Quinlan was born in Pasadena, California, the daughter of Josephine (née Zachry), a military supply supervisor, and Robert Quinlan, a television sports director. She was raised in Mill Valley, California, where she attended Tamalpais High School and began her acting career. She has been married to actor Bruce Abbott since April 12, 1994. They have two children.

Quinlan made her film debut in George Lucas' 1973 nostalgic look at the early sixties, American Graffiti at the age of 19 (although she did appear in an uncredited role in 1972's One is a Lonely Number). She has appeared in over 50 films, but is best known for her roles as Deborah, a schizophrenic, in the film version of I Never Promised You a Rose Garden for which she earned a Golden Globe nomination Read more...

Kathleen Denise Quinlan (born November 19, 1954) is an Academy Award-nominated American actress, mostly seen on television and in motion pictures.