Kimberly McCullough
{{Short description|American actress (born 1978)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2012}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Kimberly McCullough
| image =
| birth_name = Kimberly Anne McCullough
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1978|3|5}}
| birth_place = Bellflower, California, U.S.
| occupation = {{hlist|Actress|director}}
| years_active = 1984–present
| spouse =
| children = 1
}}
Kimberly Anne McCullough{{cite web|date=March 5, 1978 |url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/34/Kim-Mccullough.html |title=Kim Mccullough Biography (1978–) |work=Film Reference |access-date=March 17, 2012}} (born March 5, 1978) is an American actress and television director. She is best known for her role as Robin Scorpio on the soap opera General Hospital, a role which she originated at age seven, playing the character on and off from 1985 to 2000 and 2004 to 2018, in addition to 2021. She has subsequently taken a step back from acting in order to focus on directing.{{cite web | url=https://www.soapcentral.com/general-hospital/news/2020/0106-kimberly_mccullough_retires_from_acting.php | title=General Hospital star Kimberly McCullough officially retired from acting | date=January 2020 }}
McCullough has also played the character in one episode of the GH spinoff Port Charles, and in a few episodes of All My Children. In 2007 and 2008, she portrayed Robin as one of the leading characters in the primetime GH spinoff, General Hospital: Night Shift.
McCullough is also an ABC Director Fellow, shadowing other directors.{{Cite news|url=https://www.inquisitr.com/5150898/general-hospital-star-kimberly-mccullough-to-direct-upcoming-episode-of-the-conners/|title='General Hospital' Star Kimberly McCullough To Direct Upcoming Episode Of 'The Conners'|date=2018-11-07|work=The Inquisitr|access-date=2018-11-08|language=en-US}}
Career
In 1985, after failing to land a role on the TV sitcom Webster, McCullough auditioned for the role of Robin Scorpio, the 6-year-old daughter of Robert Scorpio (Tristan Rogers) and Anna Devane (director/actress Finola Hughes). The producers made her audition 12 times but eventually gave her the part and her role became a popular success.Soapography, aired June 16, 2007, "Kimberly McCullough and Rick Springfield".{{full citation needed|date=March 2012}}
In the fall of 1985, McCullough made her debut during the Asian Quarter storyline, which showcased her acting skills alongside veteran actor Keye Luke through the majority of the storyline. In 1989 at the age of 11, McCullough won her first Daytime Emmy Award, for "Outstanding Juvenile Female in a Drama Series". One of her most memorable storylines began in 1995, when her teenage character contracted HIV after having unprotected sex with her boyfriend Stone, who was unknowingly infected with the virus and later died of AIDS. She won a second Daytime Emmy in 1996 for this storyline, once again for "Outstanding Younger Leading Actress in a Drama Series". In 1996, she took a short break from playing the character when she went off to college for a brief stint at New York University Tisch School of the Arts from 1996 to 1997, although she never graduated or received a degree from the university. On General Hospital, Robin Scorpio was also written out for the same reason, except the character was attending Yale University to study medicine. Unlike many soap opera characters, her character of Robin Scorpio has never been "sorased" but has aged in real time along with McCullough.
In 1998, she returned to the show, but then left once again to pursue other acting opportunities, which included co-starring in the primetime drama series Once and Again and Joan of Arcadia. She also wrote and directed the mockumentary Lil Star about girls in childhood beauty pageants, a story which allowed McCullough to draw on her own experiences. In 2001 she appeared in the movie Legally Blonde as Amy, one of Elle Woods' sorority sisters. After brief returns to General Hospital in 2000 and 2004, she returned on a permanent basis in October 2005, with her character Robin Scorpio a doctor, having graduated from medical school. In November 2011, McCullough announced her plans to leave General Hospital once again in order to pursue a career as a director, and her character was believed to have died on February 21, 2012. However, scenes airing on March 27, 2012, showed Robin to be alive and held captive in an undisclosed location, leaving the door open for her to return in the future. Starting in July 2012, McCullough made several guest appearances on General Hospital, and returned to the role in 2013.
