Kim Delaney (born November 29, 1961) is an American actress, perhaps best known for her role as Detective Diane Russell on the ABC drama N.Y.P.D. Blue. Early in her career, she endeared herself to daytime television viewers as Jenny Gardner, a hugely popular character on the ABC daytime drama All My Children, and the role which first brought her fame. After All My Children, Delaney appeared in numerous television and film roles, including the sole female lead in the dramatic series Philly. She currently stars on the Lifetime television drama Army Wives.

Delaney, an Irish American, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Joan and Jack Delaney. Delaney's mother was a homemaker and her father a union official and former head of the United Auto Workers. She grew up in Roxborough and has four brothers: Ed, John, Keith, and Patrick. While she was attending J. W. Hallahan Catholic Girls High School, she worked as a model for the Elite agency. After her graduation, she went to New York and found employment there as a model. At the same time, she studied acting with William Esper.

Delaney first became known for her stint as innocent teenager Jenny Gardner Nelson on the soap opera All My Children, a character she portrayed from August 1981 to August 1984 that earned her a Daytime Emmy Award nomination. After leaving the show, Delaney began acting in feature films. In 1985, she appeared with Emilio Estevez in That Was Then, This is Now. In 1986, she played a young nun in the military action movie The Delta Force, starring Chuck Norris.