Barbara Babcock

Barbara Babcock (born February 27, 1937) is an American actress. She began her career on television in mid-1950s with guest-starring appearances in more than 60 television series through her career. She made several appearances on Star Trek: The Original Series, Mannix and Murder, She Wrote and had a recurring role in the CBS prime time soap opera, Dallas from 1978 to 1982.

In 1981, Babcock received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Grace Gardner in the NBC police drama series, Hill Street Blues (1981–87). She later starred in a number of short-lived television series, most notably The Law & Harry McGraw (1987–88). From 1993 to 1998, Babcock starred as Dorothy Jennings in the CBS Western series, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, for which she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 1995. Babcock also appeared in films Day of the Evil Gun (1968), Heaven with a Gun (1969), Chosen Survivors (1974), The Black Marble (1980), The Lords of Discipline (1983), Far and Away (1992) and Space Cowboys (2000).

Early life Born in Fort Riley, Kansas, She learned to speak Japanese before English.

Babcock studied at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland and in Italy at the University of Milan. where she was a classmate of Ali MacGraw.

Career

Babcock made her television debut appearing in an episode of anthology series The United States Steel Hour in 1956. The following years she made many guest-starring appearances on television, notable in The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis as a cousin to the rich boy nemesis of the title character. She appeared in 17 episodes of the series from 1981 to 1987. Babcock starred in the TV movies Quarterback Princess (1983), Attack on Fear (1984) and News at Eleven (1986). She appeared in the short-lived CBS drama series The Four Seasons in 1984, based on the 1981 film. During 1980s, Babcock also guest-starred on Cheers, Hotel, Remington Steele, and starred in an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents — receiving the 1987 CableACE Award for Outstanding Actress in a Dramatic Series. She made five appearances on Murder, She Wrote from 1985 to 1993, and also appeared on The Golden Girls, Empty Nest, China Beach, Wings, and Sisters. She played the mother of Nicole Kidman's character in the 1992 Western film Far and Away.

From 1993 to 1998, Babcock played the role of Dorothy Jennings in the CBS Western series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, for which she was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 1993. (However, the Emmy Awards website lists the nomination for 1995.) She reprised her role in the 1998 made-for-television movie Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: The Movie. In 1999 she played the leading role in A Vow to Cherish opposite Ken Howard. In 2000, Babcock made her final big screen appearance in the science fiction film Space Cowboys with Clint Eastwood and James Garner. She also made guest appearances on The Pretender, Chicago Hope, Frasier, and Judging Amy. From 2001 to 2002, she played the role of the mother of Dana Delany's character in the Fox drama series, Pasadena. In 2002, she appeared in a made-for-television comedy Home Alone 4.

Personal life In 2004, Babcock was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. She resides in Carmel, California.

In 1982, Babcock and actress Susan Bjurman received for a combination solid stick scalp cleanser and hair shampoo-conditioner gel that they developed.

Filmography Film Year Title Role 1968 Day of the Evil Gun Angie Warfield 1969 Heaven with a Gun Mrs. Andrews 1971 The Last Child Shelley Drumm 1973 Bang the Drum Slowly Team Owner 1974 Chosen Survivors Dr. Lenore Chrisman 1977 Christmas Miracle in Caufield, U.S.A. Rachel Sullivan 1978 Operating Room Jean Lawrence 1979 Survival of Dana Lorna Sims 1980 The Black Marble Madeline Whitfield 1981 Back Roads Rickey's Mom 1982 Memories Never Die Louise Lowry 1983 Quarterback Princess Judy Maida The Lords of Discipline Abigail St. Croix 1984 Attack on Fear Jane Dutton 1985 That Was Then... This Is Now Mrs. Douglas 1986 News at Eleven Joanna Steckler 1989 Happy Together Ruth Carpenter Heart of Dixie Coralee Claibourne 1990 A Family for Joe Miss Quinn Collins 1992 Far and Away Nora Christie 1993 Fugitive Nights: Danger in the Desert Rhonda Devon 1996 A Mother's Instinct Mrs. Mitchell 1997 Childhood Sweetheart? Rose Carlson 1999 A Vow to Cherish Ellen Brighton Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: The Movie Dorothy Jennings 2000 Space Cowboys Barbara Corvin 2002 Home Alone 4 Molly

Television Year Title Role Notes 1961 NBC Sunday Showcase Annie Lee 1 episode 1963 The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis Pamela Osborne 1 episode 1963 Combat! Bar Patron At The Savoy Uncredited 1965 The Munsters Miss Guthrie 1 episode 1966–1967 The Green Hornet Elaine Carey 2 episodes 1967 The Lucy Show English Teacher 1 episode 1968 Mission: Impossible Major Maria Felder 1 episode 1967–1968 Star Trek Mea 3 / Philana / Voice-Over Work "A Taste of Armageddon" andS3:E10, "Plato's Stepchildren",plus 5 other episodes 1969 Family Affair Pamela 1 episode 1967–1970 Hogan's Heroes Mama Bear / Maria Schmidt 3 episodes 1971 Night Gallery Flora Alden 1 episode 1972 The F.B.I. Mary Hale 1 episode 1972 Banyon Caroline Wheeler 1 episode 1968–1973 Mannix Ellen West 4 episodes1973 CannonRuth GardnerThe Good Samaritan1973 Love, American Style Anna Scott 1 episode Shaft Jane Cunningham 1 episode 1975 The Streets of San Francisco Judy Tyrell 1 episode 1976 Starsky & Hutch Ellen Forbes 1 episode 1977 McMillan & Wife Lydia Corman 1 episode Quincy, M.E. Melissa Asten 1 episode The Rockford Files Karen Hall 1 episode 1978 Logan's Run Marianne 1 episode 1979 Salem's Lot June Petrie Television miniseries 1980 Benson Lily Maxwell 1 episode 1981 Taxi Karen 1 episode Flo Louise Browning 1 episode 1978–1982 Dallas Liz Craig 16 episodes 1983 Cheers Lana Marshall 1 episode 1984 The Four Seasons Lorraine Elliot 13 episodes1984 SteambathWanda BlakelyEpisode: "Madison Avenue Madness" 1985 Hotel Monica Shawcross 1 episode 1986 Mr. Sunshine Mrs. June Swinford 11 episodes 1981–1982, 1984, 1986, 1987 Hill Street Blues Grace Gardner 16 episodesPrimetime Emmy Awardfor Outstanding Lead Actressin a Drama Series (1981) 1987 The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents Cissie Enright 1 episodeCableACE Award forOutstanding Actress ina Dramatic Series (1988) Remington Steele Marisa Peters 2 episodes 1987–1988 The Law & Harry McGraw Ellie Maginnis 16 episodes 1989–1990 Empty Nest Paula Conroy 2 episodes 1990 The Golden Girls Charmaine Hollingsworth 1 episode China Beach Lieutenant Colonel Libby Heiss 1 episode 1991 Wings Mae Hackett 1 episode 1985–1993 Murder, She Wrote Various roles 5 episodes 1993–1998 Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman Dorothy Jennings 100 episodesNominated—Primetime Emmy Awardfor Outstanding Supporting Actressin a Drama Series (1995) 1998 Chicago Hope Beverly Kronk 2 episodes 2000 The Pretender Edna Raines 2 episodes 2001 Frasier Penelope Janvier 1 episode 2001–2002 Pasadena Lillian Greeley 8 episodes 2002–2004 Judging Amy Diane McCarty 2 episodes