Kelly Lee Carlson (born February 17, 1976) is a former American actress and model. She is best known for her role as Kimber Henry in the
FX drama series ''
Nip/Tuck
''Nip/Tuck'' is an American medical drama television series created by Ryan Murphy that aired on FX in the United States for six seasons from 2003 to 2010. The series, which also incorporates elements of crime, black comedy, family drama, sati ...
''.
Career
Carlson was raised in
Bloomington, Minnesota
Bloomington is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States. It is located on the north bank of the Minnesota River above its confluence with the Mississippi River, south of downtown Minneapolis and just south of the Interstate 494/Inter ...
, and attended the
Academy of Holy Angels
Academy of Holy Angels (AHA) is a private Catholic high school in Richfield, Minnesota. Located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, the nationally recognized college-preparatory school educates more than 600 students ...
in
Richfield, Minnesota
Richfield is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota. An inner-ring suburb of Minneapolis, Richfield is bordered by Minneapolis to the north, Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport and Fort Snelling to the east, Bloomington to the south, ...
. In addition to her acting career, she has also modeled, including the advertisement campaigns for
Miller Lite
Miller Lite is a 4.2% ABV reduced calorie light American lager beer produced by Molson Coors. It was introduced in 1973 in limited markets by the Miller Brewing Company (then owned by Philip Morris, Inc.) and began being distributed nationa ...
,
Rembrandt
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (; ; 15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669), mononymously known as Rembrandt was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker, and Drawing, draughtsman. He is generally considered one of the greatest visual artists in ...
, and
Oliver Peoples
Oliver Peoples is an American luxury eyewear brand established in 1986, and owned by Luxottica. The brand is sold in Oliver Peoples boutiques, online, and in fashion boutiques and department stores throughout the world. Oliver Peoples eyewear is ...
sunglasses.
She appeared in the August 2004 issue of ''
Maxim Magazine
''Maxim'' (stylized in all caps) is an international men's magazine, devised and launched in the United Kingdom in 1995, but based in New York City since 1997. It is known for its photography of actors, singers and female models whose careers ar ...
'' and on the cover of the October 2004 issue of ''
Stuff Magazine
''Stuff'' is a British consumer electronics magazine published by Kelsey Media.
History
''Stuff'' was first published in Britain in November 1996 by Dennis Publishing. A bimonthly title, it followed the success of magazines such as '' FHM'' ...
''.
Carlson is the spokesperson for
Smile Network International,
a Minnesota-based
humanitarian
Humanitarianism is an ideology centered on the value of human life, whereby humans practice benevolent treatment and provide assistance to other humans to reduce suffering and improve the conditions of humanity for moral, altruistic, and emotiona ...
organization that provides
reconstructive surgeries and related health care services to impoverished children and young adults in
developing countries
A developing country is a sovereign state with a less-developed Secondary sector of the economy, industrial base and a lower Human Development Index (HDI) relative to developed countries. However, this definition is not universally agreed upon. ...
. An enthusiastic
equestrian
The word equestrian is a reference to equestrianism, or horseback riding, derived from Latin ' and ', "horse".
Horseback riding (or riding in British English)
Examples of this are:
*Equestrian sports
*Equestrian order, one of the upper classes in ...
since age seven, Carlson lobbied a bill to prevent both inhumane transport of American horses to slaughterhouses in
Mexico
Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...
and Canada as well as roundups of wild horses by government authorities in January 2010.
Carlson started out in theater, performing in productions of ''Vanities'', ''Cheaters'', ''Girls Guide to Chaos'', ''
Charlotte's Web
''Charlotte's Web'' is a book of children's literature by American author E. B. White and illustrated by Garth Williams. It was published on October 15, 1952, by Harper & Brothers. It tells the story of a livestock pig named Wilbur and his frie ...
'', and ''Can't Trust the Mate''. In 2001, Carlson was listed on ''Tear Sheet Magazine''s 50 Most Beautiful list
and also appeared as an extra in the film ''
3000 Miles to Graceland''. In 2003, she booked a guest role in the pilot episode of the
FX drama series ''Nip/Tuck''. Her character, Kimber Henry, quickly became popular with audiences, and she appeared in several episodes of the first and second seasons, eventually becoming a regular in the show's
third season. She remained with the series until it wrapped up production in March 2010.
Outside of ''Nip/Tuck'', she has appeared in several feature films, including ''
Paparazzi
Paparazzi (singular form paparazzo) are independent photographers who take pictures of high-profile people, such as actors, musicians, athletes, politicians, and other celebrities who go about their daily life routines. Paparazzi are known f ...
'' (2004), ''
The Marine'' (2006), the
direct-to-video
Direct-to-video or straight-to-video refers to the release of a film, television series, short or special to the public immediately on home video formats rather than an initial theatrical release or television premiere. This distribution strat ...
sequel ''
Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation'' (2004), and a supporting role in the comedy film ''
Made of Honor'' (2008) alongside
Patrick Dempsey
Patrick Galen Dempsey (born January 13, 1966) is an American actor and racing driver best known for playing neurosurgeon Derek Shepherd in ''Grey's Anatomy'' (2005–15; 2020–21). He is also known for his leading man romantic film roles, such ...
and
Michelle Monaghan
Michelle Lynn Monaghan ( , born March 23, 1976) is an American actress. She has starred in the films ''Kiss Kiss Bang Bang'' (2005), ''Gone Baby Gone'' (2007), ''Made of Honor'' (2008), ''Eagle Eye'' (2008), ''Trucker (film), Trucker'' (2008), '' ...
