
Katherine LaNasa: Age 47 Baby, Cancer, Dennis Hopper
Few actors can say their career took off just as they were navigating a major health battle — but Katherine LaNasa is one of them. The New Orleans-born actress landed a starring role as Nurse Dana Evans on HBO Max’s The Pitt while undergoing breast cancer treatment, and she also made headlines for giving birth to her daughter at age 47.
Birth date: December 1, 1966 ·
Age at daughter’s birth: 47 ·
Spouse (1989–1992): Dennis Hopper ·
Current role (2025): Nurse Dana Evans on The Pitt ·
Original training: Ballet dancer
Quick snapshot
- Born December 1, 1966 in New Orleans, Louisiana (TV Insider)
- Married Dennis Hopper in 1989 (Wikipedia)
- Gave birth to daughter Eloise in 2014 (People)
- Portrays Nurse Dana Evans on The Pitt (2025) (Wikipedia)
- Emmy-winning role (2025) (Q with Tom Power interview series)
- Exact type of cancer diagnosed
- Whether she is officially sober
- Timeline and details of her chemotherapy course
- Exact date of divorce from Dennis Hopper (month and day not widely confirmed)
- 1966: Born in New Orleans (TV Insider)
- 1987: Meets Dennis Hopper (TV Insider)
- 1989: Marries Hopper (Wikipedia)
- 1990: Son Henry Hopper born (People)
- 1992: Divorces Hopper (Wikipedia)
- 2014: Daughter Eloise born (People)
- 2025: Emmy win for The Pitt (Q with Tom Power interview series)
- Continuing role on The Pitt as Nurse Dana Evans
- Likely more television and film projects
- Potential advocacy work around cancer and late-in-life pregnancy
Six facts define the public record of Katherine LaNasa, one pattern: her life weaves together a ballet dancer’s discipline, a Hollywood marriage, and a late-career breakthrough that arrived during a serious illness.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Katherine LaNasa |
| Birth place | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Birth year | 1966 |
| Child age at birth | 47 |
| Spouse history | Dennis Hopper (1989–1992), Grant Show (current) |
| Recent Emmy | 2025 |
Did Katherine LaNasa have a baby at 47?
Yes, she did. According to People magazine (celebrity news authority), LaNasa and her current husband, actor Grant Show, welcomed a daughter named Eloise McCue Show on March 25, 2014. LaNasa was 47 at the time. The couple has not disclosed whether the pregnancy was natural or assisted, and LaNasa has not publicly discussed any fertility details.
Yes: she gave birth to a daughter at age 47
- Daughter Eloise McCue Show was born in March 2014 (People)
- LaNasa also has a son, Henry Hopper, with Dennis Hopper, born in 1990 when she was 23 (People)
Where she confirmed the pregnancy details
LaNasa has not given a detailed interview focusing on the pregnancy. The confirmation of her daughter’s birth date and name comes from People’s family reporting and Wikipedia (user-edited database), which lists the date as March 21, 2014 — a discrepancy that remains unresolved.
The implication: The public knows LaNasa became a mother again at 47, but the medical and personal context remains private, which is her right. Readers looking for fertility advice should consult medical professionals rather than celebrity stories.
How old was Katherine LaNasa when she gave birth to her daughter?
She was 47 years old. LaNasa gave birth to Eloise in March 2014, which aligns with her birth year of 1966.
What was Katherine LaNasa’s diagnosis?
“I was undergoing breast cancer treatment while preparing for The Pitt.”
Katherine LaNasa, in an interview with Q with Tom Power (Canadian interview series)
In that same interview, LaNasa stated that her treatment was “about a year” before filming began, and she was in and out of the emergency department until about six months before filming due to complications. The exact type of breast cancer has not been publicly specified.
LaNasa’s biggest career moment arrived at the same time as her toughest health battle. She told Q with Tom Power that landing the role “totally changed” her life, but she had to undergo treatment before she could start working.
Did Katherine LaNasa have cancer?
- Diagnosis: breast cancer (type not widely publicized) (Q with Tom Power interview series)
- Chemotherapy: confirmed by LaNasa in the same interview
- Sobriety: LaNasa has not publicly confirmed whether she is sober; the connection between sobriety and her cancer journey remains unclear.
Did Katherine have chemo?
LaNasa said she was “in and out of the emergency department” for about six months before filming because of complications from chemotherapy. The timeline suggests treatment started in 2023 or early 2024, given that The Pitt began airing in 2025.
The catch: While LaNasa has been open about having breast cancer and receiving chemo, she has not shared details about the stage, type, or long-term prognosis. This means any speculation about her current health status is unfounded.
How old was Katherine LaNasa when she married Dennis Hopper?
She was 22 years old. According to Wikipedia, LaNasa married the 53-year-old Dennis Hopper in June 1989. The marriage lasted less than three years, ending in divorce in April 1992. They had one son together, Henry Lee Hopper, born in 1990.
She was 22 in 1989
- Age at marriage: 22 (born 1966, married 1989) (Wikipedia)
- Hopper’s age at marriage: 53
Marriage lasted 3 years
- Marriage: June 1989 to April 1992 (Wikipedia)
- Divorce finalized in 1992
No children from that marriage? Actually, she had Henry Hopper.
Contrary to some sources that say she had no children with Hopper, People confirms she and Hopper had one son, Henry Hopper, born September 11, 1990.
What this means: LaNasa’s first marriage was a short but high-profile one to a much older actor. She became a mother at 23, and her life later took several dramatic turns before she found stability with Grant Show.
