Kate Levering is an American actress and dancer known for her work on Broadway and television. She gained major theatrical recognition as Peggy Sawyer in the 2001 Broadway revival of 42nd Street, a performance that earned her a Tony Award nomination.
Levering later became widely recognized by television audiences for playing attorney Kim Kaswell in the Lifetime comedy-drama series Drop Dead Diva. Her career also includes roles in Kevin Hill, Cashmere Mafia, Like Dandelion Dust, and Breaking the Girls.
Outside her professional work, Levering is married to businessman Reza Jahangiri. The couple married in 2013 and have maintained a relatively private family life.
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Profile Summary
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Kate Levering |
| Date of birth | January 3, 1979 |
| Age | 47 years old as of 2026 |
| Birthplace | Sacramento, California, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Actress and dancer |
| Known for | 42nd Street and Drop Dead Diva |
| Notable Broadway role | Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street |
| Notable television role | Kim Kaswell in Drop Dead Diva |
| Major recognition | 2001 Tony Award nomination |
| Spouse | Reza Jahangiri |
| Marriage year | 2013 |
| Children | Two, according to public biographical records |
| Reported height | 1.62 metres |
Early Life and Background
Kate Levering was born on January 3, 1979, in Sacramento, California. She grew up in the Sacramento area and developed an interest in dance and musical theatre at an early age.
Levering began performing professionally while still in school. In 1993, when she was in the eighth grade, she appeared in a Sacramento production of Singin’ in the Rain. She subsequently performed in regional productions of Guys and Dolls and The King and I.
She attended El Camino Fundamental High School and graduated in 1997. After completing high school, Levering moved to New York City to pursue professional opportunities in musical theatre.
Her dance training became an important part of her early career. Unlike performers whose work is concentrated exclusively in acting, Levering entered the industry with the ability to combine acting, singing, and technically demanding choreography.
Career and Professional Journey
Early Broadway Work
Levering began building her Broadway résumé through ensemble, replacement, and understudy positions. These roles gave her experience in established musical productions before she moved into more prominent parts.
Her early Broadway credits included The Life, in which she worked as an ensemble performer and replacement. She also appeared as a replacement performer in the revival of Chicago.
Levering later joined Annie Get Your Gun, performing as a ballerina and ensemble member while also understudying the role of Winnie Tate. In 2000, she originated the role of Zaneeta Shinn in the Broadway revival of The Music Man.
These productions placed her within major Broadway companies and demonstrated her versatility as a dancer and musical-theatre performer.
Breakthrough in 42nd Street
Levering’s career reached a major turning point when she was cast as Peggy Sawyer in the 2001 Broadway revival of 42nd Street. The character is a young dancer who is unexpectedly given an opportunity to become the leading performer in a Broadway production.
The role required extensive tap dancing as well as acting and singing. Levering’s performance received significant industry attention and earned her a 2001 Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.
She was part of the original Broadway revival cast in 2001 and returned to the production as Peggy Sawyer in 2002. The role remains one of the most important achievements of her stage career.
Later in 2001, Levering originated the role of Thérèse Raquin in the Broadway musical Thou Shalt Not. The production featured music by Harry Connick Jr. and was based on Émile Zola’s novel of the same name.
Transition to Television
After establishing herself on Broadway, Levering expanded her career into television. Her early screen appearances included roles in series such as Home Improvement, Witchblade, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
In 2002, she portrayed Jeanne Martin in the television film Martin and Lewis. She later received a regular role as attorney Veronica Carter in the legal drama Kevin Hill, which aired during the 2004–2005 television season.
Levering continued to appear in episodic television, including Cold Case, CSI: Miami, Las Vegas, Medium, Ghost Whisperer, and K-Ville. She also had a recurring role as Katherine Cutler in the ABC series Cashmere Mafia.
Her television work allowed her to move beyond musical-theatre roles while retaining the controlled delivery and physical confidence developed during her stage career.
Drop Dead Diva and Kim Kaswell
Levering became best known to television viewers through her role as Kim Kaswell in Drop Dead Diva. The Lifetime comedy-drama premiered in 2009 and combined legal cases with elements of fantasy and comedy.
