Bonnie Bedelia

Bonnie Bedelia Culkin (born March 25, 1948) is an American actress. After beginning her career in theatre, she starred in the CBS daytime soap opera Love of Life (1961–1967) before making her movie debut in The Gypsy Moths (1969). Bedelia was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her performance in the 1983 film Heart Like a Wheel, and for an Independent Spirit Award for The Prince of Pennsylvania (1988). She is best known for her role as Holly Gennero McClane in the action films Die Hard (1988) and Die Hard 2 (1990), and for her work in the movies They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969), Lovers and Other Strangers (1970), Bonanza (1969, 1972 appearing opposite Michael Landon), Presumed Innocent (1990), and Needful Things (1993). Bedelia has also had many other leading and supporting film roles.

Bonnie Bedelia
Bedelia in The New Land (1974)
Born	Bonnie Bedelia Culkin March 25, 1948 New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1957–present
Spouse(s)	Ken Luber ​ ​ (m. 1969; div. 1980)​ Jay Telfer (divorced) Michael MacRae ​ (m. 1995)​
Children	2
Relatives	Kit Culkin (brother) Macaulay Culkin (nephew) Kieran Culkin (nephew) Rory Culkin (nephew)

For her television work, Bedelia has earned two Emmy Awards nominations. From 2001 to 2004, Bedelia played the lead role in the Lifetime television drama series The Division. She later starred as family matriarch Camille Braverman in the NBC drama series Parenthood (2010–2015).

Early life and education

Bedelia was born in the Manhattan borough of New York City, the daughter of Marian Ethel (née Wagner), a writer and editor, and Philip Harley Culkin, who was in public relations and 50 years old at the time.[1] She was born in a difficult financial period when her father's firm went bankrupt, and they lived in "a cold-water tenement flat".[1] Her mother died when she was 14 and her father, "who had always had ulcers", died shortly afterward.[1] She has two brothers,[1] one of whom is actor Kit Culkin, and a sister, Candice Culkin.[2] She is the aunt of actors Macaulay, Kieran, and Rory Culkin.[1][2]

Bedelia studied dance in her youth, at School of American Ballet.[1] She received her acting training at HB Studio.[3]

Career

Before becoming an actress, Bedelia studied ballet and appeared in a few productions with the New York City Ballet, including The Nutcracker. Her only dancing role onscreen was that of Clara in the Playhouse 90 television production of the George Balanchine Nutcracker (1958). From 1961 to 1967, Bedelia was a regular on the CBS soap opera Love of Life, portraying Sandy Porter. She also worked on Broadway, where she debuted supporting Patty Duke in 1962, in Isle of Children,[1] and won a Theatre World Award for playing the lead of in My Sweet Charlie, in 1966.[4]

Bedelia in the made-for-TV film Message to My Daughter (1973)

Bedelia made her film debut in The Gypsy Moths, and later in 1969 she attracted attention as the pregnant marathon dancer in They Shoot Horses, Don't They?[5] In following years, she starred in the comedy Lovers and Other Strangers (1970), had dramatic roles in The Strange Vengeance of Rosalie (1972) and Between Friends (1973), and appeared opposite Richard Dreyfuss in the comedy The Big Fix (1978). On television she played the leading role in the short-lived ABC drama series, The New Land.

In 1984, Bedelia received critical acclaim and was nominated for a Golden Globe for her starring role in Heart Like a Wheel (1983), as drag racer Shirley Muldowney.[2][6] Other well-known performances include her portrayals of Holly Gennero McClane, the wife of Bruce Willis's character John McClane in Die Hard (1988) and Die Hard 2 (1990), and of Barbara Sabich, the wife of Harrison Ford's character in Presumed Innocent (1990).[5][7]

Bedelia appeared in two Stephen King screen adaptations: Salem's Lot (1979) and Needful Things (1993). She was nominated for an Emmy Award for performances in the Showtime anthology series, Fallen Angels in 1993 and for the leading role in the made-for-television movie Locked in Silence (1999).[7] She played a number of leading roles in television films and miniseries, such as Switched at Birth, A Mother's Right: The Elizabeth Morgan Story, Her Costly Affair, and Picnic. From 2001 to 2004, Bedelia starred as Capt. Kate McCafferty in the Lifetime television drama series The Division.[7] She later guest-starred in Big Love and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and starred opposite Rue McClanahan and Olivia Newton-John in the 2008 sitcom Sordid Lives: The Series.[8]

