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Kathy Garver

Author, Actress & Speaker; Known for "Family Affair"

Author, Actress & Speaker; Known for "Family Affair"

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Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Kathy Garver Biography

Most fondly remembered for her starring role as “Cissy” in the long running CBS international television hit, “Family Affair”, Kathy Garver has also garnered critical acclaim in movies, stage, radio, voice-over animation, and audio book narration.

Ms. Garver has used her wealth of experience and education to entertain and instruct thousands of people with her exciting and successful motivational and interactive speeches and presentations.

From Keynote speaker to host to workshop leader, Kathy Garver has enriched the lives of those who have been able to listen and learn from her inspirational communications.

Hollywood’s legendary Cecil B. DeMille was one of the first to recognize Kathy’s distinct talents. Originally hired for a small part in the epic motion picture “The Ten Commandments”, Kathy was noticed by the great director who had special scenes written into the movie to highlight the little girl. This followed her first film, The Night of the Hunter directed by Academy Award winner, Charles Laughton.

Kathy was in born in Long Beach, California to Hayes and Rosemary Garver joining her sister, Beverly, and brothers, Hayes, Jr. and Lance. Beverly entered UCLA at a precocious 15 years old at the time Kathy started working professionally. During Ms. Garver’s teenage years, Kathy added radio and stage to her burgeoning film and television career.

Ms. Garver was a freshman majoring in speech at UCLA when she was tested for a television series entitled Family Affair. Kathy, deemed “perfect” to star as “Cissy” with Brian Keith as “Uncle Bill” and Sebastian Cabot as “Mr. French” performed for five years in one of the warmest and most enduring series of the 1960’s and 70’s. With Anissa Jones as “Buffy” and Johnny Whitaker as “Jody” the show continues to be popular today pleasing old and new audiences world wide – a true classic.

Winning accolades such as Best Actress from the “Family Television Awards” Kathy continues her award winning presence by securing the Golden Halo Award and the Emerald Award for her lifetime achievement in the entertainment world.

Filming Family Affair demanded a lot from Kathy: “Brian Keith only worked for about half the production schedule so the rest of us would have to film scenes from as many as six different episodes in one day”, she recalls. “I actually had to do most of my close ups opposite the assistant director, a paunchy middle aged man glued to a cigar. I had to use a lot of imagination to see him as my six year old sister, Buffy!”

After “Family Affair”, Kathy starred in an Israeli musical stage version of the TV series, having to learn Hebrew phonetically for her role. Later, she continued her dramatic studies at London’s prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where she portrayed Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. Dramatic and comedic productions in the states followed including starring roles in My Fair Lady, Sunday in New York, A Midsummer’s Night Dream and the Trojan Women. Ms. Garver retuned to UCLA to earn a Master’s Degree in Theater Arts.

With the famed impresario James Doolittle of the James Doolittle Theater in Los Angeles, nee the Huntington Hartford Theater, Kathy appeared in and produced with Mr. Doolittle many traveling stage productions, “Vanities”, being just one of their immense successes.

Today Kathy Garver is an accomplished and versatile actress, appearing in such films as Sweet November, The Princess Diaries, MOW'S such as FBI Murders and Stay the Night with Guest Star roles on many TV shows. She is a sought after celebrity on Game shows, winning top money for charities as she did on “Street Smarts” and other reality programs.

Kathy is also very much in demand for her numerous vocal characterizations. She’s a stand out in the very competitive field of voices overs for cartoons, commercials, toys and audio books. She voiced, “Pepper" an automotive whiz in the Chuck Norris Karate Kommandos series and “Firestar”, a mutant super hero in the Spiderman and his Amazing Friends TV series. Ms. Garver produced, narrated and wrote lyrics and original music for eight audio Beatrix Potter tales and eight Mother Goose based audiotapes for Smarty Pants, Inc. Kathy’s Beatrix Potter tapes have sold over two million copies and have won numerous awards. Ms Garver has also won two Audie Awards, one for her narration of The Worlds Shortest Stories, the other in 2004 for her direction of Amy Tan in The Opposite of Fate read by the author. Kathy has recorded books for Brilliance Audio, Dove, Listen and Live and can be downloaded at the Timberwolfpress.com site. Her voice has been heard in Apollo 13 (which was awarded the Academy Award for sound), Ransom, Back Draft and Jingle all the Way, all directed by Ron Howard.

Kathy has electrified the talk show circuit entertaining audiences with tales of her life long career in show business. She’s chatted with Geraldo, Sally Jesse, Mary Hart, Maury Povich and many more. Some of the lively discussion centers on the modern woman juggling marriage, career, and family all handled with laughter and aplomb.

