Margot Kidder

Biography / Gallery

Margot Kidder signed memorabilia @ eBay UK (direct link)

Actress

Biography

Margot Kidder (Margaret Ruth Kidder; 17 October 1948 – 13 May 2018) grew up far from the major film centres she would later inhabit. Raised in the isolated climate of the Northwest Territories, she often described childhood as a mixture of wide landscapes, limited resources, and the sense that the world existed somewhere far beyond Yellowknife. This distance from mainstream entertainment made her early fascination with film even sharper; by her teens she was determined to work in acting, even if the route there was unclear.

After attending schools in Canada and briefly studying drama, Kidder moved between Vancouver, Toronto, and eventually Los Angeles as opportunities emerged. Her early work consisted of guest roles in Canadian television dramas and low-budget American productions. What distinguished her, even in these small parts, was a combination of confidence and edge that made her performances look less polished but far more alive than many of her contemporaries.

By the early 1970s, Kidder was working steadily. Films such as Quackser Fortune Has a Cousin in the Bronx (1970) opposite Gene Wilder and the now-cult classic Black Christmas (1974) placed her firmly in the group of young actors being pushed toward major studio careers. Although she was not yet a household name, she was gaining a reputation for being quick, intelligent, and direct — qualities that would later define her most famous role.

Breakthrough and International Recognition

Her turning point was the casting of Lois Lane in Richard Donner’s Superman (1978). Unlike previous interpretations of the character, Kidder’s Lois was modern, sharp, and impatient with nonsense — a portrayal that grounded the film’s fantasy elements and appealed to both younger audiences and adults. The film’s success made her internationally known almost overnight, and she returned for Superman II (1980), Superman III (1983), and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987).

Despite the global attention that came with the franchise, Kidder continued to choose work based on interest rather than visibility. She took roles in independent and genre films including The Amityville Horror (1979), which became a major commercial success, and a range of character parts throughout the 1980s. Her career during this period was varied: studio productions, art-house projects, and television guest appearances all intermixed, reflecting her preference for working rather than cultivating a carefully managed star image.

Later Career

The 1990s saw Kidder continue acting while also facing well-documented personal and health struggles. Her openness about mental health — unusual for the time — ultimately led to her becoming an advocate for greater understanding and support for those living with bipolar disorder. Professionally she remained active, working in episodic television, theatre, documentaries, and independent films.

In the 2000s and 2010s, she became a familiar presence in Canadian and American productions, often taking strong supporting roles or appearing in projects driven by environmental or political causes she believed in. While no longer associated with major Hollywood studio films, she built a steady late-career pattern that aligned with her interests rather than industry expectations.

Death

Margot Kidder passed away on 13 May 2018 in Livingston, Montana, where she had lived for many years. She remained active, outspoken, and highly independent until her final months.