BONNIE BEDELIA BIOGRAPHY
by Julie-Ann S. (Sneddy)
Bonnie Bedelia Culkin was born on 25 March, 1946 in New York, New York. She began studying ballet at the age of four and joined George Balanchine's School of Ballet three years later. In 1957, she performed in school production of Tom Sawyer, where she came to the attention of talent scouts. Also in 1957, she made her professional stage debut at the North Jersey Playhouse in Dr. Praetorius. This eventually led her to the New York City Ballet, where she spent the next four years as a professional dancer. During this time she also worked in various summerstock and off-Broadway productions.
In 1958, she made her television debut on the Playhouse 90's version of The Nutcracker. At the age of 13 she became a regular on the daytime soap Love of Life. While she was appearing on the daytime soap, she also attended high school, studied acting at the Quintano School of Acting, and appeared in four Broadway productions. The actress, Uta Hagen was one of her teachers.
From 1958 to 1960 she danced in four New York City Ballet Productions. In 1962, Bedelia made her New York Stage debut in Isle of Children. During the sixties she also spent three seasons with Andre Gregory's Los Angeles Repertory Company.
Bedelia made over 100 live television appearances between 1958 and 1967. She guest starred on shows such as The High Chaparral, Hawkins, Love Story, Fallen Angels and Bonanza.
In Bonanza, she appeared in two episodes - as Laurie Mansfield in The Unwanted (season 10) and as Alice Harper in Forever (season 14).
TV series, she has starred in are Love of Life - Sandy Porter (1961-1967); The New Land - Anna Larsen; and Partners - Ellie Boone (1999).
Her mini-series and made-for-televison movies include Then Came Bronson (1969), Sandcastles (1972), Heat Wave! (1974), Salem's Lot (1979), Memorial Day (1983), No Means No (1988), Switched at Birth (1991), Shadow of a Doubt (1995), Any Mother's Son (1997) and Flowers for Algernon (2000).
In 1969, Bedelia made her film debut with a supporting role in The Gypsy Moths. Her films include They Shoot Horses, Don't They (1969), Between Friends (1973), The Boy Who Could Fly (1986), Die Hard (1988), Fat Man and Little Boy (1989), Die Hard 2 (1990), Needful Things (1993), Gloria (1999) and Manhood (2003).
In 1967, she earned a Theatre World Award for her performance in the play My Sweet Charlie. In 1983 she earned a nomination for the Golden Globe for Actress in a Leading Role - Drama for Heart Like a Wheel; in 1993 an Emmy Award nomination for Fallen Angels and a Cable ACE Award nomination in 1997 for Any Mother's Son.
At one time Bedelia joined with actors Martin Sheen and Lou Gosset Jr. to form a classical acting troupe in Los Angeles. She also co-founded the Los Angeles Classic Theater Works.
Bedelia has been married at least twice, once to director Robert Leiberman and to her current husband Michael McRae, with whom she had two children. She is the sister of Christopher "Kit" Culkin, the father of actors Macaulay and Keiran Culkin.
Bonnie Bedelia is currently starring in The Division (2001 - present) as Captain Kaitlyn "Kate" McCafferty.
Sources:
Yahoo! Movies
Internet Movie Database
Aveleyman.com
The Golden Globes
Hollywood.com