arvau

Wikipedia / Kate's Secret

Kate's Secret is a 1986 American drama television film directed by Arthur Allan Seidelman, written by Susan Seeger and Denise De Garmo, and starring Meredith Baxter Birney, Ben Masters, Tracy Nelson, and Edward Asner. The story is about a seemingly "perfect" suburban housewife and mother who is secretly suffering from bulimia nervosa.

Kate's Secret aired on NBC on November 17, 1986.

The title and basic premise of the 2025 American satirical black comedy, Maddie's Secret is inspired by the film.

Synopsis

To those on the outside, Kate Stark leads an idyllic life; a successful husband, an adoring daughter, and a beautiful home. But beneath the surface, her life is less than ideal; a husband preoccupied with his career, a critical and domineering mother, and a dark secret that not even her closest friends know: Kate is bulimic. As the pressures in her life begin to mount, Kate obsessively diets and exercises, and habitually binges and purges while adroitly hiding her eating disorder from all those around her. When Kate's bulimia eventually leads to a frightening accident that makes it clear to everyone that her illness is dangerous not only to herself, but to those closest to her, she is committed to rehabilitation in order to face the inner turmoil at the root of her disorder.

Cast

Actor

Role

Meredith Baxter Birney

Kate Stark

Ben Masters

Jack Stark

Georgann Johnson

Faith

Tracy Nelson

Patch Reed

Shari Belafonte

Gail

Leslie Bevis

Monica Fields

Edward Asner

Dr. Resnick

Mackenzie Phillips

Deyna

Summer Phoenix

Becky Stark

Sharon Spelman

Liz Reed

Mindy Seeger

Markie

Isabel Grandin

Dot

Liz Torres

Laura

Gwynne Gilford

Lorna

Rosanna Huffman

Megan

Ron Asher

Teen at Pizza Parlor

Liberty Phoenix

Brownie Scout

References