On September 19, 1930, Browne was born as Jacqueline Katherine Browne in San Luis Obispo, California,
In 1955, Browne's acting career began appearing in one episode of Big Town.
Browne appeared in many films and television series. Among them were four roles on CBS's Perry Mason: title character and defendant Donna Loring Ross in the 1960 episode "The Case of the Provocative Protégée," defendant Susan Fisher in the 1962 episode "The Case of the Mystified Miner," murderer Carla Eden in the 1963 episode "The Case of the Festive Felon," and defendant Lona Upton in the 1965 episode "The Case of the Thermal Thief."
Browne appeared in many other television series such as The Gray Ghost, Sheriff of Cochise, The Virginian, Laramie, Hondo, Whispering Smith, Redigo, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Man from Blackhawk, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Wagon Train, Tombstone Territory and Rawhide. She portrayed Deela in the Star Trek episode "Wink of an Eye" (1968).
On December 31, 1969, Browne married Darren McGavin, an actor, and became his third wife. Browne was a breast cancer survivor.
On April 8, 2003, Browne died of natural causes in Beverly Hills, California. She was 72. Browne is buried as Kathie Browne McGavin at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) in Los Angeles County, California.
On February 26, 2006, Browne's husband Darren McGavin, to whom she was married for 34 years, died in Los Angeles, California. He was 83.
