Warner Bros. Entertainment Wiki
Advertisement
Warner Bros. Entertainment Wiki

Adrienne Jo Barbeau (born June 11, 1945) is an American actress, singer, and author of three books. She came to prominence in the 1970s as Broadway's original Rizzo in the musical Grease, and as Carol Traynor, the divorced daughter of Maude Findlay (played by Bea Arthur) on the sitcom Maude (19721978).[1] In 1980, she began appearing in horror and science fiction films, including The Fog (1980), Escape from New York (1981), Creepshow (1982), and Swamp Thing (1982). During the 1990s, she became known for providing the voice of Catwoman on Batman: The Animated Series (19921995), and subsequent animated series. In the 2000s, she appeared on the HBO series Carnivàle (20032005) as Ruthie.

Early life[]

Barbeau was born on June 11, 1945, in Sacramento, California,[2] the daughter of Armene (née Nalbandian) and Joseph Barbeau, who was a public relations executive for Mobil Oil.[3] Her mother was of Armenian descent and her father's ancestry was French Canadian, Irish, and German.[4] She has a sister, Jocelyn, and a half brother on her father's side, Robert Barbeau, who still resides in the Sacramento area. She attended Del Mar High School in San Jose, California. After graduating high school in 1963,[5] she enrolled at Foothill College in Menlo Park, California, but dropped out to participate in a USO Tour with the San Jose Light Opera.[6] In her autobiography, Barbeau says that she first caught the show business bug while entertaining troops at army bases throughout Southeast Asia, touring with the San Jose Civic Light Opera.[7]

Career[]

1960s–1989[]

In the late 1960s, Barbeau moved to New York City and worked "for the mob" as a go-go dancer. She made her Broadway debut in the chorus of Fiddler on the Roof and later took the role of Hodel, Tevye's daughter; Bette Midler played her character's sister Tzeitel. She left Fiddler in 1971 to play the leading role of Cookie Kovac in the off-Broadway nudie musical Stag Movie. Barbeau, as Cookie Kovac, and Brad Sullivan, as Rip Cord, were "quite jolly and deserve to be congratulated on the lack of embarrassment they show when, on occasion, they have to wander around stark naked. They may not be sexy, but they certainly keep cheerful," wrote The New York Times theater critic Clive Barnes in an otherwise negative review.[8] Barbeau went on to star in more than 25 musicals and plays, including Women Behind Bars, The Best Little Cathouse in Texas, and Grease. She received a Theater World Award and a 1972 Tony Award nomination for her portrayal of tough-girl Rizzo in Grease.[9]

During the 1970s, Barbeau starred as Carol Traynor, the daughter of Bea Arthur's title character, on the comedy series Maude, which ran from 1972 to 1978 (actress Marcia Rodd had originated the role of Carol in a 1972 episode of All in the Family, also titled "Maude", alongside Arthur).[10] In her autobiography, There Are Worse Things I Could Do, Barbeau remarked: "What I didn't know is that when I said [my lines] I was usually walking down a flight of stairs and no one was even listening to me. They were just watching my breasts precede me." During the last season of Maude, Barbeau did not appear in the majority of the episodes. In a 2009 Entertainment Tonight TV interview, Barbeau mentioned that she had good on- and off-camera chemistry with Arthur; she said that the two stayed close until Arthur's death on April 25, 2009. Barbeau and Arthur reunited on camera during a 2007 taping of The View, reminiscing about their long-running friendship and their years as co-stars on Maude. About her relationship with Arthur, Barbeau said in a 2018 interview with Dread Central:

I was doing an interview for this one-woman show that I am doing and the interviewer asked, 'What do people usually ask you,' and I said, 'They always want to know what it was like working with Bea.' She was fantastic and, you know, I realized years later how much I took it for granted because it was my first experience on television. I just assumed that everyone was as giving as she was, as professional as she was, that everyone who was doing a TV show showed up knowing their lines and showed up on time and was willing to say to the writers, 'I think this line was funnier if Adie had said it or Conrad had said it or Bill had said it.' I mean, she was just the best, she was the best, very funny. She was not Maude when she wasn't saying those lines. I don't know if I'd say she was quiet. She was a homebody. She had her sons, her dog and her cooking and she wasn't into the celebrity scene and she was a great lady. I loved her dearly and we had a great cast and they were my family for six years. I loved each of them and all of them and it was the best experience anyone could've had, being introduced to television like that!
―Adrienne Barbeau[11]


