Adrienne Jo Barbeau (born June 11, 1945) is an American actress and the author of three books. Barbeau 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) in the sitcom Maude. In the early 1980s, Barbeau was a sex symbol, starring in several horror and science fiction films, including The Fog, Creepshow, Swamp Thing, and Escape from New York. During the 1990s, she became known for providing the voice of Catwoman on Batman: The Animated Series and subsequent Batman cartoon series. In the 2000s (decade), she appeared in the HBO series Carnivàle as Ruthie the snake dancer.
Full Name | Adrienne Barbeau |
Net Worth | $5 million |
Date Of Birth | June 11, 1945 |
Place Of Birth | Sacramento, California, USA |
Height | 1.59 m |
Occupation | Actress and writer |
Profession | Voice Actor, Author |
Education | Foothill College, Del Mar High School |
Nationality | American |
Spouse | Billy Van Zandt (m. 1992), John Carpenter (m. 1979–1984) |
Children | Cody Carpenter, William Dalton Van Zandt, Walker Steven Van Zandt |
Parents | Joseph Barbeau, Armene Nalbandian |
Siblings | Robert Barbeau, Jocelyn Barbeau |
Nicknames | Adrienne Barbeau, Barbeau, Adrienne |
Facebook | http://www.facebook.com/4abarbeau |
Twitter | http://www.twitter.com/abarbeau |
IMDB | http://imdb.com/name/nm0000105 |
Nominations | Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries, or Motion Picture Made for Television, Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress - Drama Series |
Movies | Swamp Thing, The Fog, Escape from New York, Creepshow, The Cannonball Run, Two Evil Eyes, Argo, Back to School, Someone's Watching Me!, The Convent, Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death, Fly Me to the Moon, Father Hood, Bridge Across Time, Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island, Reach for Me, A Wake i... |
TV Shows | Carnivàle, Gotham Girls, Maude |
Star Sign | Gemini |
# | Quote |
---|
1 | [on how the horror genre has changed over the years]: I sense, from reading scripts for roles I'm offered -- most of which are plotless and illogical and nothing more than an excuse to show blood and gore -- that the artistry that colored the genre twenty or thirty years ago has pretty much succumbed to slashers' knives. It's a different kind of horror, that's for sure. |
2 | [on horror films]: I love doing them -- well, the suspenseful, tense, well-written ones; not the slasher, senseless violence, let's get as much blood on the screen as possible ones -- but I don't enjoy watching them. So I can't speak to what sets The Fog (1980) apart from the other films of that era, but I do think that one of the reasons The Fog (1980) is so successful is that John [John Carpenter] wrote fully realized, quirky characters that the audience cares about and identifies with. People remember Stevie Wayne. They love her voice, they love the lighthouse where she works, and they love her heroism. |
3 | [from her memoir "There Are Worst Things I Could Do" (2006)]: It's not easy, though, singing upside down in a headstand on a raised platform with your unfettered breasts hitting you in the chin. I'm a short woman with a pretty good body and large breasts - that's not what I think of as sexy. |
4 | [Of Bea Arthur]: I don't think Bea understood just how loud her voice could be. During intermission, we met in the center aisle, right down by the stage. And she said, "Adrienne, this is the worst piece of shit I've ever seen! I'd leave, but they're all my friends!". |