She again went off contract in 2018, announcing her retirement from acting to focus on a directing career.{{cite web | url=https://www.soapcentral.com/general-hospital/news/2020/0106-kimberly_mccullough_retires_from_acting.php | title=General Hospital star Kimberly McCullough officially retired from acting | date=January 2020 }} McCullough did make an appearance in 2021 to participate in an on-air tribute for actor John Reilly, who played Sean Donely.{{cite web | url=https://www.soapcentral.com/general-hospital/news/2021/0517-kimberly_mccullough_returning_to_general_hospital_confirmed.php | title=CONFIRMED: Kimberly McCullough returning to General Hospital | date=May 17, 2021 }}
In 2011, McCullough directed the short film Nice Guys Finish Last. The film starred Danielle Harris and McCullough's General Hospital co-star Lexi Ainsworth.{{cite web|date=June 9, 2010 |url=http://daytimeconfidential.zap2it.com/2010/06/09/kimberly-mccullough-directs-co-star-lexi-ainsworth-in-nice-guys-finish-last |title=Kimberly McCullough Directs Co-Star Lexi Ainsworth in Nice Guys Finish Last |work=Daytime Confidential |access-date=March 17, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311032038/http://daytimeconfidential.zap2it.com/2010/06/09/kimberly-mccullough-directs-co-star-lexi-ainsworth-in-nice-guys-finish-last |archive-date=March 11, 2012 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/sj-mainproducer/niceguysfinishlast |title=From Director/Actress Kimberly McCullough by S.J. Main|work=FirstGiving |access-date=March 17, 2012}}
Personal life
{{BLP sources section|date=September 2021}}
McCullough was born in Bellflower, California. She has two older brothers and is of Mexican descent. Her mother is a dance teacher, who took her to rehearsals, and got her involved with acting. McCullough's first appearance was as a 7-month-old baby in a diaper commercial, co-starring with actress Juliet Mills. She started doing gymnastics at the age of 4, and performed as part of a group called the Gym Dandies. McCullough followed this up with a dancing part in Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo. McCullough dated actor Freddie Prinze Jr. from 1996 until 1999.{{cite magazine |last=Reed |first=J.D. |url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20142787,00.html |title=Fresh Prinze |magazine=People |date=November 18, 1996 |access-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205040228/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20142787,00.html | archive-date=February 5, 2009 | url-status=dead }}{{cite magazine |url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20134241,00.html |title=Buffy the Bachelor Slayer |magazine=People |date=April 30, 2001 |access-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081101091651/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20134241,00.html | archive-date=November 1, 2008 | url-status=dead }}
In a year-end blog post for 2015, McCullough revealed she had a miscarriage.{{cite news|author1=SOD|title=GH STAR REVEALS MISCARRIAGE|url=http://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/gh-star-reveals-miscarriage|access-date=January 3, 2016|work=Soap Opera Digest|agency=American Media, Inc.|date=January 3, 2016|location=United States}} In her 2016 Year End Wrap Up, she revealed she was pregnant again after her miscarriage.{{cite news|author1=Kimberly McCullough|title=2016 Year End Wrap Up|url=http://kimberlymccullough.com/2016-year-end-wrap|access-date=December 22, 2016|date=February 20, 2017}}{{cite news|author1=SOD|title=KIMBERLY MCCULLOUGH IS PREGNANT!|url=http://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/kimberly-mccullough-pregnant/|access-date=December 22, 2016|work=Soap Opera Digest|agency=American Media, Inc.|date=February 20, 2017|location=United States}} McCullough gave birth to her son, Otis, on June 7, 2017.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/whitewatercrew/status/872710358808449025
|title=Baby Otis was born today June 7th. To quote Mary J "I never knew there was a love like this before."|publisher=Twitter|access-date=June 8, 2017|date=June 8, 2017|last=McCullough|first=Kimberly}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
|---|
| scope=row| 1984
| Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo | Kimberly | |style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web |title=Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo Cast and Crew |url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/breakin-2-electric-boogaloo/cast/119292/ |website=TV Guide |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=August 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807110700/https://www.tvguide.com/movies/breakin-2-electric-boogaloo/cast/119292/ |archive-date=August 7, 2020 |url-status=live}} |
| scope=row| 1988
| Donna Orfus | |style="text-align:center;"| |
| scope=row| 1991
| Bugsy | Barbara Siegel | |style="text-align:center;"| |
| scope=row| 1992
| Lori Parker | |style="text-align:center;"| |