Barbeau was cast in numerous television films and series such as The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Valentine Magic on Love Island, and Battle of the Network Stars. In her autobiography, she claimed: "I actually thought CBS asked me to be on Battle of the Network Stars because they thought I was athletic. My husband clued me in: who cared if I won the race, as long as I bounced when I ran?"

The popularity of Barbeau's 1978 cheesecake poster confirmed her status as a sex symbol. Barbeau's popularity stemmed partly from what critic Joe Bob Briggs referred to as the "two enormous talents on that woman,"[12] and her typecasting as a "tough broad". Despite her initial success, she said at the time that she thought of Hollywood as a "flesh market" and that she would rather appear in films that "explore the human condition" and "deal with issues".[13]

Barbeau's then-husband, director John Carpenter, cast her in his horror film, The Fog (1980), which was her first theatrical film appearance. The film was released on February 1, 1980, and was a theatrical success, grossing over $21 million in the United States alone,[14] and establishing Barbeau as a genre film star. She subsequently appeared in a number of early-1980s horror and science fiction films, including Escape from New York (1981) (also from Carpenter), Creepshow (1982) and Swamp Thing (1982). Of her screen work with Carpenter, Barbeau has stated: "John is a great director. He knows what he wants and he knows how to get it. It's simple and it's easy [working with him]."[15]

She also appeared in the Burt Reynolds comedy The Cannonball Run (1981),[16] and as the shrewish wife of Rodney Dangerfield's character in Back to School (1986). Barbeau also starred in the comedy Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death (1989).[17]

1990s–present[]

In the 1990s, Barbeau mostly appeared in made-for-television films such as Scott Turow's The Burden of Proof (1992), as well as playing Oswald's mother on The Drew Carey Show and gaining new fame among animation fans as Catwoman on Batman: The Animated Series and Gotham Girls.[18][19]

She also worked as a television talk show host and a weekly book reviewer for KABC talk radio in Los Angeles. In 1999, she guest starred in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges" as Romulan Senator Kimara Cretak.[1]

In 1998, Barbeau released her debut album as a folk singer, the self-titled Adrienne Barbeau. She starred in the cartoon series Totally Spies! doing the voice of villainess Helga Von Guggen in seasons 1, 2 and 4.

From 2003 to 2005, she starred on the HBO series Carnivàle.[1] From March to May 2006, she starred as Judy Garland in the off-Broadway play The Property Known as Garland.[20]

In 2007, Barbeau played a cameo role in Rob Zombie's Halloween, a "reimagining" of the 1978 film of the same name, written and directed by her first husband, John Carpenter. Her scene was cut from the theatrical version of the film but is included in the DVD version.[21]

In 2009, Barbeau was cast as "The Cat Lady" in the family comedy The Dog Who Saved Christmas,[1] as Scooter's mother in the 3D animated feature Fly Me to the Moon,[22] and as a hospice patient in the love story Reach for Me.[23]

Also in 2009, Barbeau had guest spots in the first episode of Showtime's hit series Dexter (Season 4).[1]

She voiced the Greek goddess Hera in the video game God of War III released for the PlayStation 3 in March 2010. In August 2010, she began a role on the long-running ABC daytime drama General Hospital.[1] In 2012, she voiced UNSC scientist Dr. Tilson in the highly anticipated game Halo 4, released on the Xbox 360 in November 2012. She voiced characters in the 2015 Mad Max video game.

