Betty Buckley
Betty Lynn Buckley is a Tony-winning American actress and singer who has worked extensively 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.
Known For
Credits
- 2024 · The Mayfly as
- 2024 · Imaginary as Gloria
- 2020 · Stars in the House as Self
- 2017 · Broadway: The Next Generation as Self
- 2017 · The Making of 'Split' as Self
- 2017 · Split as Dr. Karen Fletcher
- 2016 · Harry Benson: Shoot First as Self
- 2016 · Preacher as Gran’ma
- 2015 · Chicago Med as Olga Barlow
- 2015 · Supergirl as Owl (voice)
- 2015 · Supergirl as Patricia Arias
- 2014 · The Leftovers as Jane
- 2012 · Five Time Champion as Fran
- 2010 · Pretty Little Liars as Regina Marin
- 2010 · The Pacific as Marion Leckie
- 2008 · The Happening as Mrs. Jones
- 2006 · Brothers and Sisters as
- 2005 · Vinegar Hill as Mary Margaret Grier
- 2004 · The Jury as
- 2004 · Mummy An' the Armadillo as Let
- 2003 · Broadway's Lost Treasures as Grizabella (segment "Cats")
- 2002 · Without a Trace as Catherine Ryder
- 2002 · Monk as Cheryl Fleming
- 2002 · New World Order as Rose Kross
- 2001 · Stars and the Moon: Betty Buckley Live at the Donmar as Herself
- 2001 · Acting 'Carrie' as Self
- 1999 · Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Attorney Walsh
- 1999 · Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Trial Division Chief Lorraine Maxwell
- 1999 · Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Lorraine Maxwell
- 1999 · Simply Irresistible as Aunt Stella
- 1997 · Oz as Suzanne Fitzgerald
- 1996 · Critical Choices as Dr. Margret Ludlow
- 1996 · The Rosie O'Donnell Show as Self - Guest
- 1994 · Wyatt Earp as Virginia Earp
- 1994 · Betrayal of Trust as Jan Galanti
- 1994 · Last Time Out as Maxine Black
- 1993 · Intimate Portrait as Self - Narrator (voice)
- 1993 · Rain Without Thunder as Beverly Goldring
- 1992 · Bonnie & Clyde: The True Story as Mrs. Parker
- 1992 · Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall as Self
- 1989 · Babycakes as Wanda
- 1989 · Taking A Stand as Lillian Robinson
- 1988 · Another Woman as Kathy
- 1988 · Frantic as Sondra Walker
- 1987 · Roses Are for the Rich as Ella
- 1987 · Wild Thing as Leah
- 1986 · L.A. Law as Elsa Chandler
- 1985 · Evergreen as Mrs. Bradford
- 1984 · The Three Wishes of Billy Grier as Nancy Grier
- 1983 · Tender Mercies as Dixie
- 1982 · Cagney & Lacey as
- 1981 · The Ordeal of Bill Carney as Barbara Slaner
- 1977 · Eight Is Enough as Abby Bradford
- 1976 · Carrie as Miss Collins
- 1971 · Great Performances as Self
- Future · Eternity as
- Future · By Design as