Esther Valentine of Y&R

Background:

American actress Kate Linder is well-associated with her role as Esther Valentine on the CBS long-running daytime series “The Young and the Restless,” a role she has played for nearly three decades since 1982. On April 10, 2008, she received a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame thanks largely to her work on the show. Linder became only the four actors to receive the honor solely on the merits of acting on a soap opera, along with Macdonald Carey, Jeanne Cooper and Susan Lucci.

Linder is one of two Daytime Governors at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (ATAS). Besides, she is the national spokesperson for The ALS Association and serves on the Board Member of The American Federation of Television and Radio (AFTRA).

As for her charitable efforts, Linder is active with the Make-a-Wish Foundation. She also supports TV Cares and ATAS's AIDS fundraising and awareness organization.

Linder and her professor husband, Ronald Linder, have married for 33 years.

Catherine Kallick

Childhood and Family:

Kate Linder was born Catherine Kallick on November 2, 1947, in Pasadena, California. She started dancing at age 3. Acting came naturally to her which led to performances in several musicals and plays while in high school. She later graduated from San Francisco State University with a BA in Theater Art. Kate has a younger brother, Randy.

On November 14, 1976, Kate married Ronald Linder, whom she met at the San Francisco State University where he was a professor. The happy couple remain together until present day.

Stewardess

Career:

Kate Linder professionally launched her acting career after having a theater degree on her pocket. The San Francisco State University alum began with small roles on television series like “Archie Bunker's Place” (1979) and “Bay City Blues” (1983). She also appeared in the Sylvester Stallone movie sequel “Rocky III” (1982).

Linder's big breakthrough arrived when she was cast in the role of Esther Valentine on the Daytime soap opera “The Young and the Restless” in 1982. Originally a recurring player, she would not progress to a contract artist until November 1985, and has since remained with the show.

More recently, Linder teamed up with Robert Cresante, Justine Huxley and Guy Lewis in the short film “Cotillion '65,” which won the Film Award for Best Comedy Short at the 2000 Santa Clarita International Film Festival. The 22-minute comedy played the Oxford Film Festival on September 7, 2005. In 2006, she was cast as Dr. Valentine in the drama film “The Divorce Ceremony,” which was helmed and penned by and starring J.D. Mata. She next appeared as soap opera star in the 2007 comedy/drama “A Couple of White Chicks at the Hairdresser” (2007), opposite Shelley Long, Deborah Theaker, Harry Shearer and James Kyson Lee, and portrayed Gloria Howard in the adventure film “The Gold and the Beautiful” (2008).

On the stage, Linder performed in a 1999 production of “Bee-Luther-Hatchee” at the Tamarind Theater in Hollywood, California. She won a North Hollywood Artistic Director Achievement Award for Best Actress in a comedy for her work in “Sex Is Good For You” at the Secret Rose Theatre.

Apart from her acting career, Linder is a flight attendant for United Airlines.

Awards:

• North Hollywood Artistic Director Achievement: Best Actress-Comedy