American athlete and actress. Rigby was the first American woman to win a medal in International gymnastics competition. She holds 12 international medals, eight of them are gold. ABC-TV’s “Wide World of Sports” named her one of America’s Most Influential Women in Sports. She won a Tony nomination in 1991 for her portrayal of “Peter Pan” and the George M. Cohan Award for Best Specialty Act.
One of five children, she has two brothers and two sisters. Rigby is the daughter of Paul who was an engineer for McDonnell-Douglas Aircraft and her mom, a materials analyst there, who had polio. Rigby’s father was an alcoholic. Her parents are divorced.
A shy, introverted but hyperactive child, she was always competitive and getting into mischief. With a background in ballet, at ten she found jumping on a trampoline was fun and began gymnastics shortly thereafter. Her dad lost his job when she was 15 and began spending everyday at the gym with her. He and Cathy’s coach did not get along, which brought stress and anxiety into her life and this helped lead to her eating disorder.
She has lectured in colleges, and for corporations most often discussing conscientious nutrition and balanced wellness. A co-host of USA Cable Network “Alive and Well,” Rigby has appeared in the made for TV movies “The Great Wallendas” and “Perfect Body” among others. Her roles in theater include “Annie Get Your Gun,” Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz” and “Paint Your Wagon.” After ten years of voice and acting lessons with the dedication of an athlete, Rigby recognizes that she is now an appreciated actress. In spring 1997 she lectured for a televised college course on the effects of bulimia on metabolism.
Rigby met first husband, former football running back Tommy Mason, in 1969 and they married in 1972. Their son Buck was born in 1976 and son Ryan in 1980. They divorced in 1981. Rigby met second husband, Thomas McCoy, in 1981. They had an instant rapport, are both Catholic with strong family values, they married in 1982. They have two daughters, Theresa born 1983 and Kaitlin born 1985. Tom retired from acting to become a producer. Three of their four children belong to Actor’s Equity Union.
Rigby suffered from anorexia nervosa and bulimia from 1968 to 1981 at which time she received psychiatric help to overcome her eating disorders. At five feet tall weighing 79 pounds, an electrolyte imbalance twice caused cardiac arrest and hospitalization. Her body was so out of balance she required fertility drugs for her first two pregnancies. She is now happy with her weight of 105 lbs. In 1991, during her performance in the role of “Peter Pan” Rigby required 15 stitches over her eye due to an accident during a performance.
Link to Wikipedia biography