From ballet stages to Emmy podiums, Katherine LaNasa’s four-decade journey through Hollywood represents resilience, versatility, and artistic evolution at its finest. This New Orleans-born actress transitioned from professional dancer to acclaimed television star, capturing hearts with performances across sitcoms, dramas, and feature films. Her 2025 Emmy Award win for portraying Nurse Dana Evans in HBO Max’s “The Pitt” marked the pinnacle of a career that has seen her work alongside Hollywood legends and establish herself as one of television’s most dependable talents.
Who is Katherine LaNasa
Katherine LaNasa is an American actress, dancer, and choreographer born on December 1, 1966, in New Orleans, Louisiana. She gained recognition through leading roles in television series including “Three Sisters” (2001-2002), “Truth Be Told” (2019-2023), and “Katy Keene” (2020), alongside notable film appearances in “The Campaign,” “The Frozen Ground,” and “Jayne Mansfield’s Car”. In 2025, she won her first Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her portrayal of ER Nurse Dana Evans in the medical drama “The Pitt”.
Katherine LaNasa Biography / Wiki
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Katherine LaNasa |
| Date of Birth | December 1, 1966 |
| Age | 59 years (as of January 2026) |
| Birthplace | New Orleans, Louisiana, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Actress, Dancer, Choreographer |
| Years Active | 1989–present |
| Children | 2 (Son Henry Hopper, Daughter Eloise McCue Show) |
| Current Series | The Pitt (2025–present) |
| Notable Award | Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (2025) |
Katherine LaNasa Education
Katherine LaNasa trained as a ballet dancer and attended the North Carolina School of Arts in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She also studied at the Neighbourhood Playhouse in New York, a prestigious acting conservatory. Her formal training combined classical ballet technique with dramatic arts, preparing her for a multifaceted career in entertainment.
Early Life
Katherine LaNasa was born on December 1, 1966, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to mother Anne LaNasa. She has a sibling named Steven LaNasa. Growing up in New Orleans, LaNasa was drawn to dance from an early age and pursued professional training in ballet.
She established herself as a professional dancer before transitioning to acting. Her dance career included performing with the prestigious Karole Armitage Ballet in New York. This foundation in ballet provided her with discipline, physical expressiveness, and stage presence that would later enhance her acting performances.
Katherine LaNasa Profession
Katherine LaNasa is a professional actress specializing in television and film. She works across multiple genres including comedy, drama, and thriller productions. Her versatility allows her to portray diverse characters ranging from comedic roles in sitcoms to complex dramatic characters in serious dramas.
In addition to acting, LaNasa has worked as a choreographer, applying her extensive dance background to entertainment productions. She has also taken on producing roles in select projects throughout her career. Her professional skill set encompasses performance, movement direction, and creative production.
Katherine LaNasa Career Journey
Katherine LaNasa’s entertainment career began as a professional ballet dancer with the Karole Armitage Ballet in New York. Her transition to acting occurred in 1989 after her marriage to actor Dennis Hopper, who encouraged her to pursue screen work. She made early television appearances in the 1990s, building her resume with guest roles on popular series.
In 1994, she appeared in the short film “Honey, I Shrunk the Audience” as Reporter Christy. She gained recurring exposure through guest appearances on hit shows including “3rd Rock from the Sun” (1996), where she met her second husband French Stewart, “Seinfeld” (1995), and “The Practice” (1997). In the 1995 “Seinfeld” episode “The Beard,” she played Jerry’s policewoman girlfriend who made him take a lie detector test.
Her breakthrough came in 2001 when she landed the leading role of Bess on the NBC sitcom “Three Sisters” (2001-2002), marking her first starring television role. Though the series was short-lived, it established her as a capable lead actress. Throughout the 2000s, LaNasa accumulated prominent guest spots and recurring roles on acclaimed series including “Judging Amy” (CBS, 1999-2005), “Big Love” (HBO, 2006-2011), and “Two and a Half Men”.
In 2012, she appeared in the political comedy film “The Campaign” alongside Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis, playing Rose Brady. The same year, she starred in the independent film “Jayne Mansfield’s Car” as Donna. In 2013, she portrayed Sophia Bowers on NBC’s “Deception”. She continued building her filmography with “The Frozen Ground” (2013) and “The Lucky Ones” (2008).
From 2012 to 2013, LaNasa had a recurring role as Lizzie Ambrose on the Western crime drama “Longmire”. She played Shannon Greene in the fourth and final season of “Devious Maids” in 2016. From 2017 to 2018, she portrayed Sally on the Bravo series “Imposters,” and in 2018 played ruthless power broker Ada Stone on the CW’s reboot of “Dynasty”.
In 2019, LaNasa secured a major role as Noa Havilland in the Apple TV+ thriller series “Truth Be Told,” starring alongside Octavia Spencer. She appeared in the first three seasons from 2019 to 2023. In 2020, she starred as Gloria Grandbilt on the short-lived CW musical drama “Katy Keene”.
