Net Worth Ranker
What Is Margot Kidder’s Net Worth?
At the time of her death in 2018, Canadian-American actress Margot Kidder had a net worth of $300,000. This figure represents the culmination of a career spanning film and television, though significantly impacted by periods of mental health struggles and resulting financial difficulties.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born on October 17, 1948, in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada, Margot Kidder’s early life was marked by frequent moves due to her parents’ professions. Her mother, Jill, was a history teacher, and her father, Kendall, was an explosives engineer. She had one sister, Annie, and three brothers: John, Michael, and Peter. Margot attended multiple schools during her childhood, eventually graduating from Havergal College in 1966. While there is no publicly available information detailing specific early earnings or financial investments during her formative years, her family’s background suggests a middle-class upbringing.
Margot’s professional acting career began in 1968 with “The Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to Kaladar.” This project, produced by Challenge for Change, marked her entry into the film industry. Following her debut, she appeared in the comedy “Gaily, Gaily” and later starred alongside Gene Wilder in the 1970 comedy “Quackser Fortune Has a Cousin in the Bronx.” It’s difficult to ascertain her exact earnings from these early roles, but these projects provided her with initial exposure in the entertainment sector.
Breakthrough Roles and “Superman” Era
In 1973, Margot Kidder starred in Brian De Palma’s psychological horror film “Sisters,” which garnered critical acclaim. The following year, she appeared in three films: “A Quiet Day in Belfast,” “The Gravy Train,” and the slasher film “Black Christmas.” In 1975, she continued to build her resume with roles in “The Great Waldo Pepper,” “92 in the Shade,” and “The Reincarnation of Peter Proud.” While the specific salary figures for these films are not publicly documented, her involvement in a variety of genres helped to solidify her status as a working actress.
Her career reached new heights in 1978 when she was cast as Lois Lane in Richard Donner’s “Superman: The Movie.” This role, opposite Christopher Reeve, catapulted her to international stardom. The film was a box-office success, grossing over $300 million worldwide. Although her exact salary for the first “Superman” film isn’t publicly available, it’s plausible that she earned a substantial amount, particularly given the film’s success. She reprised her role as Lois Lane in the sequels “Superman II,” “Superman III,” and “Superman IV: The Quest for Peace.” The financial compensation for these sequels would have likely increased, reflecting her heightened profile and the ongoing success of the franchise.
Post-“Superman” Career and Financial Fluctuations
Following her success in “Superman: The Movie,” Kidder starred in another major hit, “The Amityville Horror.” After this movie she played roles in “Willie & Phil,” “Heartaches,” “Some Kind of Hero,” and “Trenchcoat” in the early 80s. Her credits during the remainder of the decade included “Little Treasure” and “Mob Story.” Although the specific salaries are unavailable, these roles contributed to her overall income during the 1980s.
The 1990s marked a period of reduced film work for Kidder, primarily due to her mental health struggles and the lingering effects of a severe car accident. In late 1990, she was injured in a car accident on the set of the television show “Nancy Drew and Daughter,” which left her partially paralyzed and unable to work for two years. This undoubtedly had a significant impact on her earnings potential. In 1996, she starred in the dramedy “Never Met Picasso,” followed by roles in “The Clown at Midnight” and “The Annihilation of Fish.”
In the 2000s, Kidder primarily appeared in independent films. Her credits included “Angel Blade,” an adaptation of “Crime and Punishment,” “The Last Sign,” “Universal Signs,” and Rob Zombie’s “Halloween II.” These roles, while artistically fulfilling, likely did not generate the same level of income as her earlier blockbuster films. Her later film appearances included “Redemption: For Robbing the Dead,” “No Deposit,” “The Neighborhood,” and “Robber’s Roost.” The financial details of these projects remain largely undocumented.
Television Work and Activism
In addition to her film work, Kidder maintained a steady presence on television. Early in her career, she appeared in episodes of “Wojeck,” “Adventures in Rainbow Country,” “McQueen,” “Corwin,” and “The Mod Squad.” In the early 1970s, she had a recurring role on the Western series “Nichols” and guest appearances on “Banacek,” “Harry O,” and “Barnaby Jones.”
During the 1980s, Kidder mainly appeared in television films, including “Pygmalion,” “Louisiana,” “The Glitter Dome,” and “Body of Evidence.” She continued to work in television films in the early 1990s with “White Room” and “To Catch a Killer.” She also lent her voice to the animated series “Captain Planet and the Planeteers” and “Phantom 2040.”
Beginning in the 2000s, Kidder appeared in episodes of “Amazon” and “The Outer Limits.” She also made guest appearances on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “Mentors,” and “Earth: Final Conflict.” In 2004, she played Bridgette Crosby on “Smallville” and Edith Taymore in the television film “Chicks with Sticks.” Her later television roles included “Robson Arms,” “The L Word,” and “Brothers & Sisters.” In 2014, she won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in Children’s Programming for her appearance on “R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour.” The Emmy win may have brought some financial reward.
Beyond her acting career, Kidder was a passionate activist for American democracy and liberal causes. In 2009, she served as the Montana State Coordinator for Progressive Democrats of America. She was also involved in environmental and LGBTQ activism. While her activism was a significant part of her life, it did not directly contribute to her net worth.
Mental Health Struggles and Personal Life
Kidder openly discussed her struggles with bipolar disorder, which significantly impacted her life and career. In late 1990, a car accident on the set of “Nancy Drew and Daughter” left her partially paralyzed and unable to work for two years. This period was marked by financial strain and worsening mental health. In the spring of 1996, she experienced a highly publicized nervous breakdown in Los Angeles, which led to psychiatric care. Her mental health challenges likely contributed to financial instability during certain periods of her life.
Kidder was married three times. Her first marriage was to writer Thomas McGuane in 1976, whom she met when he directed her in the film “92 in the Shade.” They had a daughter named Maggie before divorcing in 1977. In 1979, she married actor John Heard, but they separated after only six days, divorcing in 1980. Her third marriage was to French film director Philippe de Broca from 1983 to 1984. The details of any financial settlements from these divorces are not publicly available.
Margot Kidder passed away in her home in Livingston, Montana, in the spring of 2018 at the age of 69. Her death was ruled a suicide by an overdose of alcohol and drugs. The combination of a successful acting career and prolonged struggle with mental illness and financial difficulties contributed to Margot Kidder’s net worth of $300,000 at the time of her death.
