Catherine Carlen was born and raised in Cookeville, Tennessee. She moved to New York City in the late 1970's to start her acting career. Catherine studied with Uta Hagen and Stella Adler and Susan Batson. She is a lifetime member of The Actors Studio. Catherine wrote ,produced, directed and starred in The Award winning Feature Film Running Out of Time in Hollywood (2006), 50-year-old actress trying to make a comeback in Hollywood when everything and everybody is against her. Catherine currently has a recurring role on a New Shondaland series for Netflix. She is married to the love of her life Roger 'Biff' Johnson Jr. and has a beautiful talented daughter Carlen Johnson.