5 | [on her on- and off-screen chemistry with Bea Arthur, who played Maude Findlay]: She was fantastic. She is fantastic... It was a great experience, all six years. Wonderful people to work with and something to be so incredibly proud of, which I took for granted at the time because I came from stage, so I didn't know television at all. I didn't even know what was on. I didn't know Norman Lear's reputation or anything like that. It took me awhile to realize that I had fallen into such a fantastic work situation. And most of that was because of Bea - because she's such a professional, such a great woman to work with. We had a great time. |
6 | [on the death of Bea Arthur in 2009]: I loved her dearly, and I think she loved me. |
7 | [When she started out as a talented actress years before General Hospital (1963)]: I just had my first sighting. I was in a department store, and a woman came up to me and said, "Excuse me, can you tell me where General Hospital films?". |
8 | [If her own fans from Maude (1972) were everywhere]: I think General Hospital (1963) is probably reaching new people for me, plus people who grew up watching Maude. I have so many people come up to me when I'm at an autograph signing; I have a picture of Bea and Rue McClanahan from Maude. People say, "Oh, I didn't know you were on The Golden Girls (1985).". |
9 | [on her role on Maude (1972)]: If the producers needed information in a scene, my character was the one to do it. What I didn't know is that when I said those things, 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. |
10 | [In describing Bea Arthur as a private lady, in real-life]: She wasn't interested in the notoriety. She wasn't interested in celebrity. She was interested in making people laugh and doing good work. |
11 | I'm realizing that a soap offers so many opportunities for a woman my age. At this stage in my career, the roles that are available tend to be the judge or the doctor or somebody's mother - that's what happens when you're the guest star of the week. But General Hospital reminds me in a way of Carnivale, where we never knew what was coming next and it was always exciting and fascinating. There's a lot of meat on this soap! |
12 | [on the horror remake The Fog (2005)]: I have not seen it and I have no desire to see it, either. |
13 | [on her role in The Cannonball Run (1981)]: All the talent I needed was in my breastbone. |
14 | Who knew at the time? It's the same as my horror films. It's wonderful at this point in my career to realize there are pieces of work that have sustained themselves all this time. I'll run into people who say, "We watch Swamp Thing (1982) once a month!". |
# | Fact |
---|
1 | Credits Bea Arthur as her favorite acting mentor/best friend. |
2 | Surrogate daughter of Bea Arthur. |
3 | Revealed that she had a wonderful working relationship with Bea Arthur on Maude (1972). |
4 | Her acting mentor and former series' lead, Bea Arthur, passed away on April 25, 2009, at age 86. (Bea nearly celebrated her 87th birthday, 2 weeks prior, had she lived, but passed away, before this.). |
5 | Attended and graduated from Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, California. |
6 | Attended and graduated from Del Mar High School in San Jose, California. |
7 | Her acting mentor was the late Bea Arthur. |
8 | Because of her busy scheduling, she missed most of the episodes of Maude (1972), during the last two seasons. |
9 | Has appeared with Tom Atkins in four films: The Fog (1980), Escape from New York (1981), Creepshow (1982) and Two Evil Eyes (1990). |
10 | In the horror film The Fog (1980), the two leads, Adrienne Barbeau and Jamie Lee Curtis, do not appear in any scenes together. |
11 | Her memoir, "There Are Worse Things I Could Do", went to #11 on the Los Angeles Times Bestseller list. |
12 | Her role in the horror remake Halloween (2007) was ultimately cut from the final finished film, but was included on the DVD Special Edition. |
13 | The winner of The Cannonball Run (1981), she also won the heart of her co-star, Burt Reynolds, who was then at the height of his popularity. |
