# Kim McGuire
**Kim McGuire** (Kim Diane McGuire, 1955 – September 14, 2016) was an American actress who later became a lawyer and author, best known for playing Mona "Hatchet-Face" Malnorowski in [John Waters](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-waters)' 1990 comedy musical *Cry-Baby*.[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/kim-mcguire)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Kim Diane McGuire, born in New Orleans, Louisiana[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/kim-mcguire) |
| Signature role | Mona "Hatchet-Face" Malnorowski in *Cry-Baby* (1990), directed by John Waters, opposite Johnny Depp[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/kim-mcguire) • [2](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/MovieDetails/58463) |
| Acting years | Active 1990–1996, with credits in film, television, and one video game[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0570238/) |
| Television work | Series regular as Nicole Thorne in *On the Air* (1992); guest roles in *Dream On* and *New York Undercover*[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/kim-mcguire) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0570238/) |
| Second career | Attorney licensed in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and California, specializing in family law and children's issues[4](https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nola/name/kim-mcguire-obituary?id=10288139) • [5](https://www.ksl.com/article/41488213) |
| Death | September 14, 2016, at a hospital in Naples, Florida, of complications from pneumonia, at age 60[5](https://www.ksl.com/article/41488213) |
## Early life and education
Her obituary records a BA in speech education and an MA in Theatre and Dance from the University of New Orleans, where she performed in theater department productions and was a member of the UNO Starletts Dance Team.[4](https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nola/name/kim-mcguire-obituary?id=10288139) She began her dancer and actor career at New Orleans venues including NORD Theatre, Gallery Circle Theatre, and Minacapelli Dinner Theatre in Slidell.[4](https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nola/name/kim-mcguire-obituary?id=10288139)
## Cry-Baby and acting career
*Cry-Baby* was McGuire's first acting credit.[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/kim-mcguire) In the film, a musical comedy released on April 6, 1990, she played Mona "Hatchet-Face" Malnorowski, a member of the teenage drapes gang led by Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker, played by [Johnny Depp](https://www.edgepedia.org/johnny-depp).[2](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/MovieDetails/58463) The role had a distinctive casting brief: the character was described as having "the body of Jayne Mansfield and the face of Margaret Hamilton," and casting director Pat Moran said Waters wanted Hatchet-Face to be "ugly but proud of it."[2](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/MovieDetails/58463) McGuire appeared on *Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee* to promote the film, and for months after its release she was photographed at Hollywood premieres, parties, and benefits.[4](https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nola/name/kim-mcguire-obituary?id=10288139)**Later screen work.** After *Cry-Baby*, McGuire appeared with [Malcolm McDowell](https://www.edgepedia.org/malcolm-mcdowell) in the 1990 film *Disturbed*, playing Selina.[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/kim-mcguire) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0570238/) On television she was a series regular as Nicole Thorne in *On the Air*, the 1992 series created by [David Lynch](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-lynch) and Mark Frost for ABC, appearing in seven episodes.[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/kim-mcguire) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0570238/) She had guest roles in *Dream On* (1990) and *New York Undercover* (1995), played Bambi in the 1993 television movie *Acting on Impulse*, and appeared uncredited as a stage diver in Waters' *Serial Mom* (1994).[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/kim-mcguire) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0570238/) Her last screen credit is a voice role as Female Patient #1 in the 1996 video game *Zork: Nemesis*.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0570238/)
Alongside screen work, she acted in regional theater in New York City and Los Angeles, was a member of Theatre West in Los Angeles, and starred at Storybook Theatre, described in her obituary as the only equity children's theater in Los Angeles.[4](https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nola/name/kim-mcguire-obituary?id=10288139)
## Law career and writing
McGuire returned to the law in the 1990s. After passing the State Bar exam, she began working as an attorney in Los Angeles in 1997.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0570238/) Her husband, Gene Piotrowsky, told The Associated Press that she specialized in family law and children's issues.[5](https://www.ksl.com/article/41488213) She was licensed to practice in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and California, and worked as a certified Guardian Ad Litem and certified mediator in [Mississippi](https://www.edgepedia.org/mississippi) and Alabama, protecting children's rights; she also practiced criminal law and worked in entertainment law in California.[4](https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nola/name/kim-mcguire-obituary?id=10288139) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0570238/)
She became an author after [Hurricane Katrina](https://www.edgepedia.org/hurricane-katrina), which destroyed her home in [Biloxi, Mississippi](https://www.edgepedia.org/biloxi-mississippi), in 2005 and forced her and her husband to relocate to Alabama.[4](https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nola/name/kim-mcguire-obituary?id=10288139) Piotrowsky said she wrote several books on topics ranging from bullying to the couple's Katrina experiences.[5](https://www.ksl.com/article/41488213) IMDb lists her book *Without Recourse? Finding Your Voice!* (ISBN 978-1482307702).[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0570238/)
## Death
McGuire died on September 14, 2016, at a hospital in [Naples, Florida](https://www.edgepedia.org/naples-florida), of complications from pneumonia, at age 60; her husband confirmed the death to The Associated Press.[5](https://www.ksl.com/article/41488213) A private service was planned.[5](https://www.ksl.com/article/41488213) She was a member of the [Screen Actors Guild](https://www.edgepedia.org/screen-actors-guild), Actors Equity, and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.[4](https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nola/name/kim-mcguire-obituary?id=10288139)
## References
1. [Kim McGuire, Television Academy bios](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/kim-mcguire)
2. [Cry-Baby (1990), AFI Catalog](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/MovieDetails/58463)
3. [Kim McGuire, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0570238/)
4. [Kim McGuire Obituary, The Times-Picayune / Legacy.com](https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nola/name/kim-mcguire-obituary?id=10288139)
5. ['Cry-Baby' actress Kim McGuire dead at age 60, Associated Press via KSL.com](https://www.ksl.com/article/41488213)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames Mc to Mi*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license