alma Mater	Gwen Knight
2004	Retreat	Paige
2008	Soldier's Heart	Linda
2008	Home Movie	Clare

Television
Year	Title	Role	Notes
1983-1985	St. Elsewhere	Erin Scheinfeld	5 episodes
1985	Robert Kennedy & His Times	Young Pat	TV mini-series
1987	One Big Family	Paige Baker	Episode: "The Tutor"
1987	Cheers	Joyce Pantusso	Episode: "The Godfather: Part 3"
1987	ABC Afterschool Special	Nicole	Episode: "Just a Regular Kid: An AIDS Story"
1988	Spenser: For Hire	Laurie	Episode: "To the End of the Line"
1988-1996 1998-2002 2005-2008 2010-2011 2013	All My Children	Dixie Cooney
2003-2010	As The World Turns	Rosanna Cabot
2004	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit	Alice McCain	Episode: "Outcry"

Blog

In 2006 maintained a blog on the ABC website entitled "Confessions of a Mad Soap Star," which earned over 2 million hits. After she left AMC, she continued to blog on her own website. Her blog is widely respected and has received a strong fan following. She also a YouTube page where she posts V-Blogs, videos of her music, and comedy sketches. She has also frequently contributed to PolicyMic, where she writes about pop culture and social issues, collaborated with liberal columnist Matthew Rozsa, and maintained live news feeds about current events, including the 2013 Golden Globe and Grammy Awards. She has also brought attention to new artists, including cooks Craig Thornton of Wolvesmouth and Kevin and Amanda of KevinandAmanda.com. Her autobiography "Murdering My Youth" is due out later this year.

Personal life

McClain was born in Burbank, California, and was raised in [Laguna Niguel, Newport Beach, Irvine and Los Angeles. She attended high school at Corona del Mar High in Newport Beach, University High School in Irvine and Hoover High School in Glendale, CA.

Cady moved to New York City when she was seventeen. She has lived there ever since.

She is a painter, writes poetry, and plays guitar. Her website displays artwork and collage that she has created. She released two books of her poetry and art in 2008, "Conversations with the Invisible," and "Licked."

She is also an accomplished singer, and in 2006 released an album, Blue Glitter Fish.

In 2010 she released a live album of her music, "Club Passim," recorded at Club Passim in Cambridge, MA.

In December 2012, McClain announced her engagement to actor, director, auteur, and former co-star, Jon Lindstrom. Lindstrom, like McClain, is a well-respected actor. He is best known for his role as Kevin Collins in "General Hospital" and "Port Charles."