14 | Returned to the New York stage for first time in 34 years to portray Judy Garland in "The Property Known as Garland" written by her husband, playwright Billy Van Zandt. |
15 | Sister-in-law of musician and actor Steven Van Zandt. |
16 | Her nude scene in Swamp Thing (1982) was intended only for European release but eventually made its way onto an American DVD of the movie -- until a Texas housewife complained of her sons' inadvertently viewing nudity in a PG-rated movie, at which point the DVD was recalled. |
17 | Won the prestigious Theater Guild Award for her portrayal of Betty Rizzo in the original Broadway production of "Grease". |
18 | Was portrayed by Bridget Jones in an episode of the cult television series Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988). |
19 | Her roles in the horror film The Fog (1980) and Escape from New York (1981) were written specifically with her in mind. |
20 | Nominated for a 1972 Tony Award as Best Supporting or Featured Actress (Musical) for her portrayal of bad-girl Betty Rizzo in the original Broadway production of "Grease". |
21 | In 1978, a poster of Adrienne Barbeau wearing a tight purple corset was a bestseller. The poster's image later served as a cover photo for her autobiography. |
22 | Worked as a New York City go-go dancer in a Mafia-run nightclub from 1964-1967 while breaking in on Broadway. She quit after the owner decided to turn the place into a bikini bar. |
23 | Her father was of three quarters German ancestry, with his other roots being French-Canadian and Irish. Her mother was of Armenian ancestry. |
24 | Has one son with John Carpenter: Cody Carpenter. |
25 | At age 51, she gave birth to identical twin boys, Walker Steven and William Dalton Van Zandt, on March 17, 1997. Their father is her husband, Billy Van Zandt. |
26 | Made her Broadway debut in "Fiddler on the Roof" in 1968, where she met another young, up-and-coming actress named Bette Midler. "I guess I adopted some of her enthusiasm and hopefully her street smarts," said Barbeau. |
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|
Hell's Kitty | 2013 | TV Series | Mrs. Carrie |
Sons of Anarchy | 2013 | TV Series | Alice Noone |
God of War: Ascension | 2013 | Video Game | Alethia (voice) |
Hitman: Absolution | 2012 | Video Game | Hotel Manager's Wife (voice) |
Halo 4 | 2012 | Video Game | Dr. Tillson (voice) |
Argo | 2012 | | Nina / Serksi the Gallactic Witch |
Complacent | 2012 | | Judy Sanderson |
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning | 2012 | Video Game | Clara Sydamus / Additional Voices (voice) |
General Hospital | 2010-2011 | TV Series | Suzanne Stanwyck |
CSI: NY | 2011 | TV Series | Dr. Theola Kumi |
The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation | 2010 | TV Movie | Mildred |
God of War III | 2010 | Video Game | Hera (voice) |
Proposition 8 Trial Re-Enactment | 2010 | TV Series documentary | Dr. Letitia Peplau |
The Dog Who Saved Christmas | 2009 | TV Movie | Cat Lady |
Grey's Anatomy | 2009 | TV Series | Jodie Crowley |
Dexter | 2009 | TV Series | Suzanna Coffey |
Batman: Arkham Asylum | 2009 | Video Game | Gretchen Whistler / Voice of Arkham (voice) |
Alice Jacobs Is Dead | 2009 | Short | Alice Jacobs |
War Wolves | 2009 | TV Movie | Gail Cash |
Cold Case | 2008 | TV Series | Helen McCormick '08 |
Reach for Me | 2008 | | Valerie |
Fly Me to the Moon 3D | 2008 | | Scooter's Mom (voice) |
K-Ville | 2007 | TV Series | Marquetta Dinovi |
Unholy | 2007 | | Martha |
Christmas Do-Over | 2006 | TV Movie | Trudi |
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance | 2006 | Video Game | Sif (voice) |
Deceit | 2006 | TV Movie | Kathleen Darrow |
Carnivàle | 2003-2005 | TV Series | Ruthie |
The Drew Carey Show | 1998-2004 | TV Series | Kim Harvey |
