Biography
One of the most diversely talented of American performers, Polly Bergen was an Emmy-winning actress, singer and entrepreneur who found success in nearly every medium over the course of a half-century in show business. A professional singer while still in her teens, she transitioned from nightclub chanteuse to film actress in the 1950s, but found her early roles lacking. She returned to singing while keeping a hand in acting via television and …
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Career Milestones
1944 | Made professional singing debut |
1950 | Made film debut in "At War With the Army" |
1950 | Regularly sang on "The Alan Young Show" |
1951 | Recorded first album, "Little Girl Blue" |
1952 | Made dramatic TV debut in an episode of "Schlitz Playhouse" (CBS) |
1953 | Made stage debut on Broadway in "John Murray Anderson's Almanac" |
1954 | Hosted "The Best in Mystery"; sang on "The Blue Angel" series |
1955 | Hosted "The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse" (ABC) |
1956 | Was panelist on "To Tell The Truth" (CBS) |
1957 | Starred in NBC variety series "The Polly Bergen Show" |
1962 | Appeared in the original "Cape Fear" opposite Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum |
1963 | Won plaudits for dramatic turn in "The Caretakers" |
1965 | Formed the Polly Bergen Co., creating and selling cosmetics |
1974 | Made TV-movie debut, "Death Cruise" |
1977 | Starred in TV miniseries "79 Park Avenue" |
1983 | Earned an Emmy nomination for her role as Rhoda Henry in the ABC miniseries, "The Winds of War" |
1988 | Reprised role of Rhoda Henry in "War and Remembrance" (ABC) |
1990 | Co-starred in John Waters' "Cry-Baby" |
1991 | Regular cast member of "Baby Talk" |
1994 | Produced "Leave of Absence" for NBC |
2000 | Resumed singing career and began making nightclub appearances |
2001 | Appeared in the Off-Broadway run of "The Vagina Monologues" |
2001 | Returned to Broadway to play Carlotta Campion in the Broadway revival of "Follies"; earned Tony nomination |
2002 | Joined cast of the hit revival of "Cabaret" as Frau Schneider |
2005 | Played a recurring role on ABC's "Commander in Chief," as the mother of the US President played by Geena Davis |
2007 | Had a role on ABC's "Desperate Housewives" as Lynette Scavo's (Felicity Huffman) mother; earned an Emmy nomination in 2008 for Guest Actress in a Comedy Series |
Awards
1958 | Primetime Emmy Award for Actress-Best Single Performance-Lead or Support in Playhouse 90 |
1963 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama in The Caretakers |
1983 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress In a Limited Series or a Special in The Winds of War |
1989 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress In a Miniseries or Special in War and Remembrance |
2008 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress In a Comedy Series in Desperate Housewives |