. . . Where Are They Now? . . .
Hello fans,

Well, actress Bernadette Peters has had quite an impressive career. She is an actress, a singer, a Broadway star, a children's author, and a philanthropist! Reading about her life makes me feel a little lazy, I've got to be honest.

Seriously though, she has so much talent. She has been nominated for seven Tony Awards, of which she won two, and nine Drama Desk Awards, winning three. She is still going strong after five decades in the entertainment business. Find out what she is up to now!

Take care,
Melissa

Questions? Comments? Email Melissa

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View Past Issues: Where Are They Now Archives

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--DEAD OR ALIVE?--
See if you know if the following celebrities have had a visit from the "Grim Reaper":

Park Overall: She played Laverne on the TV series "Empty Nest" and Rowena the prostitute in "Biloxi Blues" (both in the movie and on Broadway), she voiced Alice Tompkins on the animated series "The Critic"

Janet Leigh: She got killed in the shower in the Alfred Hitchcock movie "Psycho", she also appeared in "My Sister Eileen", "The Manchurian Candidate", "Bye Bye Birdie" and other movies

Tuesday Weld: Known for playing precocious innocents early in her career, appeared in the movies "Pretty Poison", "Looking for Mr. Goodbar", and "Falling Down"

(Answer at the bottom)
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Bernadette Peters
Learn More About Bernadette Peters on Celebrity Nooz

BIRTH DATE: February 28, 1948, Queens, New York City, New York

CLAIM TO FAME: Known for her roles in films such as The Jerk and as a Broadway star.

FAMILY LIFE: She was married to Michael Wittenberg from 1996 until September 2005 (his death).

INFO: Peters began acting as a child on stage and continued acting through her teens. She began appearing on television on such hit shows as The Muppet Show and The Carol Burnett Show, and in films like Silent Movie, The Jerk, Pennies from Heaven and Annie. She returned to the stage in the 1980s and became one of the best-known Broadway stars.

Peters is particularly noted for her starring roles in stage musicals, including Song and Dance, Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, Annie Get Your Gun, and Gypsy, becoming closely associated with composer Stephen Sondheim.

TRIVIA: Her husband died in a plane crash in 2005.

Younger sister of casting director Donna DeSeta.

Is a staunch liberal Democrat and feminist.

Was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Live Theatre.

Once dated Steve Martin.

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 and Donna.

Awarded the President's 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.

Was inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame.

Her father Peter Lazzara drove a bread truck.

Of Italian descent, she changed her last name to Peters (after her father's first name) because she did not "look Italian" and, at the time, ethnic stage names were discouraged.

Has an American pit bull terrier named Stella.

WHERE IS SHE NOW: Peters is known for her charitable work, including as a founder of the Broadway Barks animal charity. To support the animal adoption charity that she co-founded, Broadway Barks, Peters has written two children's books, both illustrated by Liz Murphy. The first book, Broadway Barks, was published in 2008. Her second book, Stella is a Star, was published in 2010.

Peters has released six solo albums and several singles, and has been performing her solo concert in the United States and Canada for many years.

Recently, she has made appearances on the NBC television series Smash. She portrays Leigh Conroy, Ivy's mother, in several episodes in 2012-13.

At the 66th Tony Awards (2012), Peters was presented with the honorary Isabelle Stevenson Award for "making a substantial contribution of volunteered time and effort on behalf of one or more humanitarian, social service or charitable organizations, regardless of whether such organizations relate to the theatre", specifically for her work with Broadway Barks. She also serves on the Board of Trustees of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and participates in that organization's events, such as the annual Broadway Flea Market and Grand Auction, and the "Gypsy of the Year" competition.

WRITE TO BERNADETTE PETERS:
Bernadette Peters
323 W. 80th Street
New York, NY 10024

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.bernadettepeters.com/

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CREDITS:

2013 Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return...Glinda (voice)

2012-2013 Smash (TV series)...Leigh Conroy

2011 Coming Up Roses...Diane

2009 Ugly Betty (TV series)...Jodie Papadakis

2008 Living Proof (TV movie)...Barbara Bradfield

2008 Grey's Anatomy (TV series)...Sarabeth Breyers

Dream a Little Dream of Me: Part 1 (2008) ... Sarabeth Breyers
Dream a Little Dream of Me: Part 2 (2008) ... Sarabeth Breyers

2007 Wine and Kisses...Mary Ann

2007 Boston Legal (TV series)...Judge Marianna Folger
Guantanamo by the Bay (2007)

2006 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV series)...Stella Danquiss
Choreographed (2006)

