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 1977โ81 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 4โ6 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
- 2025 ยทBy Designas
- 2024 ยทThe Mayflyas
- 2024 ยทImaginaryas Gloria
- 2020 ยทStars in the Houseas Self
- 2017 ยทBroadway: The Next Generationas Self
- 2017 ยทThe Making of 'Split'as Self
- 2017 ยทSplitas Dr. Karen Fletcher
- 2016 ยทHarry Benson: Shoot Firstas Self
- 2016 ยทPreacheras Granโma
- 2015 ยทChicago Medas Olga Barlow
- 2015 ยทSupergirlas Owl (voice)
- 2015 ยทSupergirlas Patricia Arias
- 2014 ยทThe Leftoversas Jane
- 2012 ยทFive Time Championas Fran
- 2010 ยทPretty Little Liarsas Regina Marin
- 2010 ยทThe Pacificas Marion Leckie
- 2008 ยทThe Happeningas Mrs. Jones
- 2006 ยทBrothers and Sistersas
- 2005 ยทVinegar Hillas Mary Margaret Grier
- 2004 ยทThe Juryas
- 2004 ยทMummy an' the Armadilloas Let
- 2003 ยทBroadway's Lost Treasuresas Grizabella (segment "Cats")
- 2002 ยทWithout a Traceas Catherine Ryder
- 2002 ยทMonkas Cheryl Fleming
- 2002 ยทNew World Orderas Rose Kross
- 2001 ยทStars and the Moon: Betty Buckley Live at the Donmaras Herself
- 2001 ยทActing 'Carrie'as Self
- 1999 ยทLaw & Order: Special Victims Unitas Attorney Walsh
- 1999 ยทLaw & Order: Special Victims Unitas Trial Division Chief Lorraine Maxwell
- 1999 ยทLaw & Order: Special Victims Unitas Lorraine Maxwell
- 1999 ยทSimply Irresistibleas Aunt Stella
- 1997 ยทOzas Suzanne Fitzgerald
- 1997 ยทOz (TV Series 1997-2003)as Suzanne Fitzgerald
- 1996 ยทCritical Choicesas Dr. Margret Ludlow
- 1996 ยทThe Rosie O'Donnell Showas Self - Guest
- 1994 ยทWyatt Earpas Virginia Earp
- 1994 ยทBetrayal of Trustas Jan Galanti
- 1994 ยทLast Time Outas Maxine Black
- 1993 ยทIntimate Portraitas Self - Narrator (voice)
- 1993 ยทRain Without Thunderas Beverly Goldring
- 1992 ยทBonnie & Clyde: The True Storyas Mrs. Parker
- 1992 ยทSondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hallas Self
- 1989 ยทBabycakesas Wanda
- 1989 ยทTaking A Standas Lillian Robinson
- 1988 ยทAnother Womanas Kathy
- 1988 ยทFranticas Sondra Walker
- 1987 ยทRoses Are for the Richas Ella
- 1987 ยทWild Thingas Leah
- 1986 ยทL.A. Lawas Elsa Chandler
- 1985 ยทEvergreenas Mrs. Bradford
- 1984 ยทThe Three Wishes of Billy Grieras Nancy Grier
- 1983 ยทTender Merciesas Dixie
- 1982 ยทCagney & Laceyas
- 1981 ยทThe Ordeal of Bill Carneyas Barbara Slaner
- 1977 ยทEight Is Enoughas Abby Bradford
- 1976 ยทCarrieas Miss Collins
- 1971 ยทGreat Performancesas Self
- Future ยทEternityas