Kristine Sutherland, born Kristine Young on April 17, 1955, in Boise, Idaho, is an American actress best known for her role as Joyce Summers, Buffy Summers' mother, on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, where she appeared in every season from 1997 to 2003.

She changed her last name to Sutherland after her cat, Donald, named after actor Donald Sutherland, to avoid confusion with another actress named Kristine Young. She attended high school in Lexington, Kentucky, and later enrolled in the University of Kentucky.

Her career began with a small role as a secretary in the film Legal Eagles (1986) and her big-screen debut as Mae Thompson in Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989). Her career received a significant boost when she was cast as Joyce Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a role that showcased her warm demeanor and close resemblance to Sarah Michelle Gellar, who played Buffy.

Creator Joss Whedon chose her for this role, and she appeared regularly on the show for the first five seasons before making three more guest appearances.

After Buffy, she pursued her interest in photography, attending a course at Santa Monica College and setting up a portrait studio. She also appeared in the television miniseries Comanche Moon (2008) and had a guest role in an episode of New Amsterdam.

Kristine Sutherland is a keen photographer and enjoys cooking Italian cuisine with her husband, actor John Pankow, whom she married in 1986. They have one daughter together.

Her filmography includes roles in Legal Eagles (1986), Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989), The Cat Returns (2005), The Perfect Wedding (2012), Russian Doll (2016), and Are You Afraid of the '90s? (2016).

On television, she has appeared in shows such as Hot Pursuit (1984), Remington Steele (1984), Easy Street (1986-1987), California Dreams (1994), Providence (2002), and New Amsterdam (2008).