| scope=row| 2001
|Amy | |style="text-align:center;"| |
| scope=row| 2005
|Greener Mountains |Alice | |style="text-align:center;"| |
| scope=row| 2012
|Among Friends |Director's Girlfriend | |style="text-align:center;"| |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1985–2000 2004–2018 2021 |Series regular; guest appearances |
| 1987
|Abbey |Episode: "Masques" |
| 1992
|Lori Parker |Television film |
| 1996
|April Morgan |Episode: "Crosstown" |
| 1997
|Flavia |Episode: "Speaking in Tongues" |
| 1998
|Robin Scorpio |1 episode |
| 1999
|Jennifer Hobson |Episode: "Underground" |
| 1999
|{{TableTBA|N/A}} |Episode: unaired pilot |
| 1999–2000
|Jennifer |Recurring role, 9 episodes |
| 2000
|Phoebe |Episode: "Taboo or Not Taboo" |
| 2001
|DAG |Becky Jo Jensen |Episode: "America's Sweetheart" |
| 2001
|ER |Nori |Episode: "Fear of Commitment" |
| 2001
|Dying to Dance |Alyssa Lennox |Television film |
| 2001
|Robin Scorpio |Guest appearances |
| 2002
|Melissa Johnston |Episode: "Who Shot Dick?" |
| 2002
|Isabelle |Episode: "Four Fathers" |
| 2002
|Carly Sifton |Episode: "Big Brother" |
| 2002
|{{sortname|The|Shield}} |Deena |Episodes: "Blowback", "Pay in Pain" |
| 2003
|Chari |Episode: "Heart of Gold" |
| 2004
|CSI: Crime Scene Investigation |Vampire #3 |Episode: "Suckers" |
| 2004
|{{sortname|The|Stones|The Stones (TV series)}} |Audra |4 episodes |
| 2004
|{{sortname|The|Shield}} |Deena |Episode: "Streaks and Tips" |
| 2004–2005
|Beth Reinhart |Recurring role, 6 episodes |
| 2007–2008
|General Hospital: Night Shift |Robin Scorpio |Series regular |
| 2008
|{{sortname|The|Shield}} |Deena |Episode: "Game Face" |
| 2010
|Fake It Til You Make It |Decoy |Episode: "Wayne Brady Tweets" |
=As a director=
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
| Year
! Title ! class="unsortable" | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Shake It Up | Episode: "Haunt It Up" |
| 2015 | K.C. Undercover | Episode: "Operation: Other Side Part 2" |
| 2016 | Pretty Little Liars | 2 episodes |
| 2018 | Youth & Consequences | Miniseries; 2 episodes |
| 2018 | All About The Washingtons | 2 episodes |
| 2018 | Fuller House | Episode: "It’s Always Open" |
| 2018–2019 | One Day at a Time | 3 episodes |
| 2018–2019 | The Conners | 2 episodes |
| 2019 | The Cool Kids | Episode: "The Cool Kids Un-Retire" |
| 2019 | It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia | Episode: "Paddy's Has a Jumper" |
| 2019–2023 | High School Musical: The Musical: The Series | 14 episodes |
| 2019–2020 | The Bold Type | 3 episodes |
| 2020 | Carol's Second Act | Episode: "Blocking" |
| 2020 | Almost Family | Episode: "Permanent AF" |
| 2020 | Roswell, New Mexico | Episode: "I'll Stand By You" |
| 2021 | Fantasy Island | Episode: "Quantum Entanglement" |
| 2021 | With Love | Episode: "Valentine's Day" |
| 2022 | How I Met Your Father | Episode: "'The Fixer" |
Awards
All of McCullough's awards and nominations have been for her role as Robin Scorpio on General Hospital.
=Won=
- (1986) Young Artist Award, Outstanding Young Actress – Regular Daytime Serial
- (1986) Soap Opera Digest Award, Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress on a Daytime or Prime Time Serial
- (1986) Young Artist Award, Exceptional Performance by a Young Actress in a Daytime Series
- (1989) Daytime Emmy, Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series
- (1993) Soap Opera Digest Awards, Outstanding Child Actor
- (1996) Daytime Emmy, Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series
=Nominated=
- (1988) Young Artist Award, Best Young Actress Starring in a Television Drama Series
- (1989) Young Artist Award, Best Young Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
- (1989) Young Artist Award, Best Young Actress in Theater
- (1990) Young Artist Award, Best Young Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
- (1990) Daytime Emmy, Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series
- (1991) Daytime Emmy, Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series
- (1992) Soap Opera Digest Award, Outstanding Younger Leading Actress: Daytime
- (1995) Daytime Emmy, Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series
- (1997) YoungStar Award, Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Daytime TV Program
- (1997) Young Artist Award, Best Performance in a Daytime Drama – Young Actress
- (1997) Daytime Emmy, Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|id=0005205|name=Kimberly McCullough}}
{{Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Younger Actress}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McCullough, Kimberly}}
Category:20th-century American actresses
Category:21st-century American actresses
Category:Actresses from California
Category:American child actresses
Category:American soap opera actresses
Category:American television actresses
Category:People from Bellflower, California
Category:Daytime Emmy Award winners
Category:Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series winners