Betty Buckley
Biography
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.
Known For

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Without a Trace

Monk

Supergirl

Supergirl

Chicago Med
All Movies (38)
- By Design2026 · as Cynthia
- Eternity2025 · as Older Joan
- The Mayfly2024
- Imaginary2024 · as Gloria
- The Making of 'Split'2017 · as Self
- Split2017 · as Dr. Karen Fletcher
- Harry Benson: Shoot First2016 · as Self
- More Acting 'Carrie'2016 · as Self
- The Real Love2012
- Five Time Champion2012 · as Fran
- The Happening2008 · as Mrs. Jones
- Vinegar Hill2005 · as Mary Margaret Grier
- Mummy an' the Armadillo2004 · as Let
- Broadway's Lost Treasures2003 · as Grizabella (segment "Cats")
- New World Order2002 · as Rose Kross
- Stars and the Moon: Betty Buckley Live at the Donmar2001 · as Herself
- Acting 'Carrie'2001 · as Self
- Yours for a Song: The Women of Tin Pan Alley1999
- Simply Irresistible1999 · as Aunt Stella
- Critical Choices1996 · as Dr. Margret Ludlow
- Wyatt Earp1994 · as Virginia Earp
- Betrayal of Trust1994 · as Jan Galanti
- Last Time Out1994 · as Maxine Black
- Rain Without Thunder1993 · as Beverly Goldring
- Gypsy: Live from the Southern Arizona Light Opera Company1992 · as Rose Hovick
- Bonnie & Clyde: The True Story1992 · as Mrs. Parker
- Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall1992 · as Self
- Babycakes1989 · as Wanda
- Taking A Stand1989 · as Lillian Robinson
- Another Woman1988 · as Kathy
- Frantic1988 · as Sondra Walker
- Roses Are for the Rich1987 · as Ella
- Wild Thing1987 · as Leah
- The Three Wishes of Billy Grier1984 · as Nancy Grier
- Tender Mercies1983 · as Dixie
- The Ordeal of Bill Carney1981 · as Barbara Slaner
- Carrie1976 · as Miss Collins
- Broadway: The Next Generation— · as Self
All TV Shows (27)
- Stars in the House2020 · as Self
- Preacher2016 · as Gran’ma
- Chicago Med2015 · as Olga Barlow
- Supergirl2015 · as Owl (voice)
- Supergirl2015 · as Patricia Arias
- The Leftovers2014 · as Jane
- Getting On2013 · as Dottie Levy
- Pretty Little Liars2010 · as Regina Marin
- The Pacific2010 · as Marion Leckie
- Melrose Place2009 · as Bernadette Reese
- The Jury2004
- Without a Trace2002 · as Catherine Ryder
- Monk2002 · as Cheryl Fleming
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit1999 · as Attorney Walsh
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit1999 · as Trial Division Chief Lorraine Maxwell
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit1999 · as Lorraine Maxwell
- Oz1997 · as Suzanne Fitzgerald
- The Rosie O'Donnell Show1996 · as Self - Guest
- Remember WENN1996 · as Gloria Redmond
- Intimate Portrait1993 · as Self - Narrator (voice)
- Roses Are for the Rich1987 · as Ella
- L.A. Law1986 · as Elsa Chandler
- Evergreen1985 · as Mrs. Bradford
- Cagney & Lacey1982
- Eight Is Enough1977 · as Abby Bradford
- Great Performances1971 · as Self
- The Mike Douglas Show1961 · as Self