Camelia Kath is an American actress, writer, and entertainment professional whose life has remained connected to Hollywood and music. She built her own creative career while maintaining a mostly private personal life.
She is widely known for films such as Terror on Tour, Fake-Out, and The Killing Time. Her marriages to Terry Kath and Kiefer Sutherland also brought significant public attention to her life.
Beyond acting, Camelia worked behind the scenes and raised two daughters who later entered entertainment. This biography explores her early life, career, marriages, children, relationship with Jeff Lynne, and public appearances.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Camelia Kath |
| Reported full name | Camelia Emily Ortiz Kath |
| Date of birth | September 22, 1953 |
| Age | 72 years old as of 2026 |
| Birthplace | Puerto Rico |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Actress, writer, entertainment professional |
| Known for | Acting career and relationships with Terry Kath, Kiefer Sutherland, and Jeff Lynne |
| First husband | Terry Kath |
| Second husband | Kiefer Sutherland |
| Partner/spouse | Jeff Lynne |
| Children | Michelle Kath Sinclair and Sarah Sutherland |
| Notable works | Terror on Tour, Fake-Out, Buchanan High, The Killing Time |
| Current residence | Los Angeles, California |
Who Is Camelia Kath?
Camelia Kath is an American entertainment professional whose life connects Hollywood with the music industry. She worked as an actress, writer, and behind-the-scenes professional during different stages of her career. Her acting work includes appearances in several film and television projects.
Her personal life also brought her considerable attention. She was the wife of musician Terry Kath and later married actor Kiefer Sutherland. Camelia eventually became involved with musician Jeff Lynne.
However, her identity extends beyond these relationships. She has her own entertainment credits and raised two daughters who later established careers within the creative industry.
Camelia Kath’s Early Life
Camelia Kath was born on September 22, 1953, in Puerto Rico. She is also identified by the reported full name Camelia Emily Ortiz Kath. She later moved to California, where much of her adult and professional life developed.
Her early years eventually led her toward the entertainment business. She became involved with acting and later expanded her work to other areas behind the camera.
Her educational background has also attracted interest. She has been associated with the University of California and a bachelor’s degree. Her later career, however, became more closely connected with film, television, and entertainment.
How Old Is Camelia Kath?
Camelia Kath was born on September 22, 1953, making her 72 years old as of September 2026. Her life has covered several important periods in American entertainment, from the rock music scene of the 1970s to television and Hollywood during later decades.
Her age is sometimes discussed alongside her marriage to Kiefer Sutherland because she was around 12 years older than him. Their age difference became one of the details associated with their relationship.
Camelia has spent much of her later life outside constant media attention, making only occasional appearances at major entertainment and family-related events.
Camelia Kath’s Acting Career
Camelia Kath developed an entertainment career that included both acting and other creative work. One of her early film credits was the 1980 horror movie Terror on Tour. She also appeared in Fake-Out and Buchanan High during her acting years.
Another title associated with her career is the 1987 crime thriller The Killing Time. The film featured actors including Kiefer Sutherland, Beau Bridges, and Michael Madsen.
Camelia’s acting career remained smaller than those of some people within her family circle. Over time, she shifted more of her attention toward behind-the-scenes television and entertainment work.
Camelia Kath’s Work on The Nanny
Camelia Kath later became involved with the popular television sitcom The Nanny. The series starred Fran Drescher and originally aired on CBS between 1993 and 1999. Camelia’s involvement gave her another connection to television beyond her earlier acting roles.
Her work on the series included credits connected with writing and executive assistant duties in 1999. This period showed another side of her professional abilities.
Instead of remaining focused entirely on acting, Camelia explored work behind the scenes. Following this stage of her career, her appearances in screen productions became much less frequent.
Marriage to Terry Kath
Camelia Kath’s first husband was Terry Kath, a guitarist and singer best remembered as a founding member of the rock band Chicago. Terry became highly respected for his guitar playing and contributed vocals to several recordings during Chicago’s early career.
Camelia and Terry built a family together and lived in Malibu. They welcomed their daughter, Michelle Kath, in May 1976.
Their marriage ended tragically on January 23, 1978. Terry died at the age of 31 after accidentally shooting himself while handling a firearm. Camelia was therefore left raising their young daughter following his sudden death.
Who Is Camelia Kath’s Daughter Michelle Kath Sinclair?
Michelle Kath was born on May 19, 1976, in Los Angeles, California. She is the daughter of Camelia Kath and Terry Kath. Michelle was still a very young child when her father died in January 1978.
As an adult, Michelle became involved in entertainment and helped preserve her father’s musical legacy. She produced the documentary The Terry Kath Experience, which explores Terry’s life, career, and contribution to Chicago.
The documentary combines archival material and interviews to tell his story through his daughter’s perspective. Michelle later married Scottish actor Adam Sinclair after the pair met while working on To End All Wars.
Camelia Kath and Kiefer Sutherland’s Marriage
Camelia Kath later formed a relationship with Canadian actor Kiefer Sutherland. They married on September 12, 1987. Camelia was approximately 12 years older than Kiefer, who was still in the earlier stages of his successful acting career.
During their marriage, Kiefer became a stepfather to Camelia’s older daughter, Michelle. Camelia and Kiefer also welcomed a daughter together named Sarah Sutherland.
Their marriage lasted around three years before they separated and divorced around 1990. Kiefer later became internationally recognised for major projects including 24, The Lost Boys, Stand by Me, and Designated Survivor.
