Kate's Secret

1986 American TV series or program

Susan Seeger
Denise De Garmo

Directed byArthur Allan SeidelmanStarring

Meredith Baxter Birney
Ben Masters
Georgann Johnson
Tracy Nelson
Shari Belafonte
Leslie Bevis
Edward Asner
Mackenzie Phillips

Music byJ. Peter RobinsonCountry of originUnited StatesOriginal languageEnglishProductionExecutive producerAndrea BaynesProducerStephanie AustinCinematographyDennis DalzellEditorMillie MooreRunning time96 minutesProduction companies

Andrea Baynes Productions
Columbia Pictures Television

Original releaseNetworkNBCReleaseNovember 17, 1986 (1986-11-17)

Kate's Secret is a 1986 American drama television film directed by Arthur Allan Seidelman, written by Susan Seeger and Denise De Garmo, and starring Meredith Baxter Birney, Ben Masters, Tracy Nelson, and Edward Asner. The story is about a seemingly "perfect" suburban housewife and mother who is secretly suffering from bulimia nervosa.

Kate's Secret aired on NBC 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. 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 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

Actor	Role
Meredith Baxter Birney	Kate Stark
Ben Masters	Jack Stark
Georgann Johnson	Faith
Tracy Nelson	Patch Reed
Shari Belafonte	Gail
Leslie Bevis	Monica Fields
Edward Asner	Dr. Resnick
Mackenzie Phillips	Deyna
Summer Phoenix	Becky Stark
Sharon Spelman	Liz Reed
Mindy Seeger	Markie
Isabel Grandin	Dot
Liz Torres	Laura
Gwynne Gilford	Lorna
Rosanna Huffman	Megan
Ron Asher	Teen at Pizza Parlor
Liberty Phoenix	Brownie Scout