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

drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...

television film A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a Terrestr ...

directed by

Arthur Allan Seidelman Arthur Allan Seidelman (born 1937 in New York City) is an American television director, television, film director, film, and theatre director and an occasional writer, producer, and actor. His works are distinguished by a humane, probing, and sympa ...

, written by Susan Seeger and Denise De Garmo, and starring

Meredith Baxter Birney Meredith Ann Baxter (born June 21, 1947) is an American actress and producer. She is known for her roles on the CBS sitcom ''Bridget Loves Bernie'' (1972–1973), ABC drama series ''Family'' (1976–1980) and the NBC sitcom ''Family Ties'' (1982 ...

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. He is most notable for portraying Lou Grant on the sitcom ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' (1970–1977) and drama '' Lou Grant'' (1977–1982), making him one of the few ...

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

bulimia nervosa Bulimia nervosa, also known simply as bulimia, is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating (eating large quantities of food in a short period of time, often feeling out of control) followed by compensatory behaviors, such as self-indu ...

. ''Kate's Secret'' aired on

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It is one of NBCUniversal's ...

on November 17, 1986.

Synopsis

To those on the outside, Kate Stark leads an idyllic life; a successful husband, an adoring daughter, 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, and a dark secret that not even her closest friends know: Kate is

bulimic Bulimia nervosa, also known simply as bulimia, is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating (eating large quantities of food in a short period of time, often feeling out of control) followed by compensatory behaviors, such as self-induc ...

. 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 adversely affect a person's health, physical or mental health, mental health. These behaviors may include eating too much food or too little food. Types of eatin ...

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 MyLifetime.com {{Arthur Allan Seidelman 1986 television films 1986 films 1986 drama films 1980s American films 1980s English-language films American drama television films English-language drama films Films about eating disorders Films directed by Arthur Allan Seidelman Films scored by J. Peter Robinson NBC original films