Kelly Carlson
The model-turned-actress who brought a captivating mix of beauty and vulnerability to the role of Kimber Henry on 'Nip/Tuck'.
Born 1976 (age 50)·American actress and model·Birthday: February 17·Generation X
Biography
Kelly Carlson first turned heads in the world of fashion, her striking looks landing her on magazine covers and in campaigns. But it was her transition to acting that revealed a deeper talent. She was cast as Kimber Henry, the complex and troubled love interest on FX's provocative drama 'Nip/Tuck.' Carlson didn't just play a beautiful foil; she imbued Kimber with a fragile psyche and a desperate need for validation, making her one of the series' most unpredictable and compelling characters over its five-season run. The role showcased her ability to navigate dark, satirical material with emotional honesty. While 'Nip/Tuck' remains her signature work, she has continued to act in television films and series, often in strong, genre-driven roles, and has parlayed her fitness passion into a line of workout videos, maintaining a public persona centered on strength and wellness.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Kelly was born in 1976, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kelly Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Kelly's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1976Born
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1981Started school
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Became a teenager
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Could drive
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1994Could vote
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Turned 21
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2006Turned 30
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 40
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 50
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played the recurring role of Kimber Henry across five seasons of the FX drama series 'Nip/Tuck'.
- Appeared on the covers of major magazines like Maxim, FHM, and Stuff during her modeling career.
- Starred as Special Agent Jane McPherson in the action series 'The Last Ship' for multiple episodes.
- Launched her own series of fitness DVDs, 'Kelly Carlson's Knockout Body Workout'.
Did You Know?
She is a trained martial artist with experience in kickboxing and holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
She was a competitive figure skater in her youth.
She turned down a scholarship to the Art Institute of Chicago to pursue modeling.
She is an advocate for animal welfare and has worked with several rescue organizations.
“I never wanted to be just a pretty face on a poster.”