Totally Spies! | 2002-2004 | TV Series | Helga von Guggen |
Century City | 2004 | TV Series | |
Ring of Darkness | 2004 | TV Movie | Alex |
Ghost Rock | 2003 | | Mattie Baker |
The Santa Trap | 2002 | TV Movie | Alice (Homeless Woman) |
No Place Like Home | 2002 | | Evie |
Gotham Girls | 2000-2002 | TV Series | Catwoman Selina Kyle Det. Renee Montoya |
The Chronicle | 2002 | TV Series | Evelyn Hall |
Spring Break Lawyer | 2001 | TV Movie | Judge Stern |
Nash Bridges | 2001 | TV Series | Annie Corell |
Batman Beyond | 2000 | TV Series | Singer |
Across the Line | 2000 | | Mrs. Randall |
The Convent | 2000 | | Adult Christine |
A Wake in Providence | 1999 | | Aunt Lidia |
Descent 3 | 1999 | Video Game | Dr. Katelyn Harper (voice) |
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | 1999 | TV Series | Cretak |
Love Boat: The Next Wave | 1999 | TV Series | Grace Brooks |
The Angry Beavers | 1998 | TV Series | Toluca Lake |
Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island | 1998 | Video | Simone Lenoir (voice) |
The New Batman Adventures | 1997-1998 | TV Series | Catwoman Selina Kyle |
Sliders | 1998 | TV Series | Mother Morehouse |
Adventures from the Book of Virtues | 1998 | TV Series | Greta |
Diagnosis Murder | 1998 | TV Series | Vivien Sanderson |
Shattered Hearts: A Moment of Truth Movie | 1998 | TV Movie | Nancy Muldenhower |
Weird Science | 1997 | TV Series | Lily |
The Wayans Bros. | 1996 | TV Series | Trish Neidermeyer |
Flipper | 1996 | TV Series | Sydney Brewster |
Batman: The Animated Series | 1992-1995 | TV Series | Catwoman Selina Kyle Martha Wayne ... |
Burial of the Rats | 1995 | TV Movie | The Queen |
Judge Dredd | 1995 | | Central (voice, uncredited) |
Babylon 5 | 1994 | TV Series | Amanda Carter |
The George Carlin Show | 1994 | TV Series | Barbara Rossetti |
Rebel Highway | 1994 | TV Series | Mrs. Sheila Norton |
One West Waikiki | 1994 | TV Series | Edna Jaynes |
Silk Degrees | 1994 | | Violet |
Demolition Man | 1993 | | Main Frame Computer (voice, uncredited) |
Daddy Dearest | 1993 | TV Series | Annette |
Father Hood | 1993 | | Celeste |
ABC Weekend Specials | 1993 | TV Series | Lucindak 'Lucy' Condraj |
FBI: The Untold Stories | 1993 | TV Series | Marguerite Dobson |
Dream On | 1992 | TV Series | Gloria Gantz |
Queen Esther | 1992 | Video short voice | |
The Burden of Proof | 1992 | TV Movie | Silvia Hartnell |
Doublecrossed | 1991 | TV Movie | Debbie Seal |
Blood River | 1991 | TV Movie | Georgina |
CBS Schoolbreak Special | 1990 | TV Series | Mary Martelli |
Wake, Rattle & Roll | 1990 | TV Series | Mrs. Baxter (1990) |
Two Evil Eyes | 1990 | | Jessica Valdemar (segment "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar") |
The Easter Story | 1990 | Video short | Mary Magdalene (voice) |
Monsters | 1989 | TV Series | Fiona Flynn |
Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death | 1989 | | Dr. Kurtz |
Head of the Class | 1989 | TV Series | Gloria - Dr. Samuels' Sister |
Ultraman: The Adventure Begins | 1987 | TV Movie | Lt. Beth O'Brien (voice) |
Open House | 1987 | | Lisa Grant |
Murder, She Wrote | 1985-1987 | TV Series | Lynette Bryant / Kathryn |
Hotel | 1984-1986 | TV Series | Ellie / Barbara Harrington |
Back to School | 1986 | | Vanessa |
Terror at London Bridge | 1985 | TV Movie | Lynn Chandler |
The Twilight Zone | 1985 | TV Series | Ms. Peters (segment "Teacher's Aide") |
Seduced | 1985 | TV Movie | Barbara Orloff |
The Next One | 1984 | | Andrea |
Fantasy Island | 1978-1983 | TV Series | Adele Anthony / Brenda Richards / Margo Dean |
The Thing | 1982 | | Computer (voice, uncredited) |
Creepshow | 1982 | | Wilma Northrup (segment "The Crate") |
Swamp Thing | 1982 | | Alice Cable |
Charlie and the Great Balloon Chase | 1981 | TV Movie | Susan O'Neill |
The Cannonball Run | 1981 | | Marcie |
