Katherine LaNasa: 7 Shocking Facts About The Emmy-Winning Star Of 'The Pitt' And Her Hollywood Marriages

Katherine LaNasa has achieved a career pinnacle in 2025, capturing the attention of the entertainment world with her Primetime Emmy win for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. The award, a culmination of decades of versatile work, was for her compelling portrayal of Charge Nurse Dana Evans in the critically acclaimed HBO Max medical drama, *The Pitt*. This recent success has shone a fresh spotlight on the actress, who has quietly built one of the most intriguing and diverse résumés in Hollywood, spanning from professional ballet to major television roles. The 2025 Emmy win solidifies LaNasa’s status not just as a veteran character actor, but as a leading force in modern prestige television. Beyond the ER drama, her fascinating personal life—including three high-profile marriages to fellow actors—has always been a subject of immense curiosity. From her early days as a dancer to her upcoming role in the Marvel universe, here is an in-depth look at the life and career of Katherine LaNasa.

Katherine LaNasa: Complete Biography and Profile

Katherine LaNasa is an American actress, former professional ballet dancer, and choreographer whose career has spanned over three decades in film, television, and theater. Her recent Emmy victory in 2025 for *The Pitt* marks her career-defining achievement.

• Full Name: Katherine LaNasa
• Date of Birth: December 1, 1966
• Age (as of December 2025): 59
• Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Actress, Dancer, Choreographer, Producer
• Father: Dr. James J. LaNasa Jr. (Plastic Surgeon)
• Mother: Anne Hardin
• Education: North Carolina School of the Arts
• First Husband: Dennis Hopper (m. 1989; div. 1992)
• Second Husband: French Stewart (m. 1998; div. 2009)
• Current Husband: Grant Show (m. 2012)
• Children: Henry Hopper (son, with Dennis Hopper), Eloise McCue Show (daughter, with Grant Show)
• Notable Roles: Dana Evans (*The Pitt*), Gloria Grandbilt (*Katy Keene*), Noa Havilland (*Truth Be Told*), Ada Stone (*Dynasty*), Bess Bernstein-Flynn Keats (*Three Sisters*)
• Major Award: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (2025)

The Emmy-Winning Role That Defined Her Career in 2025

The year 2025 proved to be a watershed moment for Katherine LaNasa with the premiere and subsequent critical acclaim for *The Pitt* on HBO Max.

Her role as Charge Nurse Dana Evans, the empathetic yet tough leader of a high-stakes emergency room, resonated deeply with audiences and critics alike. The medical drama, which focuses on a real-time depiction of an ER shift, demanded an intense level of immersion and authenticity.

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In a December 2025 interview, LaNasa revealed her unique approach to the character, stating that she "viewed Dana as a basketball coach"—a leader who manages the crises and guides the team with a cool head and brassy wit. This nuanced performance, alongside co-star Noah Wyle, was recognized at the 2025 Emmy Awards, where she took home her first Primetime Emmy.

During her emotional acceptance speech, she specifically thanked the nurses who inspired her and her husband, Grant Show, for helping her with the "10,000 self tapes" they made in their dining room before landing the role.

From Ballet Dancer to Hollywood Actress: The Unexpected Pivot

Long before she was navigating the chaos of a fictional Pittsburgh ER, Katherine LaNasa was a dedicated professional dancer. This foundational training is a crucial part of her career story and topical authority.

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Born into a prominent New Orleans family (her father was a plastic surgeon), LaNasa began studying ballet at age 12 and was accepted into the prestigious North Carolina School of the Arts by age 14. She went on to apprentice with the Milwaukee Ballet and danced professionally with Ballet West and the renowned Karole Armitage Ballet, touring internationally.

Her transition to acting was a natural, yet unexpected, evolution catalyzed by her first marriage. She assisted choreographer John Carrafa on the 1989 film *Rooftops* and made her feature film debut in 1990 in *Catchfire*, which was directed by her then-husband, Dennis Hopper.

This early exposure to the film set, combined with her dancer’s discipline, allowed her to quickly build a versatile acting career. She gained early prominence as Bess Bernstein-Flynn Keats in the NBC sitcom *Three Sisters* (2001–2002), showcasing her comedic timing.

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The Three High-Profile Marriages That Shaped Her Life

Katherine LaNasa's personal life has been closely intertwined with the entertainment industry, marked by three marriages to fellow actors, each providing a unique chapter in her life story.

1. Dennis Hopper (1989–1992)

LaNasa married legendary actor Dennis Hopper on June 17, 1989, when she was 22 and he was 53. They met two years earlier following one of her dance performances. This marriage provided her immediate entry into Hollywood circles and coincided with her shift from choreography to acting. The couple had one son, Henry Hopper (born 1990), who has also become an actor.

2. French Stewart (1998–2009)

Her second marriage was to comedic actor French Stewart, whom she met in 1996 while guest-starring on his hit sitcom, *3rd Rock from the Sun*. They married in May 1998, and their union lasted over a decade before they divorced in December 2009.

3. Grant Show (2012–Present)

LaNasa is currently married to actor Grant Show, best known for his roles in *Melrose Place* and the *Dynasty* reboot. They first met on the set of the HBO series *Big Love* in 2006, though their romance developed later after their paths crossed again in Vancouver. They became engaged in July 2012 and married just weeks later on August 18, 2012.

The couple celebrated their 13th wedding anniversary in August 2025. They have one daughter together, Eloise McCue Show (born 2014). Show has often spoken about their secret to a successful dual-actor marriage, which includes making sure they are together "at least once every 10 days" despite busy filming schedules.

Upcoming Roles and Her Versatile Television Legacy

While *The Pitt* is her current crowning achievement, LaNasa’s career is defined by her ability to move seamlessly between genres and mediums, often excelling in roles that require a strong, complex female presence.

The Marvel Connection: Looking ahead, LaNasa is set to join the Marvel universe with a role as Artemis Sledge in the highly anticipated Disney+ series, *Daredevil: Born Again* in 2025, demonstrating her continued demand in high-profile projects.

Television Pedigree: Her topical authority is built on an extensive list of recurring and series regular roles. She has played the manipulative socialite Sophia Bowers in *Deception*, the cunning ranch owner Lizzie Ambrose in *Longmire*, the madam Adrianna in *Satisfaction*, and the villainous criminal mastermind Ada Stone in *Dynasty*.

More recently, she was a series regular as Gloria Grandbilt in the musical dramedy *Katy Keene* (2020) and had a long-running recurring role as Noa Havilland in the legal drama *Truth Be Told* (2019–2023) opposite Octavia Spencer.

This prolific career, which includes guest spots on nearly every major procedural and sitcom—from *Seinfeld* and *CSI* to *Grey's Anatomy* and *Two and a Half Men*—has cemented Katherine LaNasa as one of Hollywood’s most reliable and now, most decorated, character actors.