She appears in Argo (2012), playing the former wife of Alan Arkin's character.[24]

Barbeau reprised her role as Catwoman in an animated remake of the third trailer for The Dark Knight Rises. This trailer was made to both celebrate the upcoming film as well as to promote Hub's ten episode marathon of Batman: The Animated Series.[25]

In 2015, she assumed the role of Berthe in Pippin with the Broadway Touring Company of the renowned musical.[26][27][28]

In 2021, Barbeau voiced the role of Queen Gehenna in the sci-fi musical audio series, The World to Come.[29][30][31]

Personal life[]

In 1978, Barbeau met director John Carpenter on the set of his television film Someone's Watching Me! The couple wed on January 1, 1979, and lived in the Hollywood Hills section of Los Angeles, California, reportedly remaining "totally outside Hollywood's social circles."[32][13] They remained together for five years, but separated shortly after the birth of their son John "Cody" Carpenter on May 7, 1984. The couple divorced later that year.[33]

In 1991, Barbeau met actor/playwright/producer Billy Van Zandt, when she was cast in the West Coast premiere of his play Drop Dead! Van Zandt is the half-brother of musician/actor Steven Van Zandt. The couple wed in 1992. On March 17, 1997, at age 51, she gave birth to twin boys, Walker Steven and William Dalton Van Zandt, quipping that she was the only one on the maternity ward who was a member of AARP.[34] The couple filed for divorce in 2018.[35]

Filmography[]

Film[]

Year Title Role Notes
1976 The Great Houdini Daisy White Television film
Julie Farr, M.D. Allie Duggi
1977 Red Alert Judy Wyche
Have I Got a Christmas for You Marcia Levine
1978 The Fighting Nightingales Maj. Kate Steele
Crash Veronica Daniels
Someone's Watching Me! Sophie
1979 The Darker Side of Terror Margaret Corwin
1980 The Fog Stevie Wayne
Top of the Hill Elizabeth Stone Television film
Valentine Magic on Love Island Beverly McGraw
Tourist Barbara Huggins
1981 Escape from New York Maggie
The Cannonball Run Marcie
Charlie and the Great Balloon Chase Susan O'Neill Television film
1982 Swamp Thing Alice Cable
The Thing Computer Voice
Creepshow Wilma Northrup Segment: "The Crate"
1984 The Next One Andrea
Terror in the Aisles Stevie Wayne Archival footage
1985 Seduced Barbara Orloff Television film
Bridge Across Time Lynn Chandler
1986 Back to School Vanessa
1987 Open House Lisa Grant
Ultraman: The Adventure Begins Lt. Beth O'Brien Voice, television film
1989 Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death Dr. Kurtz
[[1990[[ The Easter Story Mary Magdalene Voice, direct-to-video short
Two Evil Eyes Jessica Valdemar Segment: "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar"
1991 Blood River Georgina Television film
Doublecrossed Debbie Seal
1992 The Burden of Proof Silvia Hartnell Television miniseries
1993 Father Hood Celeste
Demolition Man Main Frame Computer (voice) Uncredited
1994 Silk Degrees Violet
Jailbreakers Mrs. Norton Television film
1995 Bram Stoker's Burial of the Rats The Queen
Judge Dredd Central Voice, uncredited
1998 Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island Simone Lenoir Voice, direct-to-video
A Champion's Fight Nancy Muldenhower Television film
1999 A Wake in Providence Aunt Lidia
2000 Across the Line Mrs. Randall
The Convent Adult Christine
2002 No Place Like Home Evie
The Santa Trap Alice Television film
2003 Ghost Rock Mattie Baker
2004 Ring of Darkness Alex Television film
2006 Deceit Kathleen Darrow
Christmas Do-Over Trudi
2007 Halloween Adoption Agency Secretary Her role was cut from the final finished film, but was later included on the DVD Special Edition
Unholy Martha
2008 Fly Me to the Moon Scooter's mother Voice
Reach for Me Valerie
2009 Alice Jacobs Is Dead Alice Jacobs Short film
War Wolves Gail Cash Television film
2010 Proposition 8 Trial Re-Enactment Dr. Letitia Peplau Television documentary
The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation Mildred Television film
2012 Complacent Judy Sanderson
Argo Nina / Serski
2015 Divine Access Catherine
2016 ISRA 88 Dr. Withersford
2017 Death House Narrator
2018 Big Legend Rita Laird
For the Love of Jessee Katharyn
2020 Unearth Kathryn Dolan
Curious George: Go West, Go Wild Ginny's mother Voice, television film
2022 Hellblazers Georgia
Early Retirement Pat Short film
TBA The Pitch-Fork Elle Pre-production
Kindling Mother Ruth