Escape from New York | 1981 | | Maggie |
Tourist | 1980 | TV Movie | Barbara Huggins |
Valentine Magic on Love Island | 1980 | TV Movie | Beverly McGraw |
Top of the Hill | 1980 | TV Movie | Elizabeth Stone |
The Fog | 1980 | | Stevie Wayne |
The Darker Side of Terror | 1979 | TV Movie | Margaret Corwin |
$weepstake$ | 1979 | TV Series | |
Someone's Watching Me! | 1978 | TV Movie | Sophie |
Crash | 1978 | TV Movie | Veronica Daniels |
Maude | 1972-1978 | TV Series | Carol Traynor |
The Love Boat | 1978 | TV Series | Cathy Randall |
The Fighting Nightingales | 1978 | TV Movie | Maj. Kate Steele |
Have I Got a Christmas for You | 1977 | TV Movie | Marcia Levine |
Quincy M.E. | 1977 | TV Series | Carol Bowen - Rape Counselor |
Red Alert | 1977 | TV Movie | Judy Wyche |
Eight Is Enough | 1977 | TV Series | Jennifer Linden |
Having Babies | 1976 | TV Movie | Allie Duggin |
The Great Houdini | 1976 | TV Movie | Daisy White |
Love Bites | 2018 | pre-production | |
Hoax | 2017 | post-production | Wilma |
Death House | 2017 | completed | Narrator |
Before I Do | | announced | Georgia Welch |
Bring Me the Head of Lance Henriksen | | post-production | Adrienne |
Killer: Malevolence 3 | | announced | Meredith |
Dimension 404 | 2017 | TV Series | Wilma |
Gates of Darkness | 2017 | | Rosemary |
Real Mature | 2016 | Short | Narrator (voice) |
ISRA 88 | 2016 | | Dr. Withersford |
Mad Max | 2015 | Video Game | Pink Eye (voice) |
Tales of Halloween | 2015 | | The Radio DJ (voice) |
Revenge | 2012-2015 | TV Series | Marion Harper |
Divine Access | 2015 | | Catherine |
American Dad! | 2015 | TV Series | Maxine |
Jimmy's Jungle | 2015 | | Tammy |
The Memory Book | 2014 | TV Movie | Sarah |
Criminal Minds | 2014 | TV Series | Cissy Howard |
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|
The Peter Austin Noto Show | 2017 | TV Series | Herself |
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You | 2016 | Documentary | Herself |
The Barn Theatre: Tomorrow's Stars Today | 2016 | Documentary | Herself |
Criminal Minds: Season 9 - Eyes Only | 2014 | Video documentary short | Herself |
Tales from the Swamp with Adrienne Barbeau | 2013 | Video short | Herself |
Celebrity Ghost Stories | 2012 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
Saturday Nightmares: The Ultimate Horror Expo of All Time! | 2010 | Video | Herself |
The Joy Behar Show | 2010 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
Inside Edition | 2006-2010 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
The New Adventures of Old Christine | 2010 | TV Series | Herself |
Entertainment Tonight | 1997-2009 | TV Series | Herself |
PIX 11 Morning News | 2008 | TV Series | Herself |
Today | 2008 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
Just Desserts: The Making of 'Creepshow' | 2007 | Video documentary | Herself |
TV Land Confidential | 2007 | TV Series documentary | Herself - Interviewee |
The View | 2007 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
Whatever Happened To? | 2007 | TV Series | Herself |
Big John | 2006 | TV Movie documentary | Herself |
Biography | 2006 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
Encore with John Palmer | 2006 | TV Series | Herself |
Between the Lines | 2006 | TV Series | Herself |
TV Land's Top Ten | 2006 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
Connie Martinson Talks Books | 2006 | TV Series | Herself |
Good Day L.A. | 2006 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
CNN Live From... | 2006 | TV Series | Herself |
Broadway Beat | 2006 | TV Series | Herself |
The Many Faces of Catwoman | 2005 | Video documentary short | Herself |
John Carpenter: Fear Is Just the Beginning... The Man and His Movies | 2004 | Video documentary | Herself |
The O'Reilly Factor | 2004 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