Kathy now has her own family affair. She met her husband of 33 years, business executive David Travis, on a tennis court in Palm Springs – truly a love match. Their son Reid Garver Travis, now 23, continues the tradition of show business by appearing in national commercials, TV, movies and by doing voice overs.

Having served on the board of the Young People's Committee of the Screen Actors Guild and as a volunteer for Book Pals, Kathy has used her experience to help guide new actors in the business. She is also in involved in such charities as Child Help (which aids abused children) Rose Resnick Light House for the Blind and Make a Wish Foundation.

Appearing with Tim Curry in the remake of Family Affair Kathy helped guide the production. She is now involved in doing the wrap a rounds for the release of the classic Family Affair on DVD.

Ms. Garver appears at gatherings, luncheons and conventions to give motivational speeches about “The Power of Perseverance” and “Speak Clearly to Communicate Richly”. She is also in great demand for appearances, autograph shows and promotions through out the country.

Recently launching “Tinker Dust” productions with Ron Bruggel and Margaret Kerry (Tinker Bell), “Dine with Celebrities" events have been set up around the country to provide fun and festive events for country clubs, corporate clients and to garner money for various charities - multiple sclerosis being one of the major beneficiaries. She also produces the Eddie May Comedy Murder Mysteries Dinner theater events, primarily in Northern California, but she says, “Have Show, will Travel!” Kathy also performs her own inter active one-woman show “Streaks and Tips” on Cruises and at other venues.

Having majored in speech at UCLA, Kathy teaches speech, diction, narration, ADR and how to voice audio books and toys in San Francisco at Voice One Studios, Santa Rosa at American Eagle Studios, LA at MJ Lallo Studios, and other cities throughout the USA.

Obviously, Kathy doesn’t suffer from the sometimes-exaggerated maladies common to former child actors. “The hardest thing is being accepted as some one who has depth,” she says. “Fortunately my parents stressed education and normalcy all through my childhood and during my Family Affair days. In learning to think and work independently, I firmly believe in hoisting ones own sails.

For all her accomplishments and future plans, it seems Kathy's sails will be billowing in some very favorable waters for quite some time.

Kathy is available for corporate events, hosting, emceeing, moderating groups, giving lectures, workshops, key note addresses and tailoring specific programs for the needs of her clients. She includes workbooks and takes home audio albums for her clients and audience members.

BOOK Kathy Garver

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 07/12/2024.

Kathy Garver Speaking Topics

  • Speech Topics

    1. Growing Up Hollywood

    2. Surviving Cissy

    3. Surviving Cissy: My Family Affair of Life in Hollywood

    4. The 50 th Anniversary of Family Affair – Then and Now

    5. The Power of Perseverance

    6. Understanding the New Hollywood

    7. Speak Clearly to Communicate Richly

    8. Poetry Today

    9. Classic Western Film and Television

    10. Super Heroes in Modern Life

    11. The Golden Age of Radio

    12. Superheroes in Animation

    13. Audio Communication for the Visually Impaired

    14. So You Want to Be a Writer

    15. Helping Hands Fight Birth Defects

    16. X Child Stars: Where are they Now

    17. The Adventures of the Memory Gang

Kathy Garver Videos

  • Kathy Garver on the Tragic Fates of Her "Family Affair" Co-Stars ...
    At the age of 20, Kathy Garver was cast in the role of Cissy, the oldest sibling on the beloved TV sitcom, "Family Affair". For more on ...
  • Kathy Garver - Voice Over Coach
  • Kathy Garver Welcomes Her Guests at The Girl Cave

FAQs on booking Kathy Garver

  • How do I book Kathy Garver to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Kathy Garver for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Kathy Garver, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Kathy Garver or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Kathy Garver

    Speaking fees for Kathy Garver, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Kathy Garver are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Kathy Garver, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Kathy Garver speak about?

    Kathy Garver is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Acting, Authors, Business, Christian, Communication, Culture, Empowerment, Entertainment, Host & Emcees, Literary, Motivational, Self-Improvement, Success, Television & Film, Work-Life Balance.
  • Where does Kathy Garver travel from?

    Kathy Garver generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Kathy Garver’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Kathy Garver for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Kathy Garver for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Kathy Garver or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Kathy Garver is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Speech Topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Kathy Garver for your event is $20,000 - $30,000. Kathy Garver generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Candace Cameron Bure, Vicki Lawrence, Jameela Jamil, Antoni Porowski and Jonathan Van Ness. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Kathy Garver for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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