Kelly McGillis is an American actress best known for her roles in 1980s films like Witness (1985), Top Gun (1986), and The Accused (1988). In Witness, she played Rachel Lapp, an Amish woman who protects a young boy who witnessed a murder, earning her Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations. Her role as Charlie in the blockbuster hit Top Gun further cemented her fame. She also starred in films such as Made in Heaven and The House on Carroll Street. Later in her career, McGillis transitioned to horror films, with roles in Stake Land (2010), The Innkeepers (2011), and We Are What We Are (2013).
July 9, 1957: Kelly McGillis is Born
Kelly Ann McGillis was born on July 9, 1957.
1975: Leaves High School
McGillis dropped out of high school in 1975 and obtained her GED.
1979: Marries Boyd Black
McGillis married Boyd Black in 1979.
1981: Divorces Boyd Black
McGillis divorced Boyd Black in 1981.
1982: Don Juan
McGillis performed in Don Juan in 1982.
1983: Graduates from Juilliard
McGillis graduated from the Juilliard School in 1983.
1983: Film Debut
McGillis made her film debut in Reuben, Reuben in 1983.
1984: One Life to Live
McGillis appeared on One Life to Live in 1984.
1984: Sweet Revenge
McGillis starred in the TV movie Sweet Revenge with Alec Baldwin in 1984.
1985: Witness
In 1985, McGillis had her breakout role in Witness.
1985: The Sea Gull and Peccadillo
In 1985, McGillis performed in The Sea Gull and Peccadillo.
1985: Witness
In 1985, McGillis starred as Rachel Lapp in Witness, earning her Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations.
1985: Private Sessions
McGillis starred in the TV movie, Private Sessions, in 1985.
1986: Top Gun
McGillis portrayed Charlie in the iconic film Top Gun in 1986.
1986: Top Gun
McGillis played flight instructor Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood in Top Gun in 1986.
1987: Made in Heaven
McGillis acted in the film Made in Heaven in 1987.
1987: Made in Heaven
McGillis starred in the romance film Made in Heaven in 1987.
1988: The House on Carroll Street and The Accused
In 1988, McGillis starred in two films: The House on Carroll Street and The Accused.
1988: The Merchant of Venice
McGillis acted in The Merchant of Venice in 1988.
1988: The Accused and Cat Chaser
McGillis appeared in The Accused and Cat Chaser in 1988.
1988: The House on Carroll Street
McGillis played a caretaker in The House on Carroll Street in 1988.
1989: Twelfth Night
In 1989, McGillis performed in Twelfth Night.
1989: Winter People
McGillis appeared in Winter People in 1989.
1989: Marries Fred Tillman
McGillis married Fred Tillman in 1989.
1990: Mary Stuart and The Merry Wives of Windsor
McGillis acted in Mary Stuart and The Merry Wives of Windsor in 1990.
1992: The Babe
McGillis portrayed Claire Merritt Ruth in The Babe in 1992.
1994: Hedda Gabler
McGillis performed in Hedda Gabler in 1994.
1994: North
McGillis played an Amish character in the film North in 1994.
1995: Out of Ireland
In 1995, McGillis narrated the documentary, Out of Ireland.
April 1996: Schooner Fire
McGillis and Tillman's schooner was destroyed by fire in April 1996.
1997: Mourning Becomes Electra
McGillis appeared in Mourning Becomes Electra in 1997.
1999: At First Sight
McGillis co-starred with Val Kilmer in At First Sight in 1999.
1999: A Midsummer Night's Dream and Measure for Measure
McGillis performed in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Measure for Measure in 1999.
2000: Meets Melanie Leis
McGillis met Melanie Leis in 2000.
2000: The Monkey's Mask
McGillis starred in The Monkey's Mask in 2000.
2002: The Duchess of Malfi
In 2002, McGillis appeared in the stage production of The Duchess of Malfi.
2002: Divorces Fred Tillman
McGillis and Fred Tillman divorced in 2002.
2004: The Graduate and other roles
In 2004, McGillis starred in The Graduate along with several other stage roles.
2004: The Graduate
McGillis toured the US in the stage play The Graduate in 2004.
2006: Returns to Television
McGillis returned to working in television in 2006.
2007: The L Word
McGillis joined the cast of The L Word in 2007.
May 2009: The Little Foxes
McGillis co-starred with Julia Duffy in The Little Foxes in May 2009.
2009: Comes Out as Lesbian
McGillis publicly came out as a lesbian in 2009.
2010: Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune
McGillis toured the UK in Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune in 2010.
2010: 1 a Minute
McGillis was featured in the breast cancer docu-drama, 1 a Minute, in 2010.
2010: Stake Land
In 2010, McGillis starred in the vampire film Stake Land.
2010: Stake Land
McGillis starred in the horror film Stake Land in 2010.
2010: Civil Union with Melanie Leis
McGillis entered a civil union with Melanie Leis in 2010.
2011: The Innkeepers
McGillis appeared in the thriller The Innkeepers in 2011.
2011: The Innkeepers
McGillis starred in the thriller The Innkeepers in 2011.
2013: Teaches Acting
As of 2013, McGillis taught acting at NYS3 in Asheville, NC.
2013: We Are What We Are, Tio Papi
In 2013, McGillis appeared in We Are What We Are and Tio Papi.
2013: We Are What We Are
In 2013, she starred in the horror film We Are What We Are.
2014: Various Roles
McGillis had roles in Grand Street, Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio, Z Nation, and Sisters of Mercy in 2014.
2015: Blue
McGillis appeared in the film Blue in 2015.
June 17, 2016: Home Invasion and Assault
On June 17, 2016, Kelly McGillis was attacked by a woman who broke into her home, leaving her scratched and bruised. This incident, along with previous attacks, prompted her to apply for a concealed carry permit. The attacker, Laurence Marie Dorn, was subsequently charged with multiple offenses, including burglary, larceny, stalking, assault, and interfering with emergency communication, and later convicted of misdemeanor breaking and entering.
2017: An Uncommon Grace and Mother of All Secrets
McGillis starred in An Uncommon Grace and Mother of All Secrets in 2017.