''Kate's Secret'' is a 1986 American

made-for-television A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

starring Meredith Baxter Birney,

Ben Masters Benjamin Masters (May 6, 1947 – January 11, 2023) was an American actor who is best known for his portrayal of Julian Crane in daytime drama ''Passions'' from July 8, 1999, to the show's final episode on August 7, 2008. Early life Masters wa ...

, Tracy Nelson, and

Edward Asner Eddie Asner (; November 15, 1929 – August 29, 2021) was an American actor and former president of the Screen Actors Guild. He is best remembered for portraying Lou Grant during the 1970s and early 1980s, on both ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' a ...

about a seemingly "perfect" suburban housewife and mother who is secretly suffering from

bulimia nervosa Bulimia nervosa, also known as simply bulimia, is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by purging or fasting, and excessive concern with body shape and weight. The aim of this activity is to expel the body of calories eaten ...

Synopsis

To those on the outside, Kate Stark ( Meredith Baxter Birney) leads an idyllic life; a successful husband (

), an adoring daughter (

Summer Phoenix Summer Joy Phoenix (née Bottom) is an American actress. She is the youngest sibling of actors River Phoenix, Rain Phoenix, Joaquin Phoenix, and Liberty Phoenix. Early life Phoenix was born in Winter Park, Florida. Her mother, Arlyn Sharon ...

), and a beautiful home. But beneath the surface, her life is less than ideal; a husband preoccupied with his career, a critical and domineering mother (Georgann Johnson), and a dark secret that not even her closest friends know: Kate is

bulimic Bulimia nervosa, also known as simply bulimia, is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by purging or fasting, and excessive concern with body shape and weight. The aim of this activity is to expel the body of calories eaten ...

. As the pressures in her life begin to mount, Kate obsessively diets and exercises, and habitually binges and purges while adroitly hiding her

eating disorder An eating disorder is a mental disorder defined by abnormal eating behaviors that negatively affect a person's physical or mental health. Only one eating disorder can be diagnosed at a given time. Types of eating disorders include binge eating ...

from all those around her. When Kate's bulimia eventually leads to a frightening accident that makes it clear to everyone that her illness is dangerous not only to herself, but to those closest to her, she is committed to rehabilitation in order to face the inner turmoil at the root of her disorder.

Cast

References

External links

* *
Secret''
at

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{{Arthur Allan Seidelman 1986 drama films American drama television films Films about eating disorders 1986 television films 1986 films Films directed by Arthur Allan Seidelman 1980s English-language films English-language drama films