Who Is Camelia Kath’s Daughter Sarah Sutherland?
Sarah Sutherland is the daughter of Camelia Kath and Kiefer Sutherland. She was born in 1988 during her parents’ marriage. Like her parents, Sarah eventually chose a career within the entertainment industry and became a professional actress.
She is especially recognised for playing Catherine Meyer in HBO’s political comedy series Veep. Her character is the daughter of Selina Meyer, played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Sarah appeared throughout the show’s run and shared in Screen Actors Guild Award recognition received by the cast. Her other acting projects include the film Like a House on Fire.
Camelia Kath’s Life as a Mother
Motherhood has been an important part of Camelia Kath’s adult life. She has two daughters from two different marriages. Her eldest daughter, Michelle, was born during her marriage to Terry Kath, while Sarah was born during her marriage to Kiefer Sutherland.
Camelia faced an especially difficult change when Terry died while Michelle was still very young. Years later, Kiefer became part of Michelle’s household after marrying Camelia.
Both daughters eventually found their own places in entertainment. Michelle moved toward production and documentary work, while Sarah pursued acting and gained recognition through her performance on Veep.
Camelia Kath’s Relationship With Jeff Lynne
Camelia Kath later developed a long-term relationship with British musician Jeff Lynne. He is widely known for his work with Electric Light Orchestra and his long career as a musician, songwriter, and producer.
Camelia and Jeff have attended several public events together over the years. They were seen at a myeloma-related charity event in 2012 and were photographed together at Los Angeles International Airport in September 2016.
Their relationship continued during the following years, with reports placing their marriage in 2017. Camelia also accompanied Jeff to the Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala in New York City in June 2023.
Camelia Kath’s Public Appearances
Although Camelia Kath has strong connections with entertainment, she does not regularly seek public attention. Her appearances have generally been connected with her family, Jeff Lynne, or projects with personal importance to her.
In September 2016, Camelia attended the Toronto International Film Festival in connection with The Terry Kath Experience. The documentary was especially meaningful because it explored the career and life of her late first husband.
Camelia has also appeared with Jeff Lynne at industry events. One notable appearance came in 2023 when they attended the 52nd Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala.
Where Is Camelia Kath Now?
Camelia Kath has maintained a quieter lifestyle during the later part of her life. She is associated with Los Angeles, California, a city closely connected with both her professional background and many members of her family.
Unlike celebrities who regularly share their everyday activities, Camelia has kept most of her private life away from constant attention. Her public appearances have therefore become occasional rather than frequent.
Her connection with entertainment remains visible through her family and Jeff Lynne. She has also appeared at events celebrating Terry Kath’s legacy, showing her continued connection with important parts of her family’s creative history.
Camelia Kath’s Net Worth
Camelia Kath has earned money through her work in entertainment, including acting and behind-the-scenes television roles. Her career included film appearances, writing-related work, and other responsibilities within television production.
An estimate often associated with Camelia Kath’s net worth is around $1.4 million. Her financial position is separate from the wealth connected with musician Jeff Lynne and his long music career.
Camelia has not built her public identity around wealth or an expensive celebrity lifestyle. Instead, most interest in her life comes from her entertainment background, famous relationships, daughters, and connections with both Hollywood and rock music.
Does Camelia Kath Use Social Media?
Camelia Kath has kept a relatively low profile in the digital age. She is not widely associated with major public accounts on popular social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, or X.
This limited online presence matches the private lifestyle she has maintained during recent years. Rather than regularly sharing photographs and personal updates, Camelia appears publicly only from time to time.
Much of the continued interest surrounding her comes from her career, family connections, and appearances with Jeff Lynne. Her daughters’ entertainment careers and Terry Kath’s lasting musical legacy have also kept the family name familiar to audiences.
Final Thoughts
Camelia Kath has experienced a life closely connected with Hollywood, television, rock music, and family. She worked as an actress and entertainment professional, appearing in projects such as Terror on Tour, Fake-Out, Buchanan High, and The Killing Time.
Her personal journey included marriage to Terry Kath, his tragic death, and her later marriage to Kiefer Sutherland. She also raised two daughters, Michelle Kath Sinclair and Sarah Sutherland, who developed their own entertainment careers.
In later years, Camelia shared her life with musician Jeff Lynne while maintaining considerable privacy. Her story remains much broader than her famous relationships alone.
FAQs About Camelia Kath
Who is Camelia Kath?
Camelia Kath is an American actress, writer, and entertainment professional. She appeared in projects such as Terror on Tour, Fake-Out, and The Killing Time. She is also known for her connections with several famous entertainers.
How old is Camelia Kath?
Camelia Kath was born on September 22, 1953, in Puerto Rico. She is 72 years old as of September 2026. She later moved to California and became involved in the American entertainment industry.
Who was Camelia Kath married to?
Camelia Kath was first married to Chicago guitarist Terry Kath. After his death in 1978, she later married actor Kiefer Sutherland in 1987. Their marriage lasted about three years and ended around 1990.
How many children does Camelia Kath have?
Camelia Kath has two daughters. Michelle Kath Sinclair is her daughter with Terry Kath, while actress Sarah Sutherland is her daughter with Kiefer Sutherland. Both daughters later became involved in the entertainment industry.
Who is Camelia Kath’s current partner?
Camelia Kath later developed a long-term relationship with Electric Light Orchestra musician Jeff Lynne. They have appeared together at several public events, including the Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala in 2023.
