Georgina Cates, “Clay Pigeons” actress and Skeet Ulrich’s ex-wife, dies at 51
Georgina Cates, “Clay Pigeons” actress and Skeet Ulrich’s ex-wife, dies at 51
Ryan ColemanMon, October 19, 2026 at 9:11 PM UTC
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Georgina Cates in Los Angeles in 2018Credit: Presley Ann/GettyKey Points -
English actress Georgina Cates has died at the age of 51.
Cates broke out on the BBC sitcom 2Point4 Children, and appeared in films like An Awfully Big Adventure and Clay Pigeons.
Cates was married to Scream star Skeet Ulrich from 1997-2005. They have to children.
Georgina Cates, the English actress best known for her roles on the series 2Point4 Children and the film Clay Pigeons, has died. She was 51.
Andrew Marshall, who created the BBC sitcom 2Point4 Children, which gave Cates her big break at the tender age of 16, announced the actress’ passing on X.
“I’m very sad to report, I have just discovered, that lovely and talented Claire Woodgate aka Georgina Cates, our 1st Jenny in 2p4 died last May,” he wrote. “I have no other details than what’s on IMDb. Sympathies to her family and children. If anyone has further details to share, please do.”
Entertainment Weekly has reached out to Cates’ representatives for comment.
As Marshall noted, Cates was born Clare Elaine Woodgate, a name she used professionally for a number of years. Coming of age in Colchester, Britain’s oldest recorded city, which is located in the coastal county of Essex, Cates gained fame throughout the country for her very first role.
2Point4 Children followed the rare triumphs and perennial misfortunes of the Porters, a working-class family in London who band together despite whatever arcane disaster may befall them. The role of Jenny, the Porters’ sarcastic, boy-crazy teenage daughter, was played by several stars over the course of its 8-season run. But Cates originated the role.
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Georgina Cates in Los Angeles in 2014Credit: Jonathan Leibson/Getty
She went on to appear on a spate of British series, including The Bill and Ghosts, throughout the mid-to-early ‘90s, but landed another prime role as Stella in Mike Newell’s An Awfully Big Adventure.
It was Cates’ first role under her new stage name, and it catapulted her to international acclaim, leading to roles in American films like the Burt Reynolds-William Forsythe two-hander Big City Blues. She also played a memorable part in Clay Pigeons, a 1998 black comedy starring three of the era’s icons —Joaquin Phoenix, Vince Vaughn and Janeane Garofalo.
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Georgina Cates and Skeet Ulrich in Los Angeles in 1999Credit: Ron Galella/Getty
It was around this time that Cates met Scream star Skeet Ulrich. The pair fell in love and married in 1997. They had twins Jakob and Naiia in 2001, and divorced in 2005.
Naiia Rose Ulrich, who has followed in her parents’ footsteps, starring in films like Due Date and My Fiona, shared a heartrending tribute to her mom on Oct. 18.
“My beautiful, free-spirited mom lived a hard life and still found ways to make herself and others laugh and smile <3 now she can rest easy,” she wrote on Instagram, over a photo of Cates embracing Naiia when she was a baby. “I will always see you in black and white photos, Virginia slims, baggy clothes, no bras, big sunglasses, doodling while talking, pleasers, and flip flops and everything in between. I love you, thank you for your creativity, curiosity and your bravery to always be true to yourself — no matter what.”
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