Her career reached new heights in 2025 when she was cast as ER Nurse Dana Evans in the HBO Max medical drama “The Pitt,” created by John Wells and starring Noah Wyle. The series, which unfolds in a Pittsburgh trauma center with each of its 15 episodes depicting a single day from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., premiered to critical acclaim. LaNasa’s nuanced portrayal of a dedicated emergency room nurse earned her the 2025 Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, her first Emmy win from her first nomination.
Upon receiving the Emmy, LaNasa emotionally thanked executive producer John Wells, the show’s writers, her fellow cast members including Noah Wyle, and “all the nurses that inspired Dana”. She upset predictions that “The White Lotus” would dominate the category, which had four nominees in the same field. The show has been renewed, with Season 2 set to air in 2026.
Katherine LaNasa Awards
Katherine LaNasa won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2025 for her role as Nurse Dana Evans in “The Pitt”. This marked her first Emmy nomination and first win. She defeated nominees from “The White Lotus” (Carrie Coon, Annie Q, Lou Diamond Phillips, Parker Posey, Natasha Rothwell), Julianne Nicholson from “Paradise,” and Patricia Arquette from “Severance”.
In her acceptance speech, LaNasa expressed gratitude to the show’s executive producer John Wells, the writers, her cast members, and particularly the nurses who inspired her character. The Emmy win represents the culmination of her decades-long career in television and film.
Katherine LaNasa Controversies
No publicly reported controversies involving Katherine LaNasa have been documented. She has maintained a professional reputation throughout her career spanning over three decades. Her marriages and personal life have been handled with dignity and privacy.
Katherine LaNasa Personal Life
Katherine LaNasa has been married three times, all to actors from the entertainment industry. At age 22, she married 53-year-old actor Dennis Hopper in June 1989, and they divorced in April 1992. The relationship led to her transition from professional dance to acting.
On May 19, 1998, she married actor French Stewart, whom she met when she made a guest appearance on a 1996 episode of “3rd Rock from the Sun”. They divorced in December 2009 after 11 years of marriage.
LaNasa married actor Grant Show on August 18, 2012, about one month after announcing their engagement. She gave birth to their daughter, Eloise McCue Show, on March 21, 2014, at age 47. The child was born in Atlanta according to Show’s 2017 Soap Opera Digest interview. LaNasa and Show remain married as of January 2026.
In an interesting connection, LaNasa played Jerry Seinfeld’s policewoman girlfriend on a 1995 episode of “Seinfeld” where she made him take a lie detector test about watching “Melrose Place,” and in 2012, she married Grant Show, who was one of the original stars of that series.
Katherine LaNasa Height and Physical Appearance
| Physical Attribute | Details |
| Height | 5 feet 4½ inches (1.64 m) or 5 feet 8½ inches (1.74 m) |
| Hair Color | Blonde |
| Eye Color | Not publicly disclosed |
| Build | Slender, dancer’s physique |
| Shoe Size | 8 US |
Katherine LaNasa Husband
Katherine LaNasa is currently married to actor Grant Show, her third husband. The couple married on August 18, 2012, and have been together for over 13 years as of January 2026. They share one daughter, Eloise, born on March 21, 2014.
Grant Show is an actor best known for his role on the original “Melrose Place” and more recently for starring in “Dynasty” reboot. The couple maintains a private family life while both pursuing active acting careers.
Katherine LaNasa Family
| Relation | Name |
| Mother | Anne LaNasa |
| Father | Not publicly disclosed |
| Sibling | Steven LaNasa (Brother) |
| Ex-Husband 1 | Dennis Hopper (Actor, married 1989-1992) |
| Ex-Husband 2 | French Stewart (Actor, married 1998-2009) |
| Current Husband | Grant Show (Actor, married August 18, 2012) |
| Son | Henry Hopper (Born September 1990, from marriage to Dennis Hopper) |
| Daughter | Eloise McCue Show (Born March 21, 2014, with Grant Show) |
Katherine LaNasa Net Worth
Katherine LaNasa has an estimated net worth of $4-5 million as of 2025-2026. Her wealth derives primarily from her extensive acting career spanning over three decades in television and film. Additional income sources include choreography work, producing roles, and residuals from her numerous television appearances.
Her major television roles in “Three Sisters,” “Truth Be Told,” “Katy Keene,” and “The Pitt” have contributed significantly to her earnings. Film appearances in productions like “The Campaign,” “Jayne Mansfield’s Car,” and “The Frozen Ground” have also added to her net worth.
In 2016, Katherine and her husband Grant Show purchased a home in Marina Del Rey, California, which they tore down and rebuilt. They constructed a 2,700-square-foot home on the lot before selling the property in May 2019 for $2.4 million. Her Emmy Award win in 2025 for “The Pitt” is expected to increase her earning potential for future projects.