Return to 'Escape from New York' | 2003 | Video documentary short | Herself |
CBS at 75 | 2003 | TV Special documentary | Herself |
Pyramid | 2003 | TV Series | Herself |
Making 'Carnivàle': The Show Behind the Show | 2003 | TV Short | Herself |
Jimmy Kimmel Live! | 2003 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
Tales from the Mist: Inside 'The Fog' | 2002 | Video documentary short | Herself |
Inside TV Land: Taboo TV | 2002 | TV Movie documentary | Herself |
When Cultures Collide: From Perry to Pearl Harbor | 2002 | Video documentary | Herself - Presenter (voice) |
Crossing Over with John Edward | 2002 | TV Series | Herself |
Hollywood Squares | 2001 | TV Series | Herself - Panelist |
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch | 2001 | TV Series | Herself |
The Test | 2001 | TV Series | Herself - Panelist |
The Directors | 1999 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
Home Team with Terry Bradshaw | 1997 | TV Series | Herself |
Reel Wild Cinema | 1997 | TV Series | Herself |
Caryl & Marilyn: Real Friends | 1997 | TV Series | Herself |
The Geraldo Rivera Show | 1996-1997 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
Marilu | 1995 | TV Series | Herself |
The Wild West | 1993 | TV Mini-Series documentary | |
The $25,000 Pyramid | 1987-1991 | TV Series | Herself - Celebrity Contestant |
The Horror Hall of Fame II | 1991 | TV Movie | Herself - Presenter |
A.M. Los Angeles | 1986-1991 | TV Series | Herself - Hostess / Herself |
The Home Show | 1991 | TV Series | Herself |
The $10,000 Pyramid | 1974-1991 | TV Series | Herself - Celebrity Contestant |
The 40th Annual Miss USA Pageant | 1991 | TV Special | Herself - Judge |
The Art of Illusion | 1990 | Video documentary | Narrator |
Relatively Speaking | 1989 | TV Series | Herself |
Our Time | 1985 | TV Series | Herself |
The Mike Douglas Show | 1973-1982 | TV Series | Herself - Guest / Herself - Actress / Herself - Co-Hostess |
Tom Cottle: Up Close | 1982 | TV Series | Herself |
Hour Magazine | 1982 | TV Series | Herself |
Fear on Film: Inside 'The Fog' | 1980 | TV Movie documentary | Herself |
The Alan Hamel Show | 1979 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | 1973-1978 | TV Series | Herself - Guest / Herself - Actress |
The Paul Ryan Show | 1977 | TV Series | Herself |
Battle of the Network Stars III | 1977 | TV Special | Herself - CBS Team |
Shoot for the Stars | 1977 | TV Series | Herself |
Sha Na Na | 1977 | TV Series | Herself |
Battle of the Network Stars | 1976 | TV Special | Herself - CBS Team |
Cos | 1976 | TV Series | Herself |
The David Steinberg Show | 1976 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
Break the Bank | 1976 | TV Series | Herself |
Tattletales | 1975-1976 | TV Series | Herself |
Celebrity Bowling | 1976 | TV Series | Herself |
The Gong Show | 1976 | TV Series | Herself - Panelist |
Tony Orlando and Dawn | 1975 | TV Series | Herself |
You Don't Say | 1975 | TV Series | Herself |
The Magnificent Marble Machine | 1975 | TV Series | Herself |
Celebrity Sweepstakes | 1975 | TV Series | Herself |
Blankety Blanks | 1975 | TV Series | Herself |
Sammy and Company | 1975 | TV Series | Herself |
David Frost Presents | 1975 | TV Series | Herself |
Password All-Stars | 1975 | TV Series | Herself - Celebrity Contestant |
The Merv Griffin Show | 1975 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
Rhyme and Reason | 1975 | TV Series | Herself |
Match Game 73 | 1974 | TV Series | Herself - Panelist |
The Hollywood Squares | 1974 | TV Series | Herself - Panelist |
The David Frost Show | 1972 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
The 26th Annual Tony Awards | 1972 | TV Special | Herself |
ncG1vNJzZmimlanEsL7Toaeoq6RjvLOzjqecrWWnpL%2B1tI6am6uhlaO7pnnBmqmbnZGqeq%2Bx02auqKqknXw%3D