2006 Will & Grace (TV series)...Gin
Whatever Happened to Baby Gin? (2006)

2005 Adopted (TV movie)...Sarah Leaf

2003 The Land Before Time X: The Great Longneck Migration (video)...Sue (voice)

2003 It Runs in the Family...Rebecca Gromberg

2002 Bobbie's Girl (TV movie)...Bailey Lewis

2001 Prince Charming (TV movie)...Margo / 'Titania'

2001 Ally McBeal (TV series)...Cassandra Lewis

2001 Frasier (TV series)...Rachel
Sliding Frasiers (2001)

2000 Teacher's Pet (TV series)...Fifi
Fifi (2000)

1999 Let It Snow...Elise Ellis

1999 Wakko's Wish (video)...Rita (voice)

1998 The Closer (TV series)...Victoria Sherwood
Baby, It's Cold Outside (1998)

1997 Holiday in Your Heart (TV movie)...Faith Shawn

1997 What the Deaf Man Heard (TV movie)...Helen Ayers

1997 Anastasia...Sophie (voice)

1997 Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (video)...Angelique (voice)

1997 Cinderella (TV movie)...Cinderella's Stepmother

1997 The Odyssey (TV series)...Circe

1993-1996 Animaniacs (TV series)...Rita / Chesire Cat

1994 The Larry Sanders Show (TV series)...Bernadette Peters
Montana (1994)

1992 The Last Mile (TV short)...The Soprano

1991 The Carol Burnett Show (TV series)...Skit characters

1991 Impromptu...Marie D'Agoult

1986-1991 American Playhouse (TV series)...Dot / Marie / The Witch
Into the Woods (1991)
Sunday in the Park with George (1986)

1990 Alice...Muse

1990 Carol & Company (TV series)...Kate
The Jingle Belles (1990)

1990 The Last Best Year (TV movie)...Jane Murray

1990 Fall from Grace (TV movie)...Tammy Faye Bakker

1989 Pink Cadillac...Lou Ann McGuinn

1989 Slaves of New York...Eleanor

1988 David (TV movie)...Marie Rothenberg

1983 Faerie Tale Theatre (TV series)...Princess Debbie / Sleeping Beauty
Sleeping Beauty (1983)

1982 Annie...Lily St. Regis

1981 Heartbeeps...Aqua

1981 Pennies from Heaven...Eileen

1981 Tulips...Rutanya Wallace

1980 The Martian Chronicles (TV mini-series)...Genevieve Seltzer

1979 The Jerk...Marie

1978 The Islander (TV movie)...Trudy Engles

1976-1977 All's Fair (TV series)...Charlotte 'Charley' Drake

1977 The Bob Hope Show (TV series)
Bob Hope's All-Star Comedy Tribute to Vaudeville (1977)

1976 Vigilante Force...Little Dee

1976 Silent Movie...Vilma Kaplan

1976 W.C. Fields and Me...Melody

1976 McCloud (TV series)...Bebe Murchison
The Day New York Turned Blue (1976)

1976 McCoy (TV series)...Brenda Brooks
In Again Out Again (1976)

1975 All in the Family (TV series)...Linda Galloway
Gloria Suspects Mike (1975)

1975 Maude (TV series)...Kathy Griffith
Rumpus in the Rumpus Room (1975)

1974 The Longest Yard...Warden's Secretary

1973 Love, American Style (TV series)...Nellie (segment "Love and the Hoodwinked Honey")
Love and the Cozy Comrades/Love and the Flunky/Love and the Hoodwinked Honey/Love and the Secret Spouse (1973) ... Nellie (segment "Love and the Hoodwinked Honey")

1973 Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies...Allison

1973 Break Up (TV movie)

1972 Once Upon a Mattress (TV movie)...Lady Larken

1971 Great Performances (TV series)...Libby
Paradise Lost (1971)

1970 George M! (TV movie)...Josie Cohan

1958 The Christmas Tree (TV movie)...Girl

To see Then & Now pictures of Bernadette Peters, visit: Celebrity Nooz

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--Answers to DEAD OR ALIVE--
Park Overall - ALIVE
Born: 03/15/1957

Janet Leigh - DEAD (Vasculitis)
Born: 07/06/1927 Died: 10/03/2004

Tuesday Weld - ALIVE
Born: 08/27/1943

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WHO PASSED ON THIS WEEK...
8/28
Mihalis Aslanis, Greek fashion designer, suicide by drug overdose.
John Bellany, 71, Scottish painter.
László Gyetvai, 94, Hungarian footballer.
Francis Kajiya, 59, Zambian football player.
Dharam Chander Prashant, 96, Indian politician and journalist, MP for Jammu and Kashmir (1982-1988).
Hezekiah Wepukhulu, 89, Kenyan sports journalist.

8/27
G. Kent Ketcher, 76, American politician, Mayor of Miami, Oklahoma.
Ahmed Kotiev, 48, Russian politician, Secretary of the Security Council of Ingushetia, shot.
Anatoly Onoprienko, 54, Ukrainian serial killer and mass murderer, heart failure.
Bill Peach, 78, Australian journalist and television presenter, cancer.
Henry Rebello, 84, Indian Olympic triple jumper (1948) and sport administrator.
Abdul Qayyum Sher, 94, Pakistani military officer.

