Barbara Niven

Barbara Lee Niven (née Bucholz; born February 26, 1953 ) is an American actress, writer, and producer, best known for her performances in Hallmark and Lifetime movies, and for television roles in Pensacola: Wings of Gold, One Life to Live, Cedar Cove, and Chesapeake Shores. Niven had the leading role in the independent film A Perfect Ending. She is also a motivational speaker, media trainer and animal rights activist, and a National Ambassador for American Humane.

Early life and education Barbara Lee Bucholz was born in 1953 in Portland, Oregon, She has two sisters, Shelley and Kim, and attended David Douglas High School. She has stated that she knew when she was five that she wanted to be an actress. She grew up hunting and fishing and was a senior in high school before she got involved in acting.

After high school, she attended college for six months, worked as export coordinator for a foundry, a general contractor, sold commercial real estate, and modelled. Niven became a mother at twenty-six. After a divorce, and with no child support, she found a place to live with roommates to help with expenses.

Her ten-year high school reunion committee mailed a questionnaire, with the final inquiry being, "have you achieved everything in your life that you thought you would by now?" The realization that she had not started acting made Niven declare to herself that she was "going to be an actor" and "going to be in show business somehow." Acknowledging a penchant for being on camera and knowing that she enjoyed writing, she decided to look for a job in news reporting.

In New York she was told by Mari Lyn Henry, then ABC casting director, that she did not have star quality and her voice would only lead to victims' roles. She went back to Portland determined to work on her voice and her craft. She got a retired radio man to be her voice coach. She was cast in Hallmark Hall of Fame’s 1986 Promise, which filmed in Oregon. She received her SAG card on this movie. When her daughter was ten, she packed their belongings into a truck and trailer and moved to Los Angeles.

Television and film For twelve years, she attended the master classes of Milton Katselas at the Beverly Hills Playhouse. Between 1986 and 1993 she was billed as Barbara Lee Alexander, and as Barbara Lee Niven for the film Lone Tiger (1994).see Filmography She is known for her roles on soap operas The Bold and the Beautiful as Brenda Dickerson, and in One Life to Live as Liz Coleman Reynolds.

She served for three years on the National Board of Directors for the Screen Actors Guild. From 20 March – 8 September 1989, she was hostess and announcer, with host Michael Burger, for the syndicated game show, Straight to the Heart. In 2000, served as a celebrity blue-team contestant for St. Thomas on Search Party.

Niven starred on the syndicated drama series Pensacola: Wings of Gold (1998-2000). Niven also has appeared in guest roles on numerous television series, including ER, Cold Case, Las Vegas, NCIS, Charmed, Eli Stone, and Parks and Recreation. Additionally, she had multiple roles on Silk Stalkings, and a recurring role on Pacific Palisades. and co-starred with Kat Dennings and Ray Wise in the horror comedy Suburban Gothic (2014).

Niven has also appeared in over a dozen Lifetime movies, including Stranger in My Bed (2005), The Perfect Neighbor (2005), Double Cross (2006), Murder in My House (2006), The Rival (2006), A Valentine Carol (2007), Black Widow (2008), Dead at 17 (2008), Accused at 17 (2009), Heat Wave (2009), My Mother's Secret (2012), Home Invasion (2012), The Wife He Met Online (2012), and Disney Channel's Tiger Cruise (2004).

She has multiple credits for Hallmark, starting with her first role in Hallmark Hall of Fame's Promise (1986), with James Garner and James Woods. Among other appearances, there are A Carol Christmas (2003), Wedding Daze (2004), Back to You and Me (2005), Mystery Woman: Wild West Mystery (2006), McBride: Semper Fi (2007), and Moonlight & Mistletoe (2008). In 2013, Niven was cast in Hallmark Channel's first original drama series Cedar Cove, opposite Andie MacDowell and Bruce Boxleitner. Niven is currently appearing in the series Chesapeake Shores with Treat Williams and Diane Ladd. For Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, she has been cast in the Murder, She Baked and Crossword Mysteries movies.