Television[]

Year Title Role Notes
19721978 Maude Carol Traynor Regular role (93 episodes)
1977 Eight Is Enough Jennifer Linden Episode: "Turnabout"
Quincy, M.E. Carol Bowen Episode: "Let Me Light the Way"
1978 The Love Boat Cathy Randall 2 episodes
1978–1983 Fantasy Island Margo Dean / Brenda Richards / Adele Anthony 3 episodes
1979 $weepstake$ Bonnie Jones 1 episode
1984 Hotel Barbara Harrington Episode: "Tomorrows"
19851987 Murder, She Wrote Kathryn / Lynette Bryant 2 episodes
1985 The Twilight Zone Miss Peters Episode: "Teacher's Aide"
1986 Hotel Ellie Episode: "Shadow Play"
1989 Head of the Class Gloria Episode: "The Little Sister"
1990 CBS Schoolbreak Special Mary Martelli Episode: "The Fourth Man"
1992 Dream On Gloria Gantz Episode: "Bad Girls"
1992–1995 Batman: The Animated Series Selina Kyle / Catwoman / Martha Wayne Voice, 7 episodes
1993 FBI: The Untold Stories Marguerite Dobson Episode: "Dapper Drew"
ABC Weekend Special Lucinda "Lucy" Condraj Episode: "The Parsley Garden"
Daddy Dearest Annette Episode: "You Bet Your Life"
1994 One West Waikiki Edna Jaynes Episode: "A Model for Murder"
The George Carlin Show Barbara Rossetti Episode: "George Gets Caught in the Middle"
Babylon 5 Amanda Carter Episode: "Spider in the Web"
1996 Flipper Sydney Brewster 2 episodes
The Wayans Bros. Trish Neidermeyer Episode: "New Lease on Life"
1997 Weird Science Lily Episode: "Show Chett"
Sliders Mother Morehouse Episode: "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?"
1997–1998 The New Batman Adventures Selina Kyle / Catwoman Voice, 2 episodes
1998 Diagnosis: Murder Vivien Sanderson Episode: "Rain of Terror"
The Angry Beavers Toluca Lake Voice, episode: "The Day the Earth Got Really Screwed Up"
1998–2004 The Drew Carey Show Kim Harvey Recurring role (6 episodes)
1999 Love Boat: The Next Wave Grace Brooks Episode: "Three Stages of Love"
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Cretak Episode: "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges"
2000 Batman Beyond Singer Voice, episode: "Out of the Past"
2000–2002 Gotham Girls Selina Kyle / Catwoman / Renee Montoya Voice, main role
2001 Nash Bridges Annie Corell Episode; "Something Borrowed"
Sabrina the Teenage Witch Herself Episode; "The Gift of Gab"
2002–2004 Totally Spies! Helga Von Guggen Voice, 2 episodes
2002 The Chronicle Evelyn Hall Episode: "Tears of a Clone"
20032005 Carnivàle Ruthie Regular role (24 episodes)
2007 K-Ville Marquetta Dinovi Episode: "Bedfellows"
2008 Cold Case Helen McCormick Episode: "Wings"
2009 Dexter Suzanna Coffey Episode: "Living the Dream"
Grey's Anatomy Jodie Crawley Episode: "I Always Feel Like Somebody's Watchin' Me"
2010 The New Adventures of Old Christine Herself Episode: "A Whale of a Tale"
2010–2011 General Hospital Suzanne Stanwyck Regular role
2011 CSI: NY Dr. Theola Kumi Episode: "Smooth Criminal"
20122015 Revenge Marion Harper 2 episodes
2013 Sons of Anarchy Alice Episode: "Sweet and Vaded"
2014 Criminal Minds Cissy Howard Episode: "Blood Relations"
2019 Swamp Thing Dr. Palomar Episode: "Long Walk Home"
Creepshow Dixie Parmalee / Radio Host 2 episodes
2020 AJ and the Queen Helen Episode: "Columbus"
2021 American Horror Stories Verna Episode: "Drive In"
Cowboy Bebop Maria Murdock Episode: "Callisto Soul"
2023 9-1-1 Luisa Falcon Episode: "Love is in the Air"

