Kate Vernon was born in Canada to character actor John Vernon and former actress and model Nancy West. Her family (Her sister is singer Nan Vernon) moved to California when Kate was a little girl. She was interested in being an architect when she finished high school, but then felt she would have to "lock herself in a loony bin" if she did not express herself as an actress. Her father tried to scare her away from the business, but Kate was determined to become an actress - which she did. She started landing parts in her early 20s, getting lots of work in television and film in the 1980s. Her first feature was Alphabet City, starring Vincent Spano, followed by Roadhouse 66. She then landed a role on the very popular 1980s soap opera Falcon Crest, playing cutie pie Lorraine Prescott. Soon afterward many other TV and film roles followed, including Pretty in Pink where she played bitchy blonde Benny, and Spike Lee's Malcolm X, where she locked lips with Denzel Washington.
Daughter of John Vernon. Sister of singer Nan Vernon and Chris Vernon. She and singer Chuck Negron of "Three Dog Night" have a daughter named Annabelle Negron.