Bonnie Bedelia

Early life

Bedelia was born in New York City, the daughter of Marian Ethel (), a writer and editor, and Philip Harley Culkin, who was in public relations and 50 years old at the time. She was born in a difficult financial period when her father's firm went bankrupt, and they lived in a cold-water tenement flat. Her mother died when she was 14, and her father, who always had ulcers, spent a year in hospital following her death. She has two brothers, one of whom is actor Kit Culkin, and an older sister, Candice Culkin. She is the aunt of actors Macaulay, Kieran, and Rory Culkin.

Bedelia studied dance in her youth, at School of American Ballet. She received her acting training at HB Studio.

Career

Before becoming an actress, Bedelia studied ballet and appeared in a few productions with the New York City Ballet, including The Nutcracker. Her only dancing role onscreen was that of Clara in the Playhouse 90 television production of the George Balanchine Nutcracker (1958). From 1961 to 1967, Bedelia was a regular on the CBS soap opera Love of Life, portraying Sandy Porter. She also worked on Broadway, where she debuted supporting Patty Duke in 1962, in Isle of Children, and won a Theatre World Award for playing the lead of in My Sweet Charlie, in 1966.

Bedelia made her film debut in The Gypsy Moths in 1969; later that year she attracted attention as the pregnant marathon dancer in They Shoot Horses, Don't They? She starred in the comedy Lovers and Other Strangers (1970), had dramatic roles in The Strange Vengeance of Rosalie (1972), Bonanza (1972), and Between Friends (1973), and appeared opposite Richard Dreyfuss in the comedy* The Big Fix* (1978). On television she played the leading role in the short-lived ABC drama series, The New Land (1974).

In 1984, Bedelia received critical acclaim and was nominated for a Golden Globe for her starring role in Heart Like a Wheel (1983), as drag racer Shirley Muldowney. Other well-known performances include her portrayals of Holly Gennero McClane, the wife of Bruce Willis's character John McClane in Die Hard (1988) and Die Hard 2 (1990), and of Barbara Sabich, the wife of Harrison Ford's character in Presumed Innocent (1990).

Bedelia appeared in two Stephen King screen adaptations: Salem's Lot (1979) and Needful Things (1993). She was nominated for Emmy Awards for her performance in the Showtime anthology series Fallen Angels (1993) and for the leading role in the made-for-television movie Locked in Silence (1999).

Bedelia starred in the NBC drama series Parenthood (2010–15) as the family matriarch, Camille Braverman.

In 2017, she appeared in season 2 of the ABC crime drama series Designated Survivor, and in two Hallmark movies. In 2019, she guest starred on the Netflix series What/If.

Personal life

Bedelia married scriptwriter Ken Luber on April 24, 1969. The couple had two sons, Uri (b. 1970) and Jonah (b. 1976), before divorcing in 1980. She wed actor Michael MacRae in 1995.

Filmography

Film

Television films

Television series

Web series

Awards and nominations

References

References

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3. Bandler, Michael J.. (October 25, 1992). "Character Study Despite Her Laurels, Bonnie Bedelia Wonders When Stardom Will Arrive". [[Chicago Tribune]].
4. "Bonnie Bedelia: Biography". [[TV Guide]].
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6. The Broadway League. "Bonnie Bedelia". Internet Broadway Database.
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11. (April 19, 2009). "More stars join NBC's 'Parenthood'".
12. (May 11, 2014). "Parenthood: Renewed for Sixth and Final Season".
13. Neilly, Peter. (2010). "Out to Lunch!: Jay Telfer". The Wayback Times.
14. Ryon, Ruth. (November 24, 1996). "10-Year 'Affair' With L.A. Ends". Los Angeles Times.
15. (November 5, 2015). "Logan Miller, Mark Webber, Justin Chatwin Join 'The Scent of Rain and Lightning'". TheWrap.
16. (January 3, 2026). "Lnq".