Video games[]

Year Title Role Notes
1999 Descent 3 Dr. Katelyn Harper
2006 Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Sif
2009 Batman: Arkham Asylum Dr. Gretchen Whistler
2010 God of War III Hera
2012 Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning Ciara Sydanus
Halo 4 Dr. Tillson
Hitman: Absolution Hotel Manager's Wife
2013 God of War: Ascension Aletheia / Oracle of Delphi
2015 Mad Max Pink Eye
2018 Fallout 76 The Overseer

Awards and nominations[]

Year Association Category Nominated work Result
1972 Theatre World Award Performance Grease Won
Tony Award Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical Grease Nominated
1977 Golden Globe Award Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Maude
1991 Fangoria Chainsaw Award Chainsaw award for Best Supporting Actress - Television Film Due occhi diabolici
1999 1st Online Film & Television Association OFTA Television Award Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
2002 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards Best Supporting Actress The Convent Won
2004 Satellite Awards Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Television Series Carnivàle Nominated
2010 1st Chicago Horror Film Festival Festival Award for Best Actress Alice Jacobs Is Dead Won
2016 14th annual New York City Horror Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award[36] N/A

Bibliography[]

Barbeau's autobiography There Are Worse Things I Could Do was published in 2006 by Carroll & Graf, rising to No. 11 on the Los Angeles Times bestseller list. In July 2008, her first novel, Vampyres of Hollywood, was published by St Martin's Press. The novel was co-written by Michael Scott. The first sequel Love Bites was published in 2010, and the second, Make Me Dead was published in 2015.



  • Barbeau, Adrienne (2010). "Love Bites". Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's Press.



