Biography
Margaret Ruth "Margot" Kidder (October 17, 1948 – May 13, 2018) was a Canadian-American actress, director, and activist whose career spanned over five decades. Her accolades include three Canadian Screen Awards and one Daytime Emmy Award. Though she appeared in an array of films and television, Kidder is most widely known for her performance as Lois Lane in the Superman film series, appearing in the first four films. Born in Yellowknife to a Canadian mother and an American father, Kidder was raised in the Northwest Territories as well as several other Canadian provinces. She began her acting career in the 1960s appearing in low-budget Canadian films and television series, before landing a lead role in Quackser Fortune Has a Cousin in the Bronx (1970). She then played twins in Brian De Palma's cult thriller Sisters (1973), a sorority student in the slasher film Black Christmas (1974) and the titular character's girlfriend in the drama The Great Waldo Pepper (1975), opposite Robert Redford. In 1977, she was cast as Lois Lane in Richard Donner's Superman (1978), a role which established her as a mainstream actress. Her performance as Kathy Lutz in the blockbuster horror film The Amityville Horror (1979) gained her further mainstream exposure, after which she went on to reprise her role as Lois Lane in Superman II, III, and IV (1980–1987). The 1990s were marked by significant health problems for Kidder: In 1990, she sustained serious injuries in a car accident that left her temporarily paralyzed, and she later had a highly publicized manic episode and nervous breakdown in 1996 stemming from bipolar disorder. By the 2000s, she maintained steady work in independent films and television, with guest-starring roles on Smallville, Brothers & Sisters and The L Word, and appeared in a 2002 Off-Broadway production of The Vagina Monologues. In 2015, she won a Daytime Emmy Award for her performance on the children's television series R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour. Margot passed away at her home in Livingston, Montana, at the age of 69. Her death was ruled a suicide due to a self-inflicted drug and alcohol overdose.
Acted in 123
2010s
- 2019
- 2017
The Neighborhood
Maggie
The Red Maple Leaf
Dr. Amanda Walker
- 2015
No Deposit
Margie Ryan
- 2014
The Big Fat Stone
Madge
- 2013
HENRi
Dr. Calvin
Matt's Chance
Mother Mable
- 2012
Servitude
Mrs. Crank
- 2011
- 2010
Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics
Lois Lane (archive footage)
2000s
- 2009
Martinis and Murder
Movie
Something Evil Comes
Claudia
- 2008
A Single Woman
Storyteller
Universal Signs
Rose Callahan
- 2006
- 2005
Gravel In Her Gut and Spit In Her Eye
Dorothy M. Johnson
Chicks with Sticks
Edith Taymore
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dan Aykroyd
Mrs. Potter (archive footage)
The Last Sign
Endora
- 2004
Death 4 Told
Madam Badeau (segment "The Psychic")
- 2002
Society's Child
Joan
- 2001
- 2000
The Hi-Line
Laura Johnson
Common Ground
Mrs. Nelson
1990s
- 1999
Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary Special
(archive footage)
The Annihilation of Fish
Mrs. Muldroone
Crime in Connecticut: The Story of Alex Kelly
Melanie Kelly
The Clown at Midnight
Ellen Gibby
Nightmare Man
Lillian Hannibal
- 1998
The Teddy Bears' Scare
Mrs. Jones (voice)
- 1997
Never Met Picasso
Genna Magnus
Silent Cradle
Cindy Wilson
- 1996
- 1995
- 1994
Phantom 2040: The Ghost Who Walks
Rebecca Madison
WindRunner
Sally 'Mom' Cima
One Woman's Courage
Stella Jenson
The Pornographer
Irene
Henry & Verlin
Mabel
- 1993
La Florida
Vivy Lamori
- 1992
To Catch a Killer
Rachel Grayson · 2 episodes
- 1991
- 1990
White Room
Madelaine X
1980s
- 1989
Mob Story
Dolores
- 1988
Body of Evidence
Carol Dwyer
- 1987
Keeping Track
Mickey Tremaine
- 1986
GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords
Solitaire (voice)
- 1985
Picking Up the Pieces
Lynette Harding
Little Treasure
Margo
- 1984
The Glitter Dome
Willie
Louisiana
Virginia Tregan
- 1983
Pygmalion
Eliza Doolittle
The Making of 'Superman II'
Lois Lane (uncredited)
- 1982
Bus Stop
Cherie
Some Kind of Hero
Toni Donovan
Miss Right
Juliette
- 1981
Heartaches
Rita Harris
- 1980
Willie & Phil
Jeannette Sutherland
1970s
- 1979
- 1978
Shoot the Sun Down
The Woman from England
- 1975
92 in the Shade
Miranda
The Reincarnation of Peter Proud
Marcia Curtis
- 1974
The Dion Brothers
Margie
A Quiet Day in Belfast
Brigit Slattery / Thelma Slattery
Honky Tonk
Lucy Cotton
- 1973
Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On
Helen
The Suicide Club
Gerry
- 1972
- 1971
Suddenly Single
Jackie
- 1970
Adventures in Rainbow Country
Dr. Janet Rhoades (young doctor), Sportscar driver · 1 episode
Quackser Fortune Has a Cousin in the Bronx
Zazel
1960s
- 1969
Gaily, Gaily
Adeline
The Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to Kaladar
Rosie
- 1968
Produced 1
1980s
- 1983
Pygmalion
Co-Producer
Appearances30
2020s
- 2023
Amityville: An Origin Story
Self- Archive · 4 episodes
2010s
- 2015
Black Christmas Legacy
Self (archive footage)
2000s
- 2008
You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story
Self
- 2006
The 12 Days of Black Christmas
Self
You Will Believe: The Cinematic Saga of Superman
Self
Look, Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of Superman
Self
- 2005
For God's Sake, Get Out!
Self
- 2004
Collectormania 6
Self
- 2003
101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment
Self (archive footage)
- 2001
Taking Flight: The Development of 'Superman'
Self
Making 'Superman': Filming the Legend
Self
1990s
- 1993
1980s
- 1988
Calling the Shots
Self
- 1987
The Grand Knockout Tournament
Self
The Emerald City of Oz
Narrator
Ozma of Oz
Narrator
The Marvelous Land of Oz
Narrator
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Narrator
- 1986
The Canadian Conspiracy
Self
- 1985
The Making of 'Superman III'
Self
Speaking Our Peace
Narrator
- 1982
1970s
- 1979
Mr. Mike's Mondo Video
Self
- 1978
- 1975
- 1974
Am laufenden Band
Self - Guest · 1 episode
