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Bernadette Peters

Birth Place: Ozone Park, NY, USA

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BIO

Bernadette Peters is an American actress, singer, and children's book author. Over a career spanning more than six decades, she has starred in musical theatre, television and film, performed in solo concerts and released recordings. She is a critically acclaimed Broadway performer, having received seven nominations for Tony Awards, winning two (plus an honorary award), and nine Drama Desk Award nominations, winning three. Four of the Broadway cast albums on which she has starred have won Grammy Awards.


Regarded by many as the foremost interpreter of the works of Stephen Sondheim, Peters is particularly noted for her roles on the Broadway stage, including in the musicals Mack and Mabel (1974), Sunday in the Park with George (1984), Song and Dance (1985), Into the Woods (1987), The Goodbye Girl (1993), Annie Get Your Gun (1999), Gypsy (2003), A Little Night Music (2010), Follies (2011), and Hello, Dolly! (2018). She has recorded six solo albums as well as many cast albums, and performs regularly in her own solo concert act.
Peters first performed on the stage as a child actress and then a teenager in the 1960s, and in film and television from the 1970s. She was praised for this early work and for appearances on, among other programs, The Muppet Show and The Carol Burnett Show, and for her roles in films including Silent Movie (1976), The Jerk (1979), Pennies from Heaven (1981, for which she won a Golden Globe Award), and Annie (1982). She has also acted in television shows such as Ally McBeal, Smash (2012–2013), Mozart in the Jungle (2014–2018), The Good Fight (2017–2018), Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist (2020–2021) and High Desert (2023).
Peters made her West End debut in Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends, running at the Gielgud Theatre from September 2023 to January 2024. The revue is scheduled to transfer to Broadway's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre in March 2025, following a pre-Broadway run at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles.

Photos

STAGE CREDITS

Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2025
Performer
Hello, Dolly! Hello, Dolly!
[Broadway]
Broadway Revival Production, 2017
Dolly Gallagher Levi [Replacement]
Follies Follies
[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 2011
Sally Durant Plummer
Follies Follies
[Washington, DC (Regional)]
Kennedy Center Revival, 2011
Sally Durant Plummer
A Little Night Music A Little Night Music
[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 2009
Desirée Armfeldt [Replacement]
Bounce
[New York]
Reading, 2006
Performer
Gypsy Gypsy
[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 2003
Rose
Annie Get Your Gun
[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 1999
Annie Oakley
Into the Woods
[Broadway]
Reunion Concert, 1997
Witch
Skin of Our Teeth
[New York]
Workshop, 1996
Sabina
Sunday in the Park with George
[Broadway]
Reunion Concert, 1994
Marie
Dot
The Goodbye Girl
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1993
Paula
Into the Woods
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1987
Witch
Witch [Replacement]
Song and Dance
[Broadway]
Broadway Production, 1985
Emma
Sunday in the Park with George
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1984
Dot
Dot [Replacement]
Marie
Marie [Replacement]
Sunday in the Park with George
[Off-Broadway]
Playwrights Horizons Workshop, 1983
Dot (Act One)
Annette (Act Two)
Dot
Sally and Marsha
[Off-Broadway]
1982
Sally
Mack & Mabel
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1974
Mabel Normand
Dames at Sea
[Milburn, NJ (Regional)]
Paper Mill Production, 1973
Ruby
Cherry
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production [Cancelled], 1972
Performer
On the Town
[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 1971
Hildy Esterhazy
W.C.
[Broadway]
Closed on the road, 1971
Performer
La Strada
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1969
Performer
Dames at Sea
[Off-Broadway]
1969
Ruby
Dames at Sea
[Off-Broadway]
Original Off-Broadway Production, 1968
Ruby
Ruby
A Mother's Kisses
[Broadway]
Closed on the road, 1968
Performer
George M!
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1968
Josie Cohan
Curley McDimple
[Off-Broadway]
Original Off-Broadway Production, 1967
Alice
Alice
Johnny No-Trump
[Broadway]
1967
Bettina
The Girl in the Freudian Slip
[Broadway]
1967
Leslie Maugham (Standby)
The Penny Friend
[Off-Broadway]
Original Off-Broadway Production, 1966
Cinderella
Cinderella
Gypsy
[US Tour]
1st National Tour, 1961
Thelma
Hawaiian Girl
The Most Happy Fella
[Broadway]
City Center Revival, 1959
Tessie

Movies

Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies
[ 1973 ] Allison
The Longest Yard
[ 1974 ] Warden's Secretary
Vigilante Force
[ 1976 ] Little Dee
W.C. Fields and Me
[ 1976 ] Melody
Silent Movie
[ 1976 ] Vilma Kaplan
The Jerk
[ 1979 ] Marie
Heartbeeps
[ 1981 ] Aqua
Pennies from Heaven
[ 1981 ] Eileen
Tulips
[ 1981 ] Rutanya Wallace
Annie
[ 1982 ] Lily
Slaves of New York
[ 1989 ] Eleanor
Pink Cadillac
[ 1989 ] Lou Ann McGuinn
Alice
[ 1990 ] Muse
Impromptu
[ 1991 ] Marie D'Agoult
Anastasia
[ 1997 ] Sophie
Let It Snow
[ 1999 ] Elise Ellis
It Runs in the Family
[ 2003 ] Rebecca Gromberg
Wine and Kisses
[ 2007 ] Mary Ann
Coming Up Roses
[ 2011 ] Diane
Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return
[ 2013 ] Glinda
The Broken Hearts Gallery
[ 2020 ] Eva Woolf
tick, tick... BOOM!
[ 2021 ] Sunday' Legend
Zoey's Extraordinary Christmas
[ 2021 ] Deb