In 2010, Bedelia began starring in the NBC drama series, Parenthood, as the family matriarch, Camille Braverman.[9] The series aired for six seasons through 2015.[10]

In 2017, she appeared in season 2 of the TV series Designated Survivor, and in two Hallmark movies. In 2019, she guest starred on the Netflix series What/If.

Personal life

Bedelia married scriptwriter Ken Luber on April 24, 1969. Before divorcing in 1980, the couple had two sons, Uri (b. 1970) and Jonah (b. 1976).[1] She was also married briefly to musician and screenwriter Jay Telfer and then wed actor Michael MacRae in 1995.[11][12]

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1969	The Gypsy Moths	Annie Burke
1969	They Shoot Horses, Don't They?	Ruby Bates
1970	Lovers and Other Strangers	Susan Henderson
1972	In Pursuit of Treasure
1972	The Strange Vengeance of Rosalie	Rosalie
1973	Between Friends	Ellie
1978	The Big Fix	Suzanne
1983	Heart Like a Wheel	Shirley Muldowney
1986	Death of an Angel	Deacon Grace McKenzie
1986	Violets Are Blue	Ruth Squires
1986	The Boy Who Could Fly	Charlene Michaelson
1987	Like Father Like Son	Lady with Gum in Hair	Cameo appearance
1987	The Stranger	Alice Kildee
1988	The Prince of Pennsylvania	Pam Marshetta
1988	Die Hard	Holly Gennaro McClane
1989	Fat Man and Little Boy	Kitty Oppenheimer
1990	Die Hard 2	Holly Gennaro McClane
1990	Presumed Innocent	Barbara Sabich
1993	Needful Things	Polly Chalmers
1994	Speechless	Annette
1994	Judicial Consent	Gwen Warwick
1997	Bad Manners	Nancy Westlund
1999	Gloria	Brenda
1999	Anywhere But Here	Carol
2000	Sordid Lives	Latrelle Williamson
2003	Manhood	Alice
2005	Berkeley	Hawkins
2013	Munchausen	Mother	Short film
2016	Broken Links	Melanie
2017	The Scent of Rain and Lightning[13]	Annabelle
2020	Violet	Aunt Helen	Post-production

