Betty Buckley
Betty Buckley
Born 03/07/1947 in Big Spring, Texas, USA

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.

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.

External links

Filmography (Movies)

By Design

By Design

Character:Cynthia

Release Date:13/02/2026

Eternity

Eternity

Character:Older Joan

Release Date:26/11/2025

The Mayfly

The Mayfly

Character:

Release Date:08/06/2024

Imaginary

Imaginary

Character:Gloria

Release Date:06/03/2024

Broadway: The Next Generation

Broadway: The Next Generation

Character:Self

Release Date:16/11/2017

The Making of 'Split'

The Making of 'Split'

Character:Self

Release Date:18/04/2017

Split

Split

Character:Dr. Karen Fletcher

Release Date:19/01/2017

Harry Benson: Shoot First

Harry Benson: Shoot First

Character:Self

Release Date:04/11/2016

The Real Love

The Real Love

Character:

Release Date:01/05/2012

Five Time Champion

Five Time Champion

Character:Fran

Release Date:24/01/2012

The Happening

The Happening

Character:Mrs. Jones

Release Date:11/06/2008

Vinegar Hill

Vinegar Hill

Character:Mary Margaret Grier

Release Date:06/03/2005

Mummy an' the Armadillo

Mummy an' the Armadillo

Character:Let

Release Date:29/01/2004

Broadway's Lost Treasures

Broadway's Lost Treasures

Character:Grizabella (segment "Cats")

Release Date:10/08/2003

New World Order

New World Order

Character:Rose Kross

Release Date:13/01/2002

Stars and the Moon: Betty Buckley Live at the Donmar

Stars and the Moon: Betty Buckley Live at the Donmar

Character:Herself

Release Date:30/08/2001

Acting 'Carrie'

Acting 'Carrie'

Character:Self

Release Date:28/08/2001

Simply Irresistible

Simply Irresistible

Character:Aunt Stella

Release Date:05/02/1999

Yours for a Song: The Women of Tin Pan Alley

Yours for a Song: The Women of Tin Pan Alley

Character:

Release Date:01/01/1999

Critical Choices

Critical Choices

Character:Dr. Margret Ludlow

Release Date:08/12/1996

Wyatt Earp

Wyatt Earp

Character:Virginia Earp

Release Date:24/06/1994

Betrayal of Trust

Betrayal of Trust

Character:Jan Galanti

Release Date:03/01/1994

Last Time Out

Last Time Out

Character:Maxine Black

Release Date:01/01/1994

Rain Without Thunder

Rain Without Thunder

Character:Beverly Goldring

Release Date:05/02/1993

Gypsy: Live from the Southern Arizona Light Opera Company

Gypsy: Live from the Southern Arizona Light Opera Company

Character:Rose Hovick

Release Date:18/09/1992

Bonnie & Clyde: The True Story

Bonnie & Clyde: The True Story

Character:Mrs. Parker

Release Date:16/08/1992

Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall

Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall

Character:Self

Release Date:10/06/1992

Babycakes

Babycakes

Character:Wanda

Release Date:14/02/1989

Taking A Stand

Taking A Stand

Character:Lillian Robinson

Release Date:19/01/1989

Another Woman

Another Woman

Character:Kathy

Release Date:13/10/1988

Frantic

Frantic

Character:Sondra Walker

Release Date:19/02/1988

Roses Are for the Rich

Roses Are for the Rich

Character:Ella

Release Date:17/05/1987

Wild Thing

Wild Thing

Character:Leah

Release Date:17/04/1987

The Three Wishes of Billy Grier

The Three Wishes of Billy Grier

Character:Nancy Grier

Release Date:31/10/1984

Tender Mercies

Tender Mercies

Character:Dixie

Release Date:04/03/1983

The Ordeal of Bill Carney

The Ordeal of Bill Carney

Character:Barbara Slaner

Release Date:23/12/1981

Carrie

Carrie

Character:Miss Collins

Release Date:03/11/1976

Television Appearances

Images

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