Kathryn Taylor Smith was born in Chicago, IL. and raised in Memphis, TN. Kathryn is a graduate of Memphis East High School and obtained her B.S. in Psychology from Southeast Missouri State University and M.S. in Clinical Psychology from Emporia State University. Kathryn was honored with numerous distinctions during her collegiate career. She was recognized as a Presidential Scholar, a recipient of the Minority Student Academic Excellence Award, a three year recipient of the Minority Student Leader Award, Nominated for Homecoming Woman of the Year, a 3 time Div. II Indoor & Outdoor All-American in track & field, and named her University’s NCAA Female Athlete of the Year. Kathryn was also featured as one of Kansas City Magazine’s, “Top 29 under 30.”
Before pursuing a career in entertainment, Kathryn worked as an Outreach Therapist for a local battered women’s shelter; an Adult Basic Educator (GED) for the Kansas City Missouri School District, and an Aids Awareness & Education Advocate through the KU Medical School’s Dramatic Aids Education Project.
Currently, Kathryn has been acting and modeling for the past 15 years, starring in countless feature films, television shows, commercials, and print ads. She has most recently been seen on the TV shows Criminal Minds, Black-ISH, Grey’s Anatomy, Hawaii Five-0, Shameless, Better Things, Future Man, The Rookie, Fuller House as well as a national commercial for Microsoft and a national print ad for T-Mobile. She has been featured in Black Enterprise and Savoy Magazines. She has also written and produced independent projects such as “Homeless Destiny,” “The Marriage Lottery,” “Kai” and “Mouthpiece.” Kathryn’s upcoming project’s includes the play, “Platinum Club,” web series “Taylor Made” and a short film on Alzheimer’s disease entitled “Forget-Me-Knot.”
She is currently on a national tour performing her award winning solo show “A Mile In My Shoes.” In this poetic dramedy she portrays 19 characters based on personal interviews and research with past and present members of the homeless community and those who advocate for them. “A Mile In My Shoes” has won the Hollywood Fringe Festival Encore award, Atlanta Black Theatre Festival’s Best of the Fest Award - Best Actor and was nominated for a 2020 NAACP Theatre Award for Best Solo Show - 99 seat theatre.
Kathryn is a member of “Toastmasters International” and uses her success as an actress, producer, writer and motivational speaker to fulfill her purpose of serving as a “Life Educator.” She enjoys motivational speaking, particularly on issues dealing with female youth empowerment, marriage and family & living your best life.
Kathryn is a humanitarian at heart, offering her time and energy to causes such as Junior Achievement, the City of Refuge Church Usher Board and Chrysalis, Inc. She is the President of the LA chapter of Mocha Moms, Inc, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and the Organization of Black Screenwriters. She was the first African American Miss Kansas USA, and a former Navy Reservist who holds a brown belt in Kenpo Karate. She is proud to say that she lives her life volunteering and being of service to others.
Kathryn lives in Los Angeles, CA. with her husband Judge, J. Christopher Smith and their 5 year old daughter, Jacqueline and 1 year old son, Titan. Kathryn is a lifetime member of the prestigious Actors Studio – West, where she has studied acting for over 13 years.
“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” – Muhammad Ali
www.kathryntaylorsmith.com
Social Media: IG: @memphiskatt / FB @ kathryntaylorsmith / Twitter: kathrynjtaylor
