Holbrook was born in Fairbanks, Alaska and grew up in Tucson, Arizona.[3] Holbrook's father, Don Joseph York (aged 29) was killed in South Vietnam during the Vietnamese War. Her mother, Johanna, later remarried.[2] She began her career appearing in television series including Hart to Hart and Dallas. In 1988, she moved to New York City for performing on off-Broadway stage, and later was cast as Sharlene Frame Hudson on the NBC daytime soap opera, Another World a role she played until 1991 after her character was presumed dead in a boat explosion. Soap operas weren’t in Holbrook’s plans, but her agent offered some advice that would change her mind.[4] She returned to soap in late 1993 and appeared until 1997, and again in 1999.[5] The character Sharlene was a victim of sexual abuse and suffered from multiple personality disorder, and Holbrook won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress award for her portrayal in 1996.[2]
Holbrook has been married to Bruce Holbrook since 1979, and they have two children. Anna is currently an acting teacher at the Performing Arts Conservatory in New Canaan, Connecticut.[2]
^Reichardt, Nancy M. (January 2, 1994). "TO AND FROM 'ANOTHER WORLD'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2024-08-16. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