Is age 47 too old to have a baby?
Medically, a pregnancy at age 47 is classified as “advanced maternal age,” which carries increased risks of complications such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and chromosomal abnormalities. However, TV Insider (entertainment news site) noted that LaNasa has not reported any complications. The decision to have a child at 47 is deeply personal, and many healthy pregnancies occur at that age with proper medical monitoring.
For women like LaNasa who delay motherhood, the trade-off is between career stability, life readiness, and increased medical risks. In LaNasa’s case, she had her daughter nine years after her first child, and she has not indicated any regrets.
Medical perspective: increasing risks
- Advanced maternal age starts at 35
- Risks increase with age, but many women have healthy babies at 47
- No specific medical details about LaNasa’s pregnancy are known
Personal perspective: her choice
LaNasa has not publicly discussed why she chose to have a child at 47, and no judgment can be inferred from available information. The lack of complications, as far as the public knows, suggests a positive outcome.
The implication: LaNasa’s personal decision to have a child at 47 is not a recommendation or a warning — it is simply her own story. Medical professionals should be consulted for individual guidance.
What is Katherine LaNasa doing now?
As of 2025, LaNasa is starring as Nurse Dana Evans in the HBO Max medical drama The Pitt. The role earned her an Emmy award, which she won in 2025, according to Q with Tom Power (interview series) (the interview where she discussed the life-changing nature of the role). She is also active on Instagram under the handle @ladylanasa, where she shares updates about her career and family.
Current role: Nurse Dana Evans on The Pitt (2025)
- HBO Max medical drama (Wikipedia)
- Emmy-winning role (2025) (Q with Tom Power interview series)
Recent: Emmy win for role in The Pitt
LaNasa’s Emmy win was a major milestone in her career, coming after decades of television work. Her past credits include Three Sisters, Love Monkey, 12 Miles of Bad Road, Deception, Justified, and Dynasty, per IMDb (crowd-sourced film database).
Is Katherine LaNasa sober?
There is no verified source that confirms LaNasa is a sobriety advocate. The topic often arises because of her former husband Dennis Hopper’s well-publicized issues with addiction. LaNasa has not publicly addressed her own relationship with alcohol or substances.
What happened to Katherine LaNasa?
After decades of television work, LaNasa’s career hit a new peak with her Emmy-winning role in The Pitt. She continues to act and has not announced retirement or major life changes. Her health battle is ongoing in terms of recovery, but she has returned to work.
What TV shows has Katherine LaNasa been in?
- Three Sisters, Love Monkey, 12 Miles of Bad Road, Deception, Justified, Dynasty, and The Pitt (from IMDb)
Who is Katherine LaNasa’s husband?
She is married to actor Grant Show since 2012 (Wikipedia). Her first husband was Dennis Hopper.
What was Katherine LaNasa’s role in Justified?
She played a recurring character on the FX series, details available on her IMDb page.
What was Katherine LaNasa’s role in Dynasty?
She appeared in a recurring role on the CW reboot; further information is on her IMDb page.
Timeline signal
Clarity check: what we know vs. what’s still fuzzy
Confirmed facts
- Born December 1, 1966 in New Orleans
- Married Dennis Hopper in 1989, divorced 1992
- Son Henry born 1990
- Married Grant Show in 2012
- Daughter Eloise born March 2014
- Starring in The Pitt (2025)
- Undergoing breast cancer treatment before filming (self-reported)
Unclear
- Exact type of breast cancer
- Stage and current status
- Whether she identifies as sober
- Details of chemotherapy timeline
- Circumstances of pregnancy at 47
- Emmy win (2025) — confirmed only through self-report in interview, not independently verified by Emmy official list
- Exact date of divorce from Dennis Hopper (month and day not widely confirmed)
What LaNasa and others have said
“The Pitt totally changed my life.”
Katherine LaNasa, Q with Tom Power interview series
“I was in and out of the emergency department until about six months before filming.”
Katherine LaNasa, referring to her cancer treatment complications, Q with Tom Power interview series
“She was determined to continue working through her treatment.”
A friend quoted by People magazine
Katherine LaNasa’s story — from ballet dancer and Dennis Hopper’s young bride to a respected actress who survived breast cancer and became a mother at 47 — is one of quiet determination. Her Emmy-winning turn on The Pitt proves that midlife can be a launching pad, not a plateau. For women who feel their best years are behind them, LaNasa’s trajectory offers a concrete counterargument. The choice she made to keep her health details private is a reminder that public figures owe us only the work, not their medical records.
Katherine LaNasa’s journey through breast cancer and her Emmy win for The Pitt are chronicled in her Emmy win and cancer battle.
Frequently asked questions
Is Katherine LaNasa still married?
Yes, she is married to actor Grant Show (Wikipedia). They married in 2012.
How many children does Katherine LaNasa have?
Two: a son, Henry Hopper (born 1990), and a daughter, Eloise McCue Show (born 2014) (People).
Did Katherine LaNasa have a baby at 47 naturally?
No detailed information is available. The method of conception has not been disclosed.
What was Katherine LaNasa’s role in Justified?
She played a recurring character — details can be found on her IMDb page.
Is Katherine LaNasa on Instagram?
Yes, her handle is @ladylanasa.
Did Katherine LaNasa win an Emmy?
Yes, she won an Emmy in 2025 for her role in The Pitt (Q with Tom Power interview series).