If you spent any time watching daytime TV in the early 2000s, you know her face. Or rather, you know Ivy Winthrop Crane. She was the woman you loved to hate, or maybe just loved to watch cause chaos in Harmony. But Kim Johnston Ulrich movies and tv shows cover way more ground than just the soap opera circuit. She’s one of those "working actors" who seems to have been in every major procedural, sitcom, and cult horror flick of the last forty years.
Honestly, looking at her resume is like taking a tour through the history of network television. She didn't just show up; she survived an industry that often chews up young talent and spits it out. From her early days as a model to becoming a mainstay of the NBC lineup, her career is a masterclass in versatility.
The Daytime Dynasty: From ATWT to Passions
Most fans point to Passions as the definitive chapter. Between 1999 and 2008, Kim Johnston Ulrich played Ivy Winthrop with a delicious, high-society venom. She wasn't just a "soap mom." She was a schemer. Whether she was pining for Sam Bennett or trying to destroy Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald, she brought a grounded intensity to a show that was, frankly, completely insane (remember the talking doll and the witch next door?).
But before she was the matriarch of the Crane family, she was Diana McColl on As the World Turns.
That was the early 80s. She played Diana for about two years, and it was the classic "femme fatale" role. It’s funny because in interviews, she’s mentioned that Diana and Ivy are actually pretty similar. Both were rich, both were a little bit "wild," and both had a dark side that kept viewers glued to the screen.
The Guest Star Life: You’ve Definitely Seen Her Here
If you aren't a soap fan, you probably recognize her from basically every other show on Earth. Kim has this incredible ability to blend into a cast. One week she’s a grieving widow on a procedural, and the next she’s a love interest in a classic sitcom.
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Take Cheers, for example. In the episode "Swear to God," she played Rachel, a woman from Sam Malone’s past who claims he’s the father of her child. It’s a classic Sam-centric episode, and she holds her own against Ted Danson’s legendary comedic timing.
Then there’s the cult stuff.
- Supernatural: Fans of the Winchesters know her as Dr. Eleanor Visyak. She was an old flame of Bobby Singer and a creature from Purgatory. It was a role that required a mix of maternal warmth and ancient, terrifying power.
- 3rd Rock from the Sun: She had a recurring bit as Dorothy Strudwick, the wife of Dick’s rival.
- Wings: She played Carol, Brian’s ex-wife, in a multi-episode arc that really showed off her "bad girl" comedic chops.
She’s popped up in NCIS, The Mentalist, Major Crimes, and CSI. Basically, if there’s a show where someone gets interrogated by a detective, there’s a 50% chance Kim Johnston Ulrich has been in that room.
The Big Screen and Those Weird Horror Gems
While she’s primarily a TV queen, her film work is a trip. Her first "role" was actually as a beauty pageant contestant in Woody Allen's Zelig (1983). It was uncredited, but hey, everyone starts somewhere.
If you like 90s horror, you might remember her in Rumpelstiltskin (1995). She played the lead, Shelley Stewart, who accidentally brings a murderous, soul-stealing dwarf back to life. It’s campy, it’s dark, and it’s exactly the kind of movie that finds a second life on streaming services like Shudder.
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Then there’s Spellcaster (1988). It’s an Italian-produced horror movie where a group of people goes to a castle to win a prize, only to be picked off one by one. It’s not exactly The Godfather, but Kim’s performance as Teri is one of the highlights of the film.
Why She’s More Than Just a Famous Face
What’s cool about Kim is her life off-camera. She’s been married to Robert Ulrich—a massive casting director in Hollywood—for decades. They met back in college while doing a play called Camelot. He was Lancelot, she was doing the makeup. You can't make that stuff up.
They are essentially a Hollywood power couple, but in the most low-key, "normal" way possible. She’s often talked about how she balances the long hours of a soap set with raising her son. She’s a gardener, an interior design nerd, and someone who once reportedly watched five movies in a single day with her husband.
She’s also done a lot of work in the "TV Movie" world. Titles like Hostage Flight and Blood Ties might not be household names now, but they were the bread and butter of network television for years. She helped bridge the gap between the glitz of the 80s and the more grit-heavy drama of the 2000s.
The 2026 Perspective: Staying Relevant
Even now, as we look at her career in 2026, her work holds up. Why? Because she never played "the pretty girl" as a hollow trope. Even when she was playing the trophy wife or the love interest, there was always a bit of iron in her performance.
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She’s recently been seen in shows like The Rookie and Law & Order True Crime, proving that the industry still knows exactly who to call when they need a veteran who can deliver a line with perfect precision.
Where to Watch Her Best Work
If you’re looking to binge some of her best stuff, here is the roadmap:
- Passions (YouTube/Streaming): It’s a commitment, but watching her as Ivy Crane is mandatory. Start with the early episodes to see her building that rivalry with Theresa.
- Supernatural (Season 6): Watch the episodes "Like a Virgin" and "The Man Who Knew Too Much" to see her pivot into the sci-fi/fantasy genre.
- Cheers (Season 6, Episode 12): A quick 22-minute hit of 80s nostalgia where she plays the catalyst for a Sam Malone existential crisis.
- Rumpelstiltskin: If you want some 90s cheese and practical effects, this is your Friday night movie.
The Bottom Line
Kim Johnston Ulrich didn't just stumble into a long career. She built it episode by episode. Whether she’s playing a socialite in a mansion or a doctor from another dimension, she brings a specific kind of class to the screen that is becoming increasingly rare. If you see her name in the opening credits, you know the acting is going to be solid.
For your next move, check out the Supernatural Season 6 archives if you want to see her most "un-soap-like" performance. It’s the perfect showcase for how she can handle heavy lore and action-heavy storytelling just as well as she handles a martini glass on a soap set.