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Betty Thomas : Biography, Pictures, Photos, Trivia, Address, Filmography (Hill Street Blues)

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Betty Thomas

Sergent Lucy Bates in Hill Street Blues

Photos Betty Thomas Birth name: Betty Thomas Nienhauser
Birth date: 1948/07/27 (75 years old)
Birth place : Saint-Louis, Missouri (USA)
Height: 1.85 m

French Traduire

Biography for Betty Thomas

Big-boned blonde Betty Thomas was born July 27, 1948, in St. Louis, Missouri, graduating from Ohio University with a BA in fine arts. Initially sidetracked, Betty first taught school in Chicago but found herself restricted and needing more of an open forum for self-expression than a classroom. She found herself drawn inextricably to comedy. After toiling as a waitress, she became part of the Second City improvisational troupe where she made use of her towering (6'1") imposing features in aggressive routines and sketches. True to form, she made her film debut in the sketch satire Tunnel Vision (1976) which parodied TV programming. The movie is lesser known today for its satirical bite and more for its exceptional cast of up-and-coming comedy artists at the time including Chevy Chase, Laraine Newman, John Candy, Joe Flaherty, Gerrit Graham, Howard Hesseman, and the team of Al Franken and Tom Davis. Other innocuous comedies/spoofs followed such as Chesty Anderson, USN (1976), Used Cars (1980) and Loose Shoes (1980) which, at the very least, helped to bulk up her comedy resume. She also appeared as a regular on "The Fun Factory" (1976), which was three parts quiz show, silly sketches and audience participation.

Ironically, Betty achieved her stardom not in comedy but in hard-hitting drama. Doing a complete about face as tough-talking Officer Lucille Bates on the hit police series "Hill Street Blues" (1981), she displayed both grit and vulnerability as she stood nose-to-nose alongside the rest of the male-oriented precinct. She was nominated for six Emmys in all and won the "Best Supporting Actress" trophy in 1985. Some equally compelling mini-movie roles came along with this success. In the late 80s Betty made an abrupt and concentrated move into TV and film directing, one of her last acting roles being that of the butch, underhanded scoutmaster (and Shelley Long's misery-inducing nemesis) in the obvious comedy film Troop Beverly Hills (1989). Betty received her bookend Emmy award while directing the cable sitcom "Dream On" (1990). She never lost her taste for comedy satire, however. One of her major box office successes would come with the spot-on parody The Brady Bunch Movie (1995). She has continued in this lighter vein of late, guiding the one-man promotion machine Howard Stern to a surprisingly entertaining critical hit with Private Parts (1997), which was based on his memoirs, the Jennifer Love Hewitt film Can't Hardly Wait (1998), I Spy (2002), an updated remake of the 60s TV series, and Surviving Christmas (2004).

Betty Thomas began her career in cinema, first as an actress. She appeared for the first time on the screen in Tunnel Vision in 1976 and interpreted Sergeant Lucy Bates in the television series Hill Street Blues in 1981.

In 1987, Betty Thomas went to the other side of the camera to stage certain episodes of the Hooperman soap opera. She receives the Emmy and the Cableace Award for the best achievement for a comic series for Dream On. She also obtains the Guild Award Directors for the documentary The Late Shift (1996).

In 1992, Betty Thomas directed her first feature film, a romantic comedy entitled Only You. In a different genre, she continued in 1997 with the staging of private parts, chronicle of the life of the famous and sulphurous animator of Radio Howard Stern.

Betty Thomas also twice Eddie Murphy, the first time in Dr. Dolittle (1998), where he interpreted a veterinarian capable of understanding the language of animals, and the second time in the acty and a half action comedy (2002), where his partner is Owen Wilson. In the meantime, she stages a Sandra Bullock in a detoxification treatment in 28 days in a stay (2000).

Betty Thomas is an American actress, director and producer. She was born on January 27, 1948 in Saint Louis, Missouri. After graduating from the University of Missouri, she began her career as an actress in the 1970s. She notably played in films such as the Blues Brothers, Tootsie, and Doctor Dolittle.

In addition to her acting career, Betty Thomas has also produced and produced several films and television series. She made films like the 28 days, the son of the man, and Alvin and the chipmunks: thoroughly the box. She also produced television series like Simpsons, King of the Hill, and Griffin.

Betty Thomas won numerous prizes for her work, including an Emmy Award in 1992 for his management of the Les Simpson television series. She was also nominated for a Golden Globe in 1981 for her role in the film Tootsie.

During her career, Betty Thomas was an important figure in the film and television industry. Her contribution as an actress, director and producer has been recognized by her peers and is considered a figurehead of the industry.

Photos

Photos Betty Thomas n_10 Photos Betty Thomas n_10 Photos Betty Thomas n_10 Photos Betty Thomas n_10 Photos Betty Thomas n_10 Photos Betty Thomas n_10 Photos Betty Thomas n_10 Photos Betty Thomas n_10 Photos Betty Thomas n_10 Photos Betty Thomas n_10

Filmography

Title Role
John Tucker Must Die (2006) (filming)
The Loop (2005) TV Series (filming)
R3 (2003)
I Spy (2002)
28 Days (2000)
Doctor Dolittle (1998)
Private Parts (1997)
The Late Shift (1996) (TV)
The Brady Bunch Movie (1995)
Couples (1994) (TV)
My Breast (1994) (TV)
On the Air (1992) TV Series
Only You (1992/I)
Sons and Daughters (1991) TV Series
Parenthood (1990) TV Series
Dream On (1990) TV Series
Shannon's Deal (1990) TV Series
Mancuso, FBI (1989) TV Series
Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989) TV Series
Midnight Caller (1988) TV Series (episode Her Dirty Little Secret)
Hooperman (1987) TV Series

Trivia

A 1984 promo for the St. Louis NBC affiliate shows scenes from several NBC shows, including one from "Hill Street Blues" (1981), featuring St. Louis native Betty Thomas.

Is an alumnus of the Second City comedy troupe

Graduate of Ohio University class of 1969 with a BFA.

Family

Author of the card

  • Creation date: 01/07/2003 by abdest

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