Kim Walker (actress)

Kimberly Anne Walker^[1] was born on June 19, 1968 in Manhattan, New York, the daughter of Ruth Mary (née Weigel) and Herb Walker. She attended Grace Church School and Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School, where she was a classmate of Christian Slater and Jennifer Aniston, before graduating from The Professional Children's School in 1986. She reportedly remained close friends with Slater and Aniston throughout her life, sharing a Los Angeles apartment with the latter during the early stages of their acting careers.^[2][3]

Walker is best known for her role as Heather Chandler in the dark comedy film Heathers (1988).^[4] She also starred as Judith in the drama film A Reason to Believe (1995).

At an unknown date several years before her death, Walker had been diagnosed with a malignant glioma, a type of brain tumor. In January 1999, she underwent a craniotomy in an attempt to treat the tumor. On March 6, 2001, at the age of 32, she died at her home in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles from a brain herniation caused by the tumor.^[5][6] She was buried at Pinelawn Memorial Park in Farmingdale, New York.^[7]

In 2002, the Kim Walker Memorial Fund was established at Grace Church School, from where she had graduated. Her family also established the Kim Walker Shining Star Drama Fund at the school.^[8] The annual Kim Walker Shining Star Drama Award, created by her mother and brother, honors students of the school with dedication and talent in the performing arts.^[9]