Zimmer starred in the movies Body Heat, Shortcut to Happiness, and 23 Blast. She had a recurring role as Lt. Kate Murphy in the TV series MacGyver from 1989 to 1990 and also appeared in episodes of the TV series Designing Women, Models Inc., Babylon 5, and Seinfeld. She won four Daytime Emmy Awards and two Soap Opera Digest Awards for Guiding Light.