Speaker and coach Barbara Niven has made motivational speeches and said that if she could become an actor as a single mother at thirty, others can also fulfill their dreams. She has spoken to school classes, professional groups, and on television shows. The subjects have included: "Giving up Perfect to Claim Your Dreams", "Paralyzed to Powerful" (tips to save yourself from a stalker), "Eating Disorders & Pressures to be Perfect", and "The Pressure to be Thin in Hollywood".

She has done media training for individuals and corporations. Niven has a studio and developed workshops to educate people to make a positive impression with speaking, presentation, and media video. Her instructions include: for presentations, consciously create a character with voice, use good lighting, and connect heart to heart; and when performing, build relationships, be a personal producer and the welcoming person in the room. She says, "the older one gets the more beautiful tools and instruments you have to add to your orchestra and your palette".

Personal life Niven has been married three times, to Ronald Garrison ( 1974, divorced), David Alexander ( 1985, divorced), and David Niven Jr. ( 19 June 1993, 1998). She has a daughter, Jessica, and three grandchildren. She obtained dual Canadian citizenship because her father was born in Canada. Her favorite color is red, although she likes to wear black. She prefers sweats to fancy dresses.

For 30 years, between 15 and 45, she suffered from bulimia. Her older sister asked about it, and she got help after her daughter fainted at cheerleading practice. Others on the squad were also bulimic/anorexic. Niven promptly got them both help. She says, "secrets are what kept me sick." Once the secret was out, it no longer controlled her. Eating disorders is a topic about which she gives presentations that garner positive feedback.

She supports human rights causes and programs that speak out against bullying. Niven appeared in She4ME ('She' for Marriage Equality), the 2014 five-minute public service video created in support. She has been a proponent of the 2012 seventeen-minute anti-bullying short Love is All You Need?, and its purpose in asking viewers to see themselves as a minority.

Niven is an animal rights activist and spokesperson. She has a four-legged family of dogs and cats at home, and fosters older pets. She has participated on an animal rescue team to save victims of a puppy mill, and is a National Ambassador for American Humane.

