Katharine Ross: Movies, Net Worth, and Sam Elliott
There’s a reason people still ask about the actress who played Elaine Robinson in The Graduate: Katharine Ross delivered a performance that earned her an Academy Award nomination and a BAFTA Award, and went on to star in classics like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Decades later, her story is as much about a remarkable career as it is about a lasting love story with actor Sam Elliott.
Born: January 29, 1940, Hollywood, California ·
Academy Award Nominations: 1 (Best Supporting Actress, The Graduate) ·
BAFTA Award: 1 win ·
Marriages: 5 (including Sam Elliott since 1984) ·
Children: 1 daughter, Cleo Rose Elliott
Quick snapshot
- Starred in The Graduate (1967) (Wikipedia)
- Starred in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) (Vocal Media)
- Won BAFTA for Most Promising Newcomer (Wikipedia)
- Exact current net worth figures (Vocal Media)
- Detailed plans for public appearances in 2025 (Country Thang Daily)
- Whether Ross turned down the role in Bonnie and Clyde is unconfirmed (TV Guide)
- 1940: Born in Hollywood, California (Wikipedia)
- 1967: The Graduate released, Oscar nomination (Wikipedia)
- 1984: Married Sam Elliott and gave birth to Cleo Rose Elliott (Wikipedia)
- Retired from acting; lives in Oregon with Sam Elliott (Country Thang Daily)
- Maintains a very low public profile (TV Guide)
A quick look at the key facts about Katharine Ross, organized for clarity:
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Katharine Juliet Ross |
| Date of Birth | January 29, 1940 |
| Place of Birth | Hollywood, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress (retired) |
| Spouse | Sam Elliott (married 1984) |
| Children | Cleo Rose Elliott |
| Notable Works | The Graduate, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Stepford Wives |
The implication: Ross’s career is defined by a handful of iconic roles, each carrying its own weight in film history.
What is Katharine Ross most famous for?
Early career and breakthrough
- Ross graduated from Las Lomas High School in 1957 and attended Santa Rosa Junior College and Diablo Valley College (Wikipedia).
- She began as an understudy in Actor’s Workshop productions in San Francisco (Wikipedia).
- Her leading-actress career took off in 1967 with Games and The Graduate (Wikipedia).
The Graduate and Academy Award nomination
Ross played Elaine Robinson alongside Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate (1967). The role earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress and a BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer. She also won two Golden Globe Awards for New Star of the Year (Wikipedia).
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and other iconic films
She played Etta Place opposite Robert Redford in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) (Vocal Media). Later, she starred in The Stepford Wives (1975) and Voyage of the Damned (1976) (Wikipedia).
Ross built a filmography that defined the late-1960s and early-1970s Hollywood, but the roles she turned down—including a part in Bonnie and Clyde—are part of her mystique.
The pattern: Ross’s filmography remains a hallmark of that period, and her selectivity contributed to her mystique.
Who was Sam Elliott’s love of his life?
Meeting and marriage to Katharine Ross
Sam Elliott has stated in interviews that Katharine Ross is the love of his life (IMDb). They met in 1978 on the set of The Legacy and married on May 1, 1984 (Wikipedia).
Relationship timeline
- The couple have been together for decades and split their time between Malibu, California, and an Oregon ranch (Country Thang Daily).
- Ross was married five times; Elliott had been married once before (Wikipedia).
For Sam Elliott, a late marriage to Ross meant a quieter off-screen life, but it grounded both actors in a relationship that has lasted four decades.
What this means: Their partnership is a rare Hollywood success story, built on mutual privacy and long-term commitment.
Does Katharine Ross have any children by Sam Elliott?
Daughter Cleo Rose Elliott
Yes, they have one daughter, Cleo Rose Elliott, born September 17, 1984 (Wikipedia). Cleo Rose has worked as a musician and model (Wikipedia).
Family life
The family has kept a low profile. Cleo Rose reportedly lives in Los Angeles and performs as a singer-songwriter (Country Thang Daily).
How old was Katharine Ross when she gave birth to her daughter?
Age at birth
Ross was 44 years old when she gave birth to Cleo Rose Elliott in 1984 (born January 29, 1940; child born September 17, 1984) (Wikipedia).
Later motherhood considerations
Having a child at 44 was less common in the 1980s than it is today, and Ross has rarely discussed her decision publicly (Country Thang Daily).
How rich is Katharine Ross?
Net worth estimates
Estimates of Katharine Ross’s net worth vary widely. A frequently cited range is $5 million to $10 million (Vocal Media). A different Katherine Ross—a Paylocity executive—has a reported net worth of at least $2 million, and those figures sometimes get confused (GuruFocus).
Source of wealth
Ross’s wealth stems from her acting career in film and television over several decades, including residuals from iconic films (Wikipedia).
Because Ross is retired and rarely appears in new projects, net worth figures are speculative. The $5–10 million range is a best guess by entertainment sites.
The catch: Any net worth estimate should be taken with caution, as no official confirmation exists.
Timeline
- 1940: Born in Hollywood, California. (Wikipedia)
- 1967: Released The Graduate, earning an Academy Award nomination. (Wikipedia)
- 1969: Starred in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. (Vocal Media)
- 1975: Starred in The Stepford Wives. (Wikipedia)
- 1978: Met Sam Elliott on set of The Legacy. (Wikipedia)
- 1984: Married Sam Elliott and gave birth to daughter Cleo Rose Elliott. (Wikipedia)
The timeline traces a life that peaked in the 1960s-70s and settled into a private family existence afterward.
What we know and what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Birth date and place: January 29, 1940, Hollywood, California (Wikipedia)
- Marriage to Sam Elliott in 1984 (Wikipedia)
- Daughter Cleo Rose Elliott is a musician (Wikipedia)
- Iconic role in The Graduate (Wikipedia)
What’s unclear
- Exact current net worth (Vocal Media)
- Plans for public appearances in 2025 (Country Thang Daily)
- Whether Ross will ever participate in a documentary or memoir (TV Guide)
The balance of what is known versus what remains speculative underscores Ross’s deliberate retreat from public life.
Quotes
Sam Elliott has referred to Katharine Ross as the love of his life.
Sam Elliott, multiple interviews (via IMDb)
Katharine Ross is an American retired actress who defined a generation of film.
Wikipedia (Wikipedia)
For the actress and her family, the choice to step away from Hollywood has meant a private, grounded life away from the spotlight. For fans, the consequence is clear: we have the films, but we may never get a reunion or a memoir. The legacy of Katharine Ross is sealed—not by fanfare, but by the quiet endurance of the work itself.
Frequently asked questions
Is Katharine Ross still alive?
Yes, as of 2025, Katharine Ross is still alive and lives privately with Sam Elliott.
What is Katharine Ross’s nationality?
She is American, born in Hollywood, California.
Did Katharine Ross win an Oscar?
She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for The Graduate but did not win.
What other movies did Katharine Ross make with Robert Redford?
She co-starred with Redford in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) and The Stepford Wives (1975).
How many times has Katharine Ross been married?
She has been married five times, most recently to Sam Elliott since 1984.
What is Cleo Rose Elliott’s profession?
Cleo Rose Elliott is a musician and model.
Where does Katharine Ross live now?
She and Sam Elliott split their time between Malibu, California, and a ranch in Oregon.
These questions capture the most common curiosities about a figure who continues to intrigue despite decades out of the spotlight.
Related reading
- James Brolin – Biography of another veteran actor from the same era.
- Jack Nicholson – What happened to the legendary star?
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