Bernadette Peters Biography

Bernadette Peters was born on February 28, 1948 in Queens, New York. She was three years old when she started her acting career when her mother placed her on the TV show Juvenile Jury. She then appeared on various television programs as a child, including Name That Tune and The Horn and Hardart Children’s Hour. While growing up, Bernadette Peters studied at the Quintano School for Young Professionals. When she was nine, Bernadette Peters made her debut on stage in the comedy This is Goggle, directed by Otto Preminger. She took part of the ensemble of the touring company for Gypsy when she was thirteen, and after finishing high school, she made her Broadway debut in 1967’s Johnny No-Trump.

Bernadette Peters became one of the most formidable stage actresses during her time, starring plays such as Dames at Sea, where she earned her first Drama Desk Award, La Strada, On the Town and Mack and Mabel, which all gave her critical acclaim. Bernadette Peters then relocated to Los Angeles this time to focus on film and television work. For eight years she has been absent from the New York stage, and upon her return she starred in productions including Sally and Marsha in 1982, the musical Sunday in the Park with George, Song and Dance, Into the Woods, and the Goodbye Girl.

She has been part of 22 films and became popular on screen in the 1979 comedy the Jerk. Bernadette Peters also won a Golden Globe Awards for her portrayal of the role of Eileen in another comedy, Pennies From Heaven in 1981. She as well appeared on the cover of Playboy Magazine on December of the same year.

Throughout the span of her career, Bernadette Peters has won two Tony awards and three Drama Desk awards. She was also nominated for Best Actress in the Golden Globe Awards for her work in Mel Brooks’ Silent Movie. Her guest appearances on television shows also gave her nominations for the Emmys, among of which are the shows Ally McBeal in 2001 and The Muppet Show in 1977. Bernadette Peters was as well in variety shows as a guest host and presenter of numerous events such as the Academy Awards, Tony Awards, appearances on The Carol Burnett Show, Saturday Night Live, Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and the daytime talk show Live with Regis and Kelly.

Bernadette Peters is an acknowledged singer, and has performed her solo concert at the Carnegie Hall in 1996. Her most recent stage work was in the 2003 remake of Gypsy as Mama Rose. Bernadette Peters as well made a bunch of guest appearances in Will and Grace, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit and Boston Legal.