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1958	Playhouse 90	Clara	Episode: "The Nutcracker"
1961–1967	Love of Life	Sandy Porter	Series regular
1964	East Side/West Side	Linda Stuart	Episode: "The $5.98 Dress"
1968	Judd for the Defense	Ellie	Episode: "The Death Farm"
1968	The High Chaparral	Tina Granger	Episode: "The Deceivers"
1969	Then Came Bronson	Temple Brooks	Episode: "Pilot"
1969, 1972	Bonanza	Laurie Mansfield /Alice Harper	Episodes: "The Unwanted" and "Forever"
1972	Sandcastles	Jenna Hampshire	Television film
1973	A Time for Love	Kitty	Television film
1973	Hawkins	Edith Dayton-Thomas	Episode: "Death and the Maiden"
1973	Message to My Daughter	Janet Thatcher	Television film
1973	Love Story	Alice Hartman	Episode: "Love Came Laughing"
1974	Heatwave!	Laura Taylor	Television film
1974	The New Land	Anna Larsen	Series regular, 13 episodes
1978	A Question of Love	Joan Saltzman	Television film
1979	Walking Through the Fire	Dr. Rand	Television film
1979	Salem's Lot	Susan Norton	Miniseries
1980	Tourist	Mandy Burke	Television film
1982	Fighting Back	Aleta	Television film
1982	Million Dollar Infield	Marcia Miller	Television film
1983	Memorial Day	Cass	Television film
1985	The Lady from Yesterday	Janet Weston	Television film
1986	Alex: The Life of a Child	Carole Deford	Television film
1987	When the Time Comes	Liddy Travis	Television film
1990	Somebody Has to Shoot the Picture	Hannah McGrath	Television film
1991	Switched at Birth	Regina Twigg	Television film
1992	A Mother's Right: The Elizabeth Morgan Story	Elizabeth Morgan	Television film
1993	Fallen Angels	Sally Creighton	Episode: "The Quiet Room"
1993	The Fire Next Time	Suzanne Morgan	Television film
1995	Legacy of Sin: The William Coit Story	Jill Coit	Television film
1995	Shadow of a Doubt	Robin Harwell	Television film
1996	The Outer Limits	Nancy McDonald	Episode: "Worlds Apart"
1996	Homecoming	Eunice Logan	Television film
1996	A Season in Purgatory	Valerie Sabbath	Miniseries
1996	Her Costly Affair	Dr. Diane Weston	Television film
1997	Any Mother's Son	Dorothy Hajdys	Television film
1998	To Live Again	Iris Sayer	Television film
1999	Locked in Silence	Lydia	Television film
2000	Flowers for Algernon	Rose	Television film
2000	Picnic	Flo Owens	Television film
2001–2004	The Division	Capt. Kate McCafferty	Series regular, 88 episodes
2007	Big Love	Virginia Ginger Heffman	Episode: "Good Guys and Bad Guys"
2008	CSI: Crime Scene Investigation	DDA Madeline Klein	Episode: "Grissom's Divine Comedy"
2008	Sordid Lives: The Series	Latrelle Williamson	Series regular, 12 episodes
2010–2015	Parenthood	Camille Braverman	Series regular, 103 episodes
2017	Designated Survivor	Eva Booker	5 episodes
2017	A Joyous Christmas	Joy	Television film (Hallmark)
2017	Christmas on the Coast	Ellie Cassadine	Television film (Hallmark)
2019	What/If	Margaret Denner	Episode: "What Secrets"

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result
1967	Theatre World Award	Theatre World Award	My Sweet Charlie	Won
1984	Golden Globe Award	Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama	Heart Like a Wheel	Nominated
1989	Independent Spirit Awards	Best Supporting Female	The Prince of Pennsylvania	Nominated
1994	Emmy Award	Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series	Fallen Angels	Nominated
1997	CableACE Award	Outstanding Actress in a Movie or Miniseries	Any Mother's Son	Nominated
1999	Lone Star Film & Television Awards	Best TV Actress	To Live Again	Won
2000	Emmy Award	Outstanding Actress in a Movie or Miniseries	Locked in Silence	Nominated
2012	Ojai Film Festival	Lifetime Achievement Award		Won

References

1. Bandler, Michael J. (October 25, 1992). "Character Study Despite Her Laurels, Bonnie Bedelia Wonders When Stardom Will Arrive". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 21, 2013.
2. "Bonnie Bedelia: Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
3. "Alumni". HB Studio.
4. The Broadway League. "Bonnie Bedelia". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
5. "Bonnie Bedelia". Allmovie.com. March 25, 1946. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
6. "Bonnie Bedelia Bio | Parenthood". NBC. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
7. "Bonnie Bedelia". Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
8. Backlot, The (July 3, 2008). "The To-Die-For Cast of "Sordid Lives: The Series"". thebacklot.com. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
9. "More stars join NBC's 'Parenthood'". HitFix. April 19, 2009. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
10. "Parenthood: Renewed for Sixth and Final Season". Retrieved November 21, 2014.
11. Neilly, Peter (2010). "Out to Lunch!: Jay Telfer". The Wayback Times. Hastings, Ontario, Canada. Archived from the original on November 1, 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
12. Ryon, Ruth (November 24, 1996). "10-Year 'Affair' With L.A. Ends". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
13. "Logan Miller, Mark Webber, Justin Chatwin Join 'The Scent of Rain and Lightning'". TheWrap. Retrieved November 10, 2015.

External links

• Bonnie Bedelia at IMDb
• Bonnie Bedelia at the Internet Broadway Database
• Bonnie Bedelia at AllMovie