Kim Kaswell is an ambitious attorney and colleague of the central character, Jane Bingum, played by Brooke Elliott. Levering portrayed Kim as highly competitive, direct, and professionally driven.
The character appeared throughout the series’ six-season run, which ended in 2014. The role gave Levering her longest-running and most recognizable television credit.
Her performance also demonstrated a different side of her work from the dance-centered roles that defined her Broadway career. As Kim, she worked primarily through dialogue, comedy, and workplace drama rather than musical performance.
Film and Later Screen Work
Levering’s film credits include the family drama Like Dandelion Dust, in which she played Molly Campbell. The film also starred Mira Sorvino, Barry Pepper, Cole Hauser, and Maxwell Perry Cotton.
She later appeared as Nina Layton in the thriller Breaking the Girls. Her additional screen credits include the independent film Chlorine.
In 2016, Levering was cast as an older version of Annette Hargrove in an NBC pilot based on the film Cruel Intentions. Reese Witherspoon had played the original version of the character in the 1999 movie. Although the pilot was produced, NBC did not move forward with it as a television series.
Levering also returned to her Sacramento theatre roots in 2014 when she played Cassie in a Music Circus production of A Chorus Line. The appearance connected her established screen career with the regional stage where she had performed as a teenager.
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Major Achievements and Recognition
Tony Award Nomination
Levering received a Tony Award nomination in 2001 for her portrayal of Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street. She was nominated in the category of Best Featured Actress in a Musical.
The nomination represents the most prominent formal recognition of her career. It also reflected the demanding combination of acting, singing, and tap dancing required by the role.
Broadway Career
Levering’s Broadway record includes six major productions:
- Chicago
- The Life
- Annie Get Your Gun
- The Music Man
- 42nd Street
- Thou Shalt Not
Her progression from ensemble and replacement work to originating major roles illustrates the development of her theatrical career. She earned her best-known stage opportunity only a few years after leaving high school and moving to New York.
Long-Running Television Role
Playing Kim Kaswell across all six seasons of Drop Dead Diva became Levering’s most sustained screen achievement. The series broadened her recognition beyond Broadway audiences and established her as a familiar presence in television comedy-drama.
Work Across Multiple Performance Fields
Levering’s career has covered Broadway musicals, regional theatre, television series, television films, and independent cinema. Her professional background as both an actress and dancer distinguishes her from performers known primarily for one medium.
Husband Reza Jahangiri and Family
Kate Levering married businessman Reza Jahangiri on April 20, 2013. Their wedding was held at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
At the time of the ceremony, the couple were expecting their first child. Public biographical records report that Levering and Jahangiri have two children.
Levering has generally kept her marriage and children outside the centre of her public career. Reliable public information about the family is therefore limited, and details beyond their marriage and parenthood should be treated as private.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Kate Levering?
Kate Levering was born on January 3, 1979. She is 47 years old as of 2026.
What is Kate Levering best known for?
She is best known for playing attorney Kim Kaswell in the Lifetime series Drop Dead Diva. She is also recognized for her Tony-nominated performance as Peggy Sawyer in the 2001 Broadway revival of 42nd Street.
Was Kate Levering nominated for a Tony Award?
Yes. Levering was nominated for the 2001 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance in 42nd Street.
Who is Kate Levering’s husband?
Kate Levering’s husband is businessman Reza Jahangiri. They married on April 20, 2013, at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
What Broadway shows has Kate Levering appeared in?
Her documented Broadway credits include Chicago, The Life, Annie Get Your Gun, The Music Man, 42nd Street, and Thou Shalt Not.
Conclusion
Kate Levering developed her career through disciplined work in dance and musical theatre before expanding into television and film. Born in Sacramento, she began performing professionally as a teenager and moved to New York after high school.
Her portrayal of Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street earned her a Tony Award nomination and established her as an accomplished Broadway dancer-actress. She later reached a broader television audience as Kim Kaswell in all six seasons of Drop Dead Diva.
Levering’s verified career reflects sustained work across several areas of performance. Her marriage to Reza Jahangiri has been publicly documented, but the couple have kept most aspects of their family life private.
