Bernadette Peters was born Bernadette Lazzara on February 28, 1948 in Queens, New York City. Peters is one of the most critically-acclaimed Broadway performers, having received nominations for seven Tony Awards, winning two, and eight Drama Desk Awards, winning three. Four of the Broadway cast albums on which she has starred have won Grammy Awards. She first performed on the stage as a child and then a teenage actor in the 1960s, and in film and television in the 1970s. She was praised for this early work and for appearances on _"The Muppet Show" and was married to investment adviser Michael Wittenberg for over nine years until he was killed in a helicopter crash on September 26, 2005. Peters is known for her charitable work, including as a founder of the Broadway Barks animal charity.
Born at 1:15pm-EST.
Younger sister of casting director Donna DeSeta. Aunt of Tian DeSeta.
Created the roles of Dot in "Sunday in the Park with George", Mabel Normand in "Mack and Mabel" and The Witch in "Into the Woods" in the original Broadway productions.
Has won two "Best Leading Actress in a Musical" Tony Awards for "Song and Dance" and "Annie Get Your Gun".
Has two siblings: Joseph Lazarra and Donna DeSeta.
Awarded the Presidents Award at the 11th Annual Mr. Abbott Awards Dinner.
Is the youngest performer to be inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame.
Is a member of the MTC Board of Directors.
Inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame in 2002.
Her father Peter Lazzara drove a bread truck.
Has Italian ancestry, she changed her last name to Peters (after her fathers first name) because she did not "look Italian" and, at the time, ethnic stage names were discouraged.
Has won two Tony Awards as Best Actress : In 1986 for "Song and Dance" and in 1999 for a revival of "Annie Get Your Gun". In addition, she has received five other Tony nominations: one as Best Supporting or Featured Actress in 1972 for a revival of "On the Town"; and four other Best Actress nominations: in 1975 for "Mack and Mabel"; in 1984 for "Sunday in the Park with George", a performance she recreated in the television version with the same title, "American Playhouse" {Sunday in the Park with George (#5.19)} ; in 1993 for "The Goodbye Girl"; and in 2003 for a revival of "Gypsy".
Is the youngest of three children of Peter and Marguerite Lazarra.
Her husband, Michael Wittenberg died in a helicopter crash in Montenegro, Europe on September 26, 2005. An investment advisor, he was reportedly on a business trip.
She was involved with Steve Martin , her co-star in The Jerk and Pennies from Heaven , prior to his marriage to Victoria Tennant.
Was on Broadway in the revival of "Gypsy" in 2003-2004. She performed in the show for a year and did over 500 performances. Peters was offered a national tour of the show, but bowed out saying, "I love this show and the role of Rose, but after playing her for a year she has worn me totally out!" The role of Mama Rose is considered one of the greatest and most difficult roles for a musical theater actress.
On The 57th Annual Tony Awards , she performed the climactic song "Roses Turn" from "Gypsy", in which she was nominated that year for Best Lead Actress in a Musical. However, she had been suffering from a severe respiratory infection and had missed several performances of the show. Originally, the producers did not want her to perform live at the Tony Awards for fear of her damaging her vocal chords. She refused to cancel and insisted on performing live. She got through the song and received a 2-minute standing ovation, one of the longest in Tony history.
She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Live Theater at 6706 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on April 23, 1987.
Although she has many Tony nominations and two wins, she is the only actress to not win a Tony Award for a revival of the musical, "Gypsy". Angela Lansbury , Tyne Daly and Patti LuPone all received Tony Awards as best actress in a musical for their performances in "Gypsy" revivals, but neither Peters nor the roles originator, Ethel Merman , ever received the award.
Received the Drama League Award for Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre in May 2013 in recognition of her contribution to the musical theatre.
Is an animal rights activist.
Is a staunch liberal Democrat and feminist.
Is one of 20 actresses who did not receive an Oscar nomination for their Best Actress in a Comedy/Musical Golden Globe-winning performance; hers being for Pennies from Heaven . The others, in chronological order, are: June Allyson for Too Young to Kiss , Ethel Merman for Call Me Madam , Jean Simmons for Guys and Dolls , Taina Elg and Kay Kendall for Les Girls , Marilyn Monroe for Some Like It Hot , Rosalind Russell for A Majority of One and Gypsy , Patty Duke for Me, Natalie , Twiggy for The Boy Friend , Raquel Welch for The Three Musketeers , Barbra Streisand for A Star Is Born , Kathleen Turner for Romancing the Stone and Prizzis Honor , Miranda Richardson for Enchanted April , Jamie Lee Curtis for True Lies , Nicole Kidman for To Die For , Madonna for Evita , Rene Zellweger for Nurse Betty , Sally Hawkins for Happy-Go-Lucky , and Amy Adams for Big Eyes .
Dated Warren Beatty.
"No One Is Alone" by Stephen Sondheim is all about thinking for yourself,and being your own person.
I love pasta with the homemade marinara sauce I had as a kid.
The challenge of film is making it right there at that moment, and then,you get to move on.
I love "Some Enchanted Evening", and "If I Loved You". And as I sing,them more and more, I find new favorites.
I know Mama Rose is a great role and I love having a chance to do it.
I feel strongly for gay marriage to be accepted.
The first Broadway show I ever heard was the recording of "Carousel",and it was a very vivid experience.
The first big lead that I had on Broadway was in a show called "La,Strada".
Working on behalf of companion animals is so important. We start to,realize how healing they are.
In my career, there have been three things that were challenging:,playing gay; playing a Jewish woman; and playing Chekhov. The scariest,part was playing Chekhov!,I lost a very dear friend who lived with AIDS for about 17 years.
Rejecting early treatments that were iffy, he thought he saved himself.
I really miss him a lot.
"It Might as Well Be Spring". . . I used to sing that as a young girl in,my voice lessons. Then I picked it up again and it spoke to me in a,whole new way.
I feel strongly for gay marriage to be accepted. .