. She has also made guest spots on ''
Everwood
''Everwood'' is an American drama television series created by Greg Berlanti. Berlanti, Mickey Liddell, Rina Mimoun, Andrew A. Ackerman and Michael Green served as executive producers. The series aired on the WB from September 16, 2002, to Jun ...
'', ''
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'', ''
CSI: Miami'', ''
Monk
A monk (; from , ''monachos'', "single, solitary" via Latin ) is a man who is a member of a religious order and lives in a monastery. A monk usually lives his life in prayer and contemplation. The concept is ancient and can be seen in many reli ...
'', and ''
The Finder''. She was also listed at #43 on ''
Maxim
Maxim or Maksim may refer to:
Entertainment
*Maxim (magazine), ''Maxim'' (magazine), an international men's magazine
** Maxim (Australia), ''Maxim'' (Australia), the Australian edition
** Maxim (India), ''Maxim'' (India), the Indian edition
*Maxim ...
'' magazine's Hot 100 of 2005 list, and ranked at #94 on their Hot 100 of 2007 list.
She was initially cast in the 2007 film ''Dead of Winter'' (later retitled ''
Killer Movie
''Killer Movie'' is a 2008 American slasher film released in the United States on April 24, 2008. The film premiered during the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. It stars Paul Wesley, Kaley Cuoco, Jason London, Torrey DeVitto and Leig ...
'') alongside
Leighton Meester
Leighton Marissa Meester ( ; born April 9, 1986) is an American actress, singer, and model. She is known for her starring role as Blair Waldorf on the CW television series ''Gossip Girl'', which ran from 2007 to 2012. She has also appeared in fi ...
and
Kaley Cuoco
Kaley Christine Cuoco ( ; born November 30, 1985) is an American actress. She starred as Bridget Hennessy on the ABC sitcom '' 8 Simple Rules'' (2002–2005), Penny on the CBS sitcom ''The Big Bang Theory'' (2007–2019), and as the title ch ...
, but was replaced by former
The Pussycat Dolls
The Pussycat Dolls were an American girl group and dance ensemble, founded in Los Angeles, California, by choreographer Robin Antin in 1995 as a neo-burlesque troupe. At the suggestion of Jimmy Iovine, Antin decided to take the troupe mainstrea ...
turned actress
Cyia Batten before filming began, due to creative differences with the director. After completing work on the final episodes of ''Nip/Tuck'' in 2009, Carlson segued into a recurring role on
The CW
The CW Network, LLC (commonly referred to as The CW or simply CW) is an American commercial broadcast television network which is controlled by Nexstar Media Group through a 75% ownership interest. The network's name is derived from the firs ...
sequel of ''
Melrose Place
''Melrose Place'' is an American prime-time television soap opera that aired on Fox from July 8, 1992, to May 24, 1999, for seven seasons. The show follows the lives of a group of young adults living in an apartment complex in West Hollywood, ...
'', playing a Hollywood madam. She also had a short appearance in the 2009 Canadian television film ''
Degrassi Goes Hollywood
''Degrassi Goes Hollywood'', known in syndication as "Paradise City", is a 2009 Canadian television film based on the teen drama series '' Degrassi: The Next Generation,'' the fourth entry of the '' Degrassi'' television franchise''.'' Directed ...
''. She was next seen in ''Ghostfacers'', an online spin-off of
The CW
The CW Network, LLC (commonly referred to as The CW or simply CW) is an American commercial broadcast television network which is controlled by Nexstar Media Group through a 75% ownership interest. The network's name is derived from the firs ...
dark fantasy series ''
Supernatural
Supernatural phenomena or entities are those beyond the Scientific law, laws of nature. The term is derived from Medieval Latin , from Latin 'above, beyond, outside of' + 'nature'. Although the corollary term "nature" has had multiple meanin ...
''.
Personal life
Carlson married Dan Stanchfield in 2015, who was then in the
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...
; she retired from acting in 2013, when he received a
permanent change of station In the United States Armed Forces, a permanent change of station (PCS) is the assignment, detail, or transfer of a member or unit to a different duty station under competent orders which neither specify the duty as temporary, nor provide for further ...
to San Diego, but did return for one role, in a faith-based direct-to-video film in 2020.
Carlson is trained in
Kali
Kali (; , ), also called Kalika, is a major goddess in Hinduism, primarily associated with time, death and destruction. Kali is also connected with transcendental knowledge and is the first of the ten Mahavidyas, a group of goddesses who p ...
. She is also a sponsor and volunteer for several organizations, including LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society and Wounded Warriors.
Filmography
Film
Television
Web
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Carlson, Kelly
1976 births
Living people
Actresses from Minneapolis
American eskrimadors
American film actresses
American television actresses
People from Bloomington, Minnesota
Sportspeople from Minneapolis
21st-century American actresses