CineScope
Betty Buckley picture

Betty Buckley

Acting
Known For

78 Years Old

Betty Lynn Buckley (born July 3, 1947) is an American actress and singer who has worked in film, television and theatre. She possesses a singing of voice of great power and beauty and has achieved great success in cabaret and concerts. Betty has also sustained a successful recording career with numerous cast albums and 18 solo albums to her credit, for which she has been nominated for two Grammys. Buckley is widely known for the 1977–81 TV series Eight Is Enough. She joined the show in its second season when the original star, Diana Hyland, died after the first four episodes of season one, and her character Joan Bradford died as well. Buckley was cast as the central character's new romantic interest, Sandra Sue "Abby" Abbott, who became stepmother of the eight children to which the series' title refers. Betty later received two Daytime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Performer in a Children's Program/Special, for NBC Special Treat - Bobby and Sarah (1984) and ABC Afterschool Special - Taking a Stand (1989). From 2001 to 2003, Betty Buckley played a role in seasons 4–6 of the HBO series Oz. She also has guest-starred in a number of television series, including Without a Trace, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Monk. Betty also guest-starred in a Christmas special of the TV series Remember WENN, in which she sang "You Make It Christmas". On film, Buckley appeared in the original movie version of Carrie in 1976, playing Miss Collins, Carrie's gym teacher. She went on to appear as Margaret White in the notorious 1987 musical adaptation of the film on Broadway; an expensive and creatively disastrous flop in which she nevertheless scored a personal triumph. In 1977, she recorded an uncredited solo on the song "Walking in Space", in the movie Hair. Her screen roles during the 1980s include Bruce Beresford's film Tender Mercies, where she played a country music singer and sang the Academy Award-nominated song "Over You". She also appeared in the Woody Allen film Another Woman (1988), Roman Polanski's Frantic (1988) and Lawrence's Kasden's Wyatt Earp (1994). In 2008, Buckley played Mrs. Jones in M. Night Shyamalan's The Happening. In 2017, Buckley was one of the stars of M. Night Shyamalan's Split, a major success which was the number-one film at the box office for three weeks running. Buckley has worked regularly in the theatre throughout her career. In 1969, she made her Broadway debut as Martha Washington in the original company of Tony winner 1776; a role she famously won on her first day in New York. That same year, she made her West End debut in the original London cast of Promises, Promises. In 1982, Buckley starred as Grizabella in the original Broadway production of the musical Cats, which features the song "Memory". For this role, she won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. In 1985 she played the titular character in another Tony winning musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood. This was the third time Buckley had originated a role in a show that went on to win the Tony for Best Musical. Buckley starred in both London (1994) and New York (1995) as Norma Desmond in the musical Sunset Boulevard. For her role in the London production, she received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical.

Born

Big Spring, Texas, USA on 3rd July 1947

All Credits

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Image
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Lorraine Maxwell
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Image
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Trial Division Chief Lorraine Maxwell
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Image
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Attorney Walsh
Without a Trace Image
Without a Trace
Catherine Ryder
Pretty Little Liars Image
Pretty Little Liars
Regina Marin
Great Performances Image
Great Performances
Self
Chicago Med Image
Chicago Med
Olga Barlow
Monk Image
Monk
Cheryl Fleming
The Mike Douglas Show Image
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
Stars in the House Image
Stars in the House
Self
Preacher Image
Preacher
Gran’ma
Supergirl Image
Supergirl
Patricia Arias
Supergirl Image
Supergirl
Owl (voice)
Oz Image
Oz
Suzanne Fitzgerald
Intimate Portrait Image
Intimate Portrait
Self - Narrator (voice)
The Leftovers Image
The Leftovers
Jane
The Pacific Image
The Pacific
Marion Leckie
L.A. Law Image
L.A. Law
Elsa Chandler
The Rosie O'Donnell Show Image
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
Self - Guest
The Jury Image
The Jury
Split Image
Split
Dr. Karen Fletcher
Remember WENN Image
Remember WENN
Gloria Redmond
Getting On Image
Getting On
Dottie Levy
Cagney & Lacey Image
Cagney & Lacey
Eight Is Enough Image
Eight Is Enough
Abby Bradford
Carrie Image
Carrie
Miss Collins
Imaginary Image
Imaginary
Gloria
The Happening Image
The Happening
Mrs. Jones
Wyatt Earp Image
Wyatt Earp
Virginia Earp
Frantic Image
Frantic
Sondra Walker
Betrayal of Trust Image
Betrayal of Trust
Jan Galanti
Evergreen Image
Evergreen
Mrs. Bradford
Simply Irresistible Image
Simply Irresistible
Aunt Stella
Tender Mercies Image
Tender Mercies
Dixie
Another Woman Image
Another Woman
Kathy
Broadway: The Next Generation Image
Broadway: The Next Generation
Self
Harry Benson: Shoot First Image
Harry Benson: Shoot First
Self
Wild Thing Image
Wild Thing
Leah
Mummy an' the Armadillo Image
Mummy an' the Armadillo
Let
The Ordeal of Bill Carney Image
The Ordeal of Bill Carney
Barbara Slaner
Rain Without Thunder Image
Rain Without Thunder
Beverly Goldring
Broadway's Lost Treasures Image
Broadway's Lost Treasures
Grizabella (segment "Cats")
By Design Image
By Design
Cynthia
Babycakes Image
Babycakes
Wanda
Eternity Image
Eternity
The Making of 'Split' Image
The Making of 'Split'
Self
Vinegar Hill Image
Vinegar Hill
Mary Margaret Grier
The Mayfly Image
The Mayfly
The Three Wishes of Billy Grier Image
The Three Wishes of Billy Grier
Nancy Grier
Bonnie & Clyde: The True Story Image
Bonnie & Clyde: The True Story
Mrs. Parker
Roses Are for the Rich Image
Roses Are for the Rich
Ella
New World Order Image
New World Order
Rose Kross
Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall Image
Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall
Self
Critical Choices Image
Critical Choices
Dr. Margret Ludlow
Acting 'Carrie' Image
Acting 'Carrie'
Self
Taking A Stand Image
Taking A Stand
Lillian Robinson
Five Time Champion Image
Five Time Champion
Fran
Last Time Out Image
Last Time Out
Maxine Black
Stars and the Moon: Betty Buckley Live at the Donmar Image
Stars and the Moon: Betty Buckley Live at the Donmar
Herself