A familiar TV face best remembered by many viewers as Neil Patrick Harris’ onscreen mom in Doogie Howser, M.D. was spotted catching up with friends over lunch in Los Angeles this weekend.
The veteran performer’s long Hollywood career includes appearances in beloved titles such as The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Miami Vice and T.J. Hooker, along with later credits including TRON.
Across decades in film and television, she has shared the screen with major names including Don Johnson and Harris — and even appeared opposite Kermit the Frog in the 1969 TV special Hey, Cinderella!
Born in Winnipeg, the 76-year-old Canadian-American actress has since turned much of her creative energy toward another passion: painting.
On Saturday, she was photographed out in the City of Angels, accompanied by her four-legged companion.
So, can you name the actress?
A familiar actress best known for playing Neil Patrick Harris’ mother in Doogie Howser, M.D. stepped out for lunch with friends in Los Angeles over the weekend
If Belinda Montgomery was your guess, you got it right.
Montgomery was spotted with her pals leaving a restaurant with a bag of to-go food in her hand.
She wore a bright pink shirt, jeans, and sensible Nike trainers.
At her feet was her adorable fluffy dog, who dutifully stayed by Montgomery’s side and in her arms.
The Daily Mail has contacted a representative for Montgomery for comment but has yet to hear back.
The talented star is perhaps best known for her work starring as Katherine Howser who was mother to the Neil Patrick Harris titular character in Doogie Howser, MD.
From 1989 to 1993, she starred as Katherine Howser in all four seasons of the medical drama sitcom.
Katherine was originally a housewife until later returning to work as a patient advocate at her son’s hospital.
If you guessed Belinda Montgomery, you are correct!
Montgomery played Katherine Howser in the series from 1989 to 1993
She was seen enjoying a casual lunch with pals, including her furry friend
Belinda’s adorable dog remained dutifully by her side
In 2008, she reunited with her former on-screen son while attending the Laguna Beach Art Festival.
‘We did the Laguna Art Festival. This was a couple years ago and so we kinda had fun meeting up doing pictures there….and that was neat,’ she told Popbuff.com in 2016.
Belinda has had an acting career which has spanned over five decades.
Her first television roles were as a baby faced teenager as she first gained prominence starring as the titular character in 1969 television film Hey, Cinderella!
She also starred as Dr. Elizabeth Merrill alongside Patrick Duffy in sci-fi series Man From Atlantis over two years in 1977 and 1978.
She wore a bright pink shirt, jeans, and sensible Nike trainers
Belinda’s Hollywood career includes roles in Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, and TJ Hooker
She juggled her precious pooch and a bag of to-go food
Montgomery now paints full-time, a passion she developed as a child
‘We kinda had fun meeting up doing pictures there,’ Belinda said of reuniting with Harris in 2008; pictured 1989
The Canada native also had successful roles in film specifically in the horror genera as she starred in 1979’s Stone Cold Dead and 1984’s Silent Madness.
Belinda also starred in The Todd Killings (1971), The Other Side of the Mountain (1975) and its sequel The Other Side of the Mountain Part 2 (1978).
Her final role was as Carol Winters/Mrs. Claus in 2017 American-Canadian made-for-television romantic comedy film Snowed-Inn Christmas which aired on Lifetime.
She now paints full-time, a passion she returned to after first showing promise as a child.
According to her website, Montgomery was just 10-years-old when she sold her first work of art to a prominent CBC network news anchor.
For years, acting took priority over painting until she picked it up again.
‘Now she has found herself painting fulltime primarily in oil and acrylic as well as working in figurative sculpture,’ her website states.
