Kathryn Erbe studied at New York University while she landed the role of Lynn Redgrave’s daughter in the television sitcom Chicken Soup. After her stint on the show, she joined up with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company and began performing onstage in productions. She was in A Streetcar Named Desire, Curse of the Starving Class, and The Grapes of Wrath. Her outstanding stage work has earned her a Tony Award nomination, especially for her portrayal of Mary in Speed of Darkness, penned by Steve Tesich.
In 1991, Kathryn Erbe took on the role of Anna Marvin in What About Bob? This was followed by a part in the drama Rich in Love. She soon found herself playing Michele in 1994’s D2: The Mighty Ducks, before gaining more roles in Kiss of Death opposite David Caruso, The Addiction and the independent film Dream with the Fishes. She was also seen in Entropy and Love from Ground Zero. In 2000, she landed roles in the TV production The Runaway, and was in the romantic comedy Speaking of Sex in 2001. Erbe became critically acclaimed for her role on the HBO drama series Oz, where she played Shirley Bellinger from 1998 to 2003.
Erbe also had a guest role in Homicide: Life on the Street during the late 1990s. Later, she became known for playing Detective Alex Eames on the NBC series Law & Order: Criminal Intent.