Biography
Born and raised on the North Shore of Chicago, Katie is an only child who was raised by her mother. Katie's strength, confidence, and drive came from her mom's hard work, love, and determination. Katie says if it wasn't for her mother's strength, she would never have the ambition to move to LA and pursue her career in acting and modeling.
Ever since Katie was a young girl, she dreamed of becoming an actress in Hollywood. After years of balancing high school and modeling in Chicago, she entered a Liberal Arts College in Wisconsin on a track scholarship. Katie graduated from Carthage University with a Business and Marketing Degree while working as a model part-time.
In the summer of 2004 after graduating from college, Katie took a real estate position in Chicago. In the interim, she enrolled in acting classes and worked on four different movie sets while continuing to model. Katie wanted to learn as much as she could about the film industry before she moved to LA to pursue her dreams.
Katie's first break into Entertainment came from the hit TV show "America's Next Top Model" Season #1 while still in college. After the show, Katie returned to Wisconsin to finish her degree and earn enough money selling real estate to move to Los Angeles. Within weeks of arriving in LA, Katie landed the role of briefcase beauty #11 on NBC's hit show "Deal or no Deal," which she would maintain for over four years. She is an accomplished on camera host with credits for the TV Guide Channel, E! News Now, and the travel show "Get Out" on HDTV.
Katie has worked on such movies as "The Break Up", "Lake House," and her last film project "Iron Man 2." She has also appeared in various TV shows including "CSI NY," "Las Vegas," "Entourage," "Rules of Engagement," "Chuck," and "Working Class." Katie also was the lead in "Heckel U" a web series in partnership with CBS starring opposite Tom Arnold. Katie has three movies currently in pre-production.
You may have seen Katie in over a dozen national advertising campaigns for brands such as InterContinental Hotels, Sketchers, Elastiderm Skin Care, AT&T, Nike, Chandon Champagne, Supreme Protein, Cadillac, ProActive, Payless, and as part of the "Refreshment Duo" for Labatt's Blue Light. She was also named one of "People Magazine's 100 Most Beautiful People" from "Deal or no Deal."
Katie's passion is rescuing animals. She has helped find homes for hundreds of abused and unwanted animals. Whenever Katie gets the chance, she volunteers at various animal rescue groups; one of which is Tippi Hedren's Sanctuary for exotic big cats, "Shambala," and the "Wild Life Waystation." Katie has been working with big cats for over eight years and one day hopes to open her own animal rescue and sanctuary. One of Katie's many accomplishments was gathering ten humane organizations in Chicago and producing a fundraiser which raised money to help support animal rescue and abuse centers in Chicago. Katie just produced the "Diamond's Not Fur" Humanitarian Awards. A Star Studded Red Carpet Event where Betty White honored Madeline Bernstein, President of the SpcaLA with a Humanitarian Award in support of the West Hollywood "Fur Free" Movement. The Gala helped raised money for the SpcaLA and their animal welfare program to prevent cruelty, rescue, and care for animals in Los Angeles! Because if it's success the West Hollywood "Fur Free" bill passed Nov. 2011 and will be going into effect in the beginning of 2012.
