05/31/2026
June Local Artist Spotlight🔦
Catherine Close Cotton McGuire
This month we are spotlighting a local performing artist and Palmer Lake Arts Council member, Catherine McGuire. Catherine was born in Chicago on Halloween during a full moon, so her entry into the world had quite an interesting beginning!
Catherine’s family, the Close’s are well known local physician’s. Her grandfather, Doc Close, who was recently honored with a road name in Monument, bought the property on which Catherine and her husband now reside near Palmer Lake in 1922.
You may know Catherine and her brother, Tom, both of whom are chiropractors, practicing in Monument until Catherine retired after 38 years.
During a visit with a patient, Catherine was intrigued by the conversation she had about her patient’s acting career. So Catherine enrolled at Front Range Acting School in Denver and commuted to Denver for school and workshops with no prior experience, just a desire and the tenacity of a lifelong learner. Catherine began her acting career at 60 years young and got her SAG AFTRA card at 70! Catherine was represented by Radical Artists Agency, Denver.
What unfolded was a “happy accident” of a new colorful career in the performing arts.🎥🎬🎞️
Catherine has been involved in feature films, like Mr. Dung Beetle, where she played a psychologist.. She also had roles in a series of Justice League feature fan films, where she played the mother of Superman in Justice League 2:The Shattered Paragon, Justice League: Dawn of Apokolips. In The Spectacular Mind of Mackenzie Banks, Catherine portrayed Mrs. Banks.
Her independent films include Lights Over Chautauqua, which can be viewed on Amazon Prime, If Not Now, which won several awards for short film and was adopted by the Malta Mental Health Organization. This short film focuses on family dynamics of a loved one with Dementia.
Catherine’s short films also include, The 24 Hour Intimate Position, a film on breast cancer.
Catherine has also been involved in commercials for local businesses that include a furniture store, a Lexus dealership and a home builder.
Television shows include, Those Who Can’t, a pilot for Amazon, filmed in Denver. Catherine was cast as Vera, the “ancient” typing teacher who always falls asleep and Hidden America with Jonah Ray, where Catherine was cast a neighbor of a goat farm wherein a goat was a candidate for mayor.
Catherine describes her local theater performances as her “last hoorah”, playing “Kate” in the play Sylvia with Funky Little Theater, as well as working with Star Bar, Springs Ensemble Theater, several Palmer Lake productions, Red Herring Murder Mysteries, Royal Gorge Railroad Dinner Train and a lead role in God’s Favorite with First Company Theater.
The very multi faceted Catherine McGuire was also the Colorado State Shooting (Single Action) Champion for women over 75, (see photo).
Catherine describes herself as “tenacious” and “witty”. She loves to garden and appreciates the beauty and balance of nature. Catherine’s passion and part of her legacy is land conservation. She has worked with Palmer Land Conservancy to create a conservation easement on her property near Palmer Lake.
Catherine’s involvement with the Palmer Lake Arts Council helps recruit performing artists to local venues.
