Kathryn Ish

February 18, 1936 December 31, 2007

Kathryn Ish, the actress, director and voice-over virtuoso, died of cancer at her home in Santa Barbara. She was 71. An actress of exceptional range and a pitch-perfect vocal mimic, Ish was perhaps best remembered as a founding member and star in the groundbreaking, political satire improvisational group, The Committee. Known for her scores of inventive and droll characters, Ish performed with The Committee Theater in the 1960s and ’70s.

Her husband of 47 years, the actor Richard Stahl, also of The Committee Theater (and known for his role on “It’s a Living”), died in 2006.

Ms. Ish performed in over 100 movies and television shows, including “The American President”, “WKRP in Cincinnati” and “Laverne and Shirley” and her voice was heard in over 75 films and TV shows.

In the last 13 years of her life, she also taught singing and acting at Santa Barbara City College.

Ish had been battling esphoghael cancer for two years but continued to work up until the last years of her life.

Mrs. Ish is survived by her two children, Allegra and Oliver Stahl.