Margot Kidder established her professional reach through a career spanning five decades, marked by a transition from low-budget Canadian television to international stardom. Most recognized for her portrayal of Lois Lane in the original Superman films between 1978 and 1987, she navigated a volatile trajectory within the film industry while maintaining a commitment to political, environmental, and antiwar activism.
Early Development and Television Beginnings
Born in Yellowknife in 1948, Kidder spent her formative years moving across various Canadian provinces due to her father's work as an explosives expert. Her initial exposure to performance came after moving to Toronto and attending Magee Secondary School. She debuted on screen in the 1968 episode of Wojeck. Following this, she earned recognition for her work in Canadian productions, receiving a Canadian Film Award for her appearance in the 1969 series Corwin. This early period included roles in diverse projects such as the drama The Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to Kaladar and panelist appearances on the program Mantrap.
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During the 1970s, Kidder secured roles in several horror and drama productions, including Sisters, Black Christmas, and The Reincarnation of Peter Proud. Her professional status shifted significantly when she was cast as Lois Lane in the 1978 blockbuster Superman, a role for which she won a Saturn Award for Best Actress. She expanded her range with the role of Kathy Lutz in The Amityville Horror in 1979 and continued to play Lois Lane in three subsequent sequels. Her stage debut occurred in 1982 with the play Bus Stop, demonstrating her versatility beyond film.
Personal Challenges and Later Career
Kidder experienced significant personal and physical adversity throughout her later life, including a car accident in 1990 that left her temporarily paralyzed. In 1996, she suffered a highly publicized nervous breakdown associated with bipolar disorder. Despite these difficulties, she continued to work in independent film and television projects. Her later credits included the hockey film Chicks with Sticks, the horror film Halloween II, and a guest role on R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour. She held dual citizenship in Canada and the United States until her death in Livingston in 2018.
Fast facts
- Born: 1948, Yellowknife
- Died: 2018, Livingston
- Citizenship: Canada and United States
- Religion: Atheism
- Key Role: Lois Lane, Superman films (1978–1987)
- Saturn Award for Best Actress: 1978
- Education: Magee Secondary School, Havergal College
Questions readers ask
What were Margot Kidder's most notable awards?
She received a Saturn Award for Best Actress, a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming, and an Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television Award.
What was the cause of Margot Kidder's death?
She died on May 13, 2018, from an alcohol and drug overdose, which was officially ruled a suicide.
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