8/26
Jeff Coady, 62, American horse racing photographer, cancer.
Mixael De Kock, 60, South African publicist, suspected stroke.
Hélie de Saint Marc, 91, French Resistance member and military officer, participant in 1961 Generals' Putsch.
Bruce Dunning, 73, American television journalist (CBS News), complications from a fall.
John J. Gilligan, 92, American politician, member of the United States House of Representatives for Ohio (1965-1967), Governor of Ohio (1971-1975), heart failure.
Luigi Lucchini, 94, Italian steel executive, President of Confindustria (1984-1988).
Pedro Mendiondo Gómez, 68, Cuban military officer, Air Force chief (since 2000), traffic collision.
Gerard Murphy, 57, Northern Irish actor (Batman Begins, Doctor Who, Waterworld), prostate cancer.
Bill Schmitz, 59, American football coach, United States Coast Guard Academy (1993-1996), Austin Peay University (1997-2002), suicide by jumping.
Jack Sinagra, 63, American politician, member of the New Jersey Senate (1992-2002), Mayor of East Brunswick, New Jersey (1989-1991).
Pierre Wauthier, 53, Swiss insurance executive, CFO of Zurich Insurance Group (since 2011).

8/25
António Borges, 63, Portuguese economist and banker, pancreatic cancer.
Domenico Crusco, 79, Italian Roman Catholic prelate, Bishop of Oppido Mamertina-Palmi (1991-1999) and San Marco Argentano-Scalea (1999-2011).
William Froug, 91, American Emmy Award-winning television writer, producer (Bewitched, The Twilight Zone, Gilligan's Island).
Bobby Hoff, 73, American poker player.
Liu Fuzhi, 96, Chinese politician, Procurator-General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate (1988-1993).
Andrej Mitrovic, 76, Serbian historian.
Anas al-Naïm, Syrian politician, Governor of Hama, bombing.
Raghunath Panigrahi, 79, Indian classical singer and music director.
Abdul Samad Abdulla, 67, Maldivian politician, Foreign Minister (since 2012), kidney failure.
Gylmar dos Santos Neves, 83, Brazilian World Cup champion footballer (1958, 1962), complications from a heart attack.

8/24
Gerry Baker, 75, Scottish-American soccer player (Ipswich Town, Manchester City).
Edmundo Chirinos, 78, Venezuelan psychiatrist, Central University of Venezuela rector (1984-1988).
Ricardo Elizondo Elizondo, 63, Mexican writer, cancer.
Mohd Fauzi Ghadzali, 33, Malaysian sepak takraw player, thyroid cancer.
Julie Harris, 87, American Tony Award-winning actress (The Belle of Amherst, East of Eden, Knots Landing), heart failure.
Hsu Sheng-Ming, 55, Taiwanese baseball manager, heart attack.
Kumbirai Kangai, 75, Zimbabwean government minister, leader in the fight to end British rule, heart attack.
Muriel Siebert, 84, American financial executive and philanthropist; first woman member of the New York Stock Exchange, cancer.
Newton de Sordi, 82, Brazilian World Cup champion footballer (1958), multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.
Filippo Strofaldi, 73, Italian Roman Catholic prelate, Bishop of Ischia (1997-2012).
Mike Winters, 82, British comedian.

8/23
Ilias Bazinas, 73, Greek sports journalist, cancer.
Álvaro Bultó, 51, Spanish businessman (Bultaco), wingsuit flying collision.
Red Burns, 88, Canadian academic.
Richard J. Corman, 58, American railroad executive, owner and founder of R.J. Corman Railroad Group, multiple myeloma.
William Glasser, 88, American psychiatrist and developer of reality therapy.
Joey LaCaze, 42, American drummer (Eyehategod).
John Mainstone, 78, Australian physics professor, stroke.
Henry Maxwell, 81, New Zealand rugby league player (Point Chevalier Pirates).
Dean Meminger, 65, American basketball player (New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks).
Konstanty Miodowicz, 62, Polish politician, member of the Sejm (since 1997), complications from neurosurgery.
Amitabh Pathak, 58, Indian police chief, heart attack.
Jon Pavlisko, 71, American baseball coach (Miami University 1983-1996), cancer.
Vesna Rozic, 26, Slovene chess player, peritoneal cancer.
Irwin Russell, 87, American entertainment lawyer (Michael Eisner, Jim Henson), complications from leukemia.
Francisco Sánchez Aguilar, 74, Mexican Ariel Award-winning film writer and critic.
Gilbert Taylor, 99, British cinematographer (Star Wars, The Omen, Dr. Strangelove).
Dick Thien, 73, American journalist, founding editor of USA Today, natural causes.
Vadim Yusov, 84, Russian cinematographer (Ivan's Childhood, Andrei Rublev, Solaris).
Tatyana Zaslavskaya, 85, Russian economic sociologist.