Born in New York City, and raised in France, Germany and South Korea, Kathi Diamant is an actress, author, TV producer/anchor and adjunct professor at San Diego State University.

Kathi’s first love is, and has always been, the theatre, though it’s often taken a back seat. Born of theatrical parents who met and married in summer stock, Kathi wanted to be an actress when she grew up. In 1974, she received a BA in Theatre Arts at Florida State University. A member of Actors Equity since 1988, her acting credits include stage, film and television. In 2005 she created the lead role of Mary Beth in the world premiere of “Munched,” which won a Patte Award for "Best New Play of 2005."  In 2009, she created the roles of Aunt Sarah and Hegelstein in a new play based on Grace Paley stories, “Acts of Faith” at the Tenth Avenue Playhouse in downtown San Diego.

Kathi’s award-winning book, Kafka's Last Love: The Mystery of Dora Diamant has been reviewed by more than 60 publications and websites, internationally lauded for its original research and revelations into Dora and Kafka's lives. It has been published in the US, UK, and in translation in Spain, France, Russia, China and Brazil, with excerpts published in literary arts journals and in other books. Kathi often lectures on her research discoveries and is a frequent emcee and speaker, telling the inspirational story of Dora Diamant, the mysterious last love of literary genius Franz Kafka.

The founder/director of the Kafka Project at SDSU since 1998, Kathi has led the official search for a missing literary treasure, the papers of Franz Kafka confiscated by the Gestapo in Berlin in 1933. In 2008, the Kafka Project continued the search in Eastern Europe and led a Magical Mystery Literary History Tour to Prague, Vienna and Berlin.

Kathi has more than 25 years of broadcast media and print journalism experience in San Diego. Well known to San Diego audiences as the co-host of the long-running morning talk show on KFMB-TV, Sun Up San Diego, Kathi served on staff of KPBS as an anchor/producer until 2008. She is still frequently seen on KPBS and other PBS stations around the country as a national pledge host. Most recently, she worked as Production Coordinator for “UNSTUCK with Dr. James Gordon” and as coordinating producer for the newest PBS special with Dr. Wayne Dyer, “Excuses Begone!” and also appeared with Dr. Dyer on the local and national pledge breaks, which premiered on PBS in June 2009.

A frequent contributor to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Creators News Service and ZOONOOZ and other publications in Southern California, Kathi has written hundreds of articles on travel, arts and culture.

Kathi is the recipient of many honors, grants and awards for her acting, writing and television work, including an Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer. In 2006, she received a Living Legacy Award from the Women's International Center. She is married to actor/writer Byron La Due and lives in San Diego, CA.