The actress who starred opposite Steve Martin, appeared alongside Kate Beckinsale and directed one of Ben Affleck’s earliest screen projects has been identified as Catlin Adams.
Adams, now 75, has largely stepped away from acting and works as an acting coach in Los Angeles. Her professional website lists Nicole Kidman, Brad Pitt, Amy Adams, Zoe Saldana, Naomi Watts and Jane Fonda among the performers she has coached.
She is best known to film audiences for playing Patty Bernstein in The Jerk, the 1979 comedy directed by Carl Reiner and starring Martin. Her character becomes involved with Martin’s central character before he is drawn towards Bernadette Peters’ love interest.
Adams also appeared in the 1980 remake of The Jazz Singer, which starred singer Neil Diamond and featured Laurence Olivier. Years later, she took a supporting role in Underworld: Awakening, the 2012 film led by Beckinsale as vampire warrior Selene.
Her work behind the camera included directing Wanted: The Perfect Guy, an ABC Afterschool Special starring a 13-year-old Affleck and Madeline Kahn. Adams’ official biography says the television film won two Emmy Awards.
She later directed the feature film Sticky Fingers and an episode of Beverly Hills, 90210, before concentrating on teaching and coaching actors.
Adams began performing under her birth name, Nira Barab, and studied with acting teachers including Lee Strasberg and Stella Adler. She was also a founding member of The Groundlings, the Los Angeles improvisational comedy group.