TV Shows

Kraft Theatre
Anna Stieman
The Christmas Tree
Girl
George M!
Josie Cohan
Once Upon a Mattress
Lady Larken
The Owl and the Pussycat
Doris
Maude
Kathy Griffith
All in the Family
Linda Galloway
McCloud
B.B. Murchison
McCoy
Brenda Brooks
All's Fair
[ 1976-1977 ] Charley Drake
The Islander
Trudy Engles
The Martian Chronicles
Genevieve Seltzer
Baryshnikov in Hollywood
The Girl in 'The Sheik'
Faerie Tale Theatre
Sleeping Beauty, Princess Debbie
David
Marie Rothenberg
The Last Best Year
Jane Murray
Carol & Company
Kate Benton
Fall from Grace
Tammy Faye Bakker
The Carol Burnett Show
Skit Characters
American Playhouse
[ 1986-1991 ] The Witch, Dot, Marie
The Larry Sanders Show
Bernadette Peters
Cinderella
Cinderella's Stepmother
The Odyssey
Circe
Holiday in Your Heart
Faith Shawn
What the Deaf Man Heard
Helen Ayers
The Closer
Victoria Sherwood
Teacher's Pet
Fifi
Ally McBeal
Cassandra Lewis
Prince Charming
Margo, Titania
Frasier
Rachel
Bobbie's Girl
Bailey Lewis
Adopted
Sarah Leaf
Will & Grace
Gin
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Stella Danquiss
Boston Legal
Judge Marianna Folger
Living Proof
Barbara Bradfield
Grey's Anatomy
Sarabeth Breyers
Ugly Betty
Jodie Papadakis
Smash
[ 2012-2013 ] Leigh Conroy
Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce
Annie
Mozart in the Jungle
[ 2014-2018 ] Gloria Windsor
The Good Fight
[ 2017-2018 ] Lenore Rindell
Katy Keene
Ms. Freesia
Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist
[ 2020-2021 ] Deb
High Desert
Rosalyn, Ginger

Awards and Nominations


winner
Drama League Awards - 2013 - Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theater

Bernadette Peters

Drama Desk Awards - 2012 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical

Bernadette Peters, Follies


winner
Tony Awards - 2012 - Isabelle Stevenson Award

Bernadette Peters


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 2003 - Outstanding Actress - Musical

Bernadette Peters, Gypsy

Tony Awards - 2003 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Bernadette Peters, Gypsy


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1999 - Outstanding Actress - Musical

Bernadette Peters, Annie Get Your Gun


winner
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 1999 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical

Bernadette Peters, Annie Get Your Gun


winner
Tony Awards - 1999 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Bernadette Peters, Annie Get Your Gun

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 1993 - Best Actress - Musical

Bernadette Peters, The Goodbye Girl

Tony Awards - 1993 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Bernadette Peters, The Goodbye Girl

Drama Desk Awards - 1988 - Outstanding Actress - Musical

Bernadette Peters, Into the Woods


winner
Drama League Awards - 1986 - Distinguished Performance Award

Bernadette Peters, Song and Dance


winner
Tony Awards - 1986 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Bernadette Peters, Song and Dance

Drama Desk Awards - 1984 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical

Bernadette Peters, Sunday in the Park with George

Tony Awards - 1984 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Bernadette Peters, Sunday in the Park with George

Drama Desk Awards - 1982 - Outstanding Actress in a Play

Bernadette Peters, Sally and Marsha

Drama Desk Awards - 1975 - Outstanding Actress - Musical

Bernadette Peters, Mack & Mabel

Tony Awards - 1975 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Bernadette Peters, Mack and Mabel


winner
Tony Awards - 1972 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical

Bernadette Peters , On The Town


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1969 - Outstanding Performance

Bernadette Peters, Dames at Sea


winner
Theatre World Awards - 1968 - Performance

Bernadette Peters, George M!

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Bernadette Peters been in?

Bernadette Peters has appeared on Broadway in 22 shows.

How many West End shows has Bernadette Peters been in?

Bernadette Peters has appeared on London's West End in 1 shows.

What awards has Bernadette Peters been nominated for?

Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theater (Drama League Awards), Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Follies, Isabelle Stevenson Award (Tony Awards), Outstanding Actress - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Gypsy, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Gypsy, Outstanding Actress - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Annie Get Your Gun, Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Annie Get Your Gun , Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Annie Get Your Gun, Best Actress - Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Goodbye Girl, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for The Goodbye Girl, Outstanding Actress - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Into the Woods, Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for Song and Dance, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Song and Dance, Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Sunday in the Park with George, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Sunday in the Park with George, Outstanding Actress in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Sally and Marsha, Outstanding Actress - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Mack & Mabel, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Mack and Mabel, Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for On The Town, Outstanding Performance (Drama Desk Awards) for Dames at Sea and Performance (Theatre World Awards) for George M!.

What awards has Bernadette Peters won?

Bernadette Peters has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theater from the Drama League Awards and the Isabelle Stevenson Award from the Tony Awards. She won Outstanding Actress in a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for her performances in Gypsy and Annie Get Your Gun. Additionally, she was awarded Outstanding Actress in a Musical by the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Annie Get Your Gun. Peters also received the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for both Annie Get Your Gun and Song and Dance. Her other accolades include the Distinguished Performance Award from the Drama League Awards for Song and Dance, and the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical for On The Town. She earned an Outstanding Performance award from the Drama Desk Awards for Dames at Sea and the Performance award from the Theatre World Awards for George M!

What was Bernadette Peters's first West End show?

Bernadette Peters's first West End show was Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends which opened in 2023

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