Filmography Film and television Year Title Role Notes 1986 Promise Joan a Television film [Hallmark Hall of Fame] 1989 My Two Dads Veronica Miles a Episode: "Duel" 1990 Equal Justice Maggie Sue a Episode: "Balancing Act" 1990 Hired to Kill Sheila Rogers a 1990 Fatal Encounter Laura a 1992 Wings Susan a Episode: "The Fortune Cookie" 1993 Psycho Cop Returns Sharon Wells a 1993 Illegal Entry: Formula for Fear Pamela Raby a 1993–1998 Silk Stalkings Cally Henshaw aAmanda LangleyJackie McMillanSally Coats Episodes: "Night Games" (‘93)"The Party’s Over" (‘93)"Pulp Addiction" (‘95)"The Party" (‘98) 1994 Lone Tiger Jane Costello n 1995 Renegade Tammy Watkins Episode: "Rancho Escondido" 1995 The Sister-in-Law Ashley Hawkins Television film [USA Network] 1995 Under Lock and Key Tina Lamb Television film [Showtime] 1995 Taken Alive Veronica 1996 Foxfire Goldie's stepmother 1996 Humanoids from the Deep Fran Taylor Television film [Showtime] 1996 Forest Warrior Stacy Franklin 1996 Depraved Monica Stienman 1996 The Bold and the Beautiful Brenda Dickerson Recurring role 1997 Pacific Palisades Evelyn Cabot Recurring role, 4 episodes:"Past & Present Danger","Desperate Measure","Best Laid Plans", "Private Showing" 1997 Breast Men Cindy Television film [HBO] 1997 Doublecross on Costa's Island Veronica 1998 Mike Hammer, Private Eye Connie Paley Episode: "Dead Men Talk" 1998 The Rat Pack Marilyn Monroe Television film [HBO] 1998 I Married a Monster Linda Harris Television film [UPN] 1998–2000 Pensacola: Wings of Gold Kate Anderson Series regular, 43 episodes 1999 Love Boat: The Next Wave Elise Daley Episode: "Prom Queen" 1999 Anoosh of the Airways Suzy 1999 Born Bad Brian's mother 2000 Luminarias Jan 2001 Alone with a Stranger Sandy Kennington 2002 ER Stephanie Episode: "Bygones" 2002–2003 One Life to Live Liz Coleman Reynolds Recurring role 2003 A Carol Christmas Morgan Maddox Television film [Hallmark] 2004 Serial Killing 4 Dummys Donna Noland 2004 Cold Case Mavis Breen Episode: "Greed" 2004 Las Vegas Alice Gold Episode: "The Strange Life of Bob" 2004 Tiger Cruise Kate Dolan Television film [Disney] 2004 Wedding Daze News Reporter Television film [Hallmark] 2004 The Drone Virus Dr. Sloan 2005 The Perfect Neighbor Donna Germaine Television film [Lifetime] 2005 Back to You and Me Connie Murray Television film [Hallmark] 2005 Stranger in My Bed Christine Goudet Television film [Lifetime] 2005 Chasing Ghosts Patricia King 2005 NCIS Dr. Elaine Burns Episode: "Silver War" 2006 Double Cross Suzanne Debson Television film [Lifetime] 2006 Mystery Woman: Wild West Mystery Annie Boone Television film [Hallmark] 2006 Charmed Helen Jenkins Episodes: "Mr. & Mrs. Witch" and "Generation Hex" 2006 Murder in My House Lauren Kessler Television film [Lifetime] 2006 All You've Got Peggy McDonald Television film [MTV] 2006 The Rival Linda Zeller Television film [Lifetime] 2007 McBride: Semper Fi Claire Whitman Television film [Hallmark] 2007 A Valentine Carol Jackie Marley Television film [Lifetime] 2007 Redline Sally Martin 2007 The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman Anne O'Connell Episode: "We're Number Two!" 2008 Eli Stone Ellen Wethersby Episodes: "Pilot" and "Father Figure" 2008 Black Widow Tiffany Collins Television film [Lifetime] 2008 Dead at 17 Alyssa Harris Television film [Lifetime] 2008 Never Enough: Sex, Money and Parking Garages in San Francisco Sylvia Chaisem 2008 Short Track Audrey Beckett 2008 Moonlight & Mistletoe Ginny Television film [Hallmark] 2009 Heat Wave Governor Carol Quinlan Television film [Lifetime] 2009 Anti-Narcotics Capt. Chandler 2009 Back to the Horn Capt. Chandler 2009 Let's Make a Deal Capt. Chandler 2009 Summer's Blood Gaia Hoxey 2009 Accused at 17 Claire Werner Television film [Lifetime] 2009 The Alpha Geek Maggie Malone 2012 My Mother's Secret Evelyn Wells Television film [Lifetime] 2012 Home Invasion Tricia Patterson Television film [Lifetime] 2012 The Wife He Met Online Alma Television film [Lifetime] 2012 A Perfect Ending Rebecca Westridge 2012 Gabe the Cupid Dog Ms. Andrews 2013 Meth Head Madelaine 2013 Being Us Julie 2013–2015 Cedar Cove Peggy Beldon Series regular, 25 episodes 2014 The M Word Nicki 2014 Suburban Gothic Eve 2015 Parks and Recreation June Hartwell Episode: "Pie-Mary" 2015 Murder, She Baked: A Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery Delores Swensen Television film [Hallmark Movies & Mysteries] 2015 Murder, She Baked: A Plum Pudding Mystery Delores Swensen Television film [Hallmark Movies & Mysteries] 2015 A Christmas Detour Susan Collins Television film [Hallmark] 2015 Hamlet's Ghost Sarah Goodman 2016 Murder, She Baked: A Peach Cobbler Mystery Delores Swensen Television film [Hallmark Movies & Mysteries] 2016 Murder, She Baked: A Deadly Recipe Delores Swensen Television film [Hallmark Movies & Mysteries] 2016–2022 Chesapeake Shores Megan O'Brien Series regular 2017 Campfire Kiss Beverly Gowers Television film [Hallmark] 2017 Murder, She Baked: Just Desserts Delores Swensen Television film [Hallmark Movies & Mysteries] 2017 Christmas In Evergreen Carol Shaw Television film [Hallmark] 2018 Christmas In Evergreen: Letters to Santa Carol Shaw Television film [Hallmark] 2019 Love on the Menu Andrea Fitzgerald Television film [Hallmark] 2019 Crossword Mysteries: A Puzzle to Die For Aunt Candace Television film [Hallmark Movies & Mysteries] 2019 Love Takes Flight Virginia Beauman Television film [Hallmark Hall of Fame] 2019 Crossword Mysteries: Proposing Murder Aunt Candace Television film [Hallmark Movies & Mysteries] 2019 Christmas in Evergreen: Tidings of Joy Carol Shaw Television film [Hallmark] 2020 Crossword Mysteries: Abracadaver Aunt Candace Television film [Hallmark Movies & Mysteries] 2020 USS Christmas Elizabeth Contino Television film [Hallmark Movies & Mysteries] 2020 Christmas in Evergreen: Bells Are Ringing Carol Shaw Television film [Hallmark] 2021 Crossword Mysteries: Terminal Descent Aunt Candace Television film [Hallmark Movies & Mysteries] 2021 Crossword Mysteries: Riddle Me Dead Aunt Candace Television film [Hallmark Movies & Mysteries] 2021 Sweet Revenge: A Hannah Swensen Mystery Delores Swensen Television film [Hallmark Movies & Mysteries] 2021 The Christmas Contest Donna Television film [Hallmark] 2022 North to Home Suzanne McBride Television film [Hallmark Movies & Mysteries] 2022 Christmas at the Golden Dragon Jane Television film [Hallmark] - 13 November 2023 Carrot Cake Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery Delores Television film [Hallmark] 2023 A Zest for Death: A Hannah Swensen Mystery Delores Television film [Hallmark] 2023 Ms. Christmas Comes to Town Gale / Ms. Christmas Television film [Hallmark] a as Barbara Lee Alexander n as Barbara Lee Niven