Roles[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Adrienne Barbeau". TV Guide. Retrieved on December 12, 2019.
  2. "John Willis' Theatre World: Volume 29". Crown Publishers (1972).
  3. "Adrienne Barbeau Puts "Best" Foot Forward". The Sacramento Bee (July 18, 1993). Retrieved on December 10, 2007.
  4. Nakhnikian, Elise (December 1, 1992). The Glamour of Hollywood: Armenians in Show Biz. Armenian General Benevolent Union. Archived from the original on February 28, 2019. Retrieved on March 7, 2019.
  5. Singh, Gary (March 20, 2008). "San Jose's Favorite Daughter". San Jose Inside. Retrieved on July 8, 2023.
  6. Hall, Ken. "Everything Adrienne Barbeau Collects Gets Put To Good Use". Southeastern Antiquing and Collecting Magazine. Retrieved on July 8, 2023.
  7. Grigware, Don (April 9, 2018). "BWW Review: Fun Evening of Adrienne Barbeau's THERE ARE WORSE THINGS I COULD DO". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved on March 7, 2019.
  8. Barnes, Clive (January 4, 1971). "Stage: '71 Is Off to a Lamentable Start; 'Stag Movie', a Musical, Opens at the Gate". The New York Times. Retrieved on June 15, 2012.
  9. Farmer, Jim (May 4, 2015). "Preview: With the revival of "Pippin", Adrienne Barbeau's career hits the literal high wire". ARTS ATL. Retrieved on March 7, 2019.
  10. Nolasco, Stephanie (July 21, 2019). "'Maude' actress Adrienne Barbeau recalls bonding with Bea Arthur: 'I learned so much about comedy from her'". Fox News. Retrieved on July 21, 2019.
  11. "Brainwaves Episode 80: Legendary Actress Adrienne Barbeau". Dread Central (March 8, 2018). Retrieved on March 9, 2018.
  12. Briggs, Joe. "The Fog" Intro. Joe Bob Briggs. Archived from the original on March 7, 2006. Retrieved on April 6, 2006.
  13. 13.0 13.1 Ebert, Roger (February 3, 1980). Interview with Adrienne Barbeau. Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on June 29, 2006. Retrieved on March 9, 2006.
  14. The Fog (1980). Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on February 13, 2006. Retrieved on March 9, 2006.
  15. "Terror and the Dame: An Interview with Adrienne Barbeau". The Terror Trap (February 2006).
  16. Canby, Vincent (June 20, 1981). "'Cannonball Run' with Burt Reynolds". Retrieved on March 7, 2019.
  17. Stratford, Jennifer (April 2, 2012). "Off Hollywood - Adrienne Barbeau". Vice Media. Retrieved on March 7, 2019.
  18. Devores, Courtney (February 21, 2019). "Talking shop with scream queen Adrienne Barbeau — part of Mad Monster's weekend lineup". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved on March 7, 2019.
  19. Frederiksen, Eric (June 22, 2019). "Batman: Remastered and Rewatched – Episodes 15 & 16 – Catwoman's Debut". Batman-News.com. Retrieved on June 22, 2019.
  20. Isherwood, Charles (March 24, 2006). "At the Actors' Playhouse, Adrienne Barbeau Is Judy Garland". The New York Times. Retrieved on December 30, 2007.
  21. Halloween – Special Edition DVD (2007).
  22. Lee, Nathan (August 14, 2008). "Space in 3-D". The New York Times. Retrieved on March 7, 2019.
  23. "World Premiere of 'Reach For Me' at Las Vegas Hilton". VegasNews.com (January 23, 2010). Retrieved on March 7, 2019.
  24. Wloszczyna, Susan (October 23, 2012). "Small parts but no small actors in 'Argo'". USA Today. Retrieved on March 7, 2019.
  25. Maurer, Mark (July 18, 2012). "'Batman: The Animated Series' remakes 'Dark Knight Rises' trailer with original voice actors". NJ.com. Retrieved on March 7, 2019.
  26. Buell, Bill (May 20, 2015). "High-flying 'Pippin' brings Adrienne Barbeau back to stage". The Daily Gazette. Retrieved on March 7, 2019.
  27. Rothaus, Steve (March 26, 2015). "And then there's Adrienne Barbeau, back on stage in 'Pippin' and on DVD in 'Maude'". Miami Herald. Retrieved on March 7, 2019.
  28. Reedy, R. (January 27, 2016). "Adrienne Barbeau flying high in 'Pippin'". Norwood Bulletin. Retrieved on March 7, 2019.
  29. "Adrienne Barbeau Joins the Cast of Audio Series Musical THE WORLD TO COME". Broadway World.
  30. "BWW Interview: GREASE's Original Rizzo Adrienne Barbeau Talks THE WORLD TO COME Podcast Musical, Her New Book & More!". Broadway World.
  31. "15 Questions in 15 Minutes with stage and screen star Adrienne Barbeau". DC Theater Arts (March 22, 2021).
  32. "Barbeau, Adrienne 1945- (Adrienne Jo Barbeau)". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved on June 24, 2021.
  33. "'Escape From New York' Star Adrienne Barbeau on Playing a Kick-Ass Action Hero and How Teenage J.J. Abrams Changed the Ending". Variety (March 10, 2023).
  34. Haas, Jane (June 19, 2006). "Letting it all hang out". Orange County Register. Retrieved on March 7, 2019.
  35. "Legendary Scream Queen Adrienne Barbeau Files for Divorce". The Blast (March 19, 2018). Retrieved on March 7, 2019.
  36. "Adrienne Barbeau to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award" (September 30, 2016).


Sources[]


External links[]

https://creepshow.fandom This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from the Creepshow Wiki. The list of authors can be seen in the page revision history (view authors). As with Warner Bros. Entertainment Wiki, the text of the Creepshow Wiki is available under the CC-BY-SA license.
Advertisement