Theatre YearTitleRoleNotes 1998 Psychopathia Sexualis Lucille Zoo Theatre, Hollywood, CA

Video games Year Title Voice role Notes 1994 Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger Barbara Miles Newscaster 1995 Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom Barbara Miles News anchor

Books

Author Niven, Barbara (2011). 111 Star Power Tips – Insider Secrets from a Hollywood Pro : For Videos, Audios, On-Camera Interviews, TV, Radio & Presentations. Shadoeworks. .

Contributor Niven, Barbara (2006). "Barbara Niven [actor]". In Stromberg, Gary; Merrill, Jane. Feeding the Fame : Celebrities Tell Their Real-Life Stories of Eating Disorders. Hazelden. pp. 96–107. . Niven, Barbara (2009). "ACT AS IF!". In Kingsbury, Gail (ed.). How Did You Do That! Stories of Going for It. Yinspire Media. pp. 99–104. . Niven, Barbara (2011). "Shine Your Light", In Lim, Kimber (ed.). Get Your Woman On! Embracing Beauty, Grace & the Power of Women. Yinspire Media. pp. 41–46. . Niven, Barbara (2013). "A Perfect Ending...and a New Beginning", In Mayfield, Karen (ed.). Wake Up Women Be You : Spread Your Wings and Fly Emotionally. Wake Up Women. pp. 32–39. . Niven, Barbara (2015). "Success, Goosebumps & Your Next Evolution". In Allen, Debbie (ed.). Experts Wisdom : Life Changing Principles and Transformational Business Strategies from the Go-To Authorities. Authentic Endeavors Publishing. pp. 203–218. . Niven, Barbara (2016). "Taking a Leap of Faith, Dreams, Money, & Show Biz" In Giankas, Patricia (ed.). Great Credit Now : Set Your GPS for Positive Success. Authentic Endeavors Publishing. pp. 105–116. .