She is dubbed the “Voice of Broadway” and known as one of the “most
respected and legendary leading ladies” in theater. Her illustrious career spans the Broadway stage, television, film, and concert performances. Her accomplishments include more than 20 stage credits, over 50 TV and film appearances, and nearly 20 solo albums. This is Betty Buckley.
A 1964 graduate of Arlington Heights High School, Buckley was quite an active student in school. She contributed to the school newspaper, the Jacket Journal, the Yellow Jacket yearbook staff, the Young Citizens Forum, student council, and was program chairman for the Press Club at Arlington Heights High School.
On Broadway, Buckley’s journey is marked by her iconic performance as Grizabella the Glamour Cat in the original cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “CATS.” In 1983, the role earned her the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Buckley has appeared in 12 Broadway productions, accumulating a total of 25 total stage credits.
“Buckley it should be noted, helped revolutionize the modern musical theatre in story, song, and sound. For anyone who has ever heard the Tony Award-winning actress sing, it is evident she possesses one of the finest and perhaps the most unique instruments: a voice of supple steel, capable of piercing the soul with either its razor-edged belt or ethereal upper register,” wrote Andrew Gans, senior news editor for Playbill.com, in 2014.
She first appeared in a motion picture as a gym teacher in the 1976 film “Carrie.” When the film was adapted for the Broadway stage, Buckley appeared in the production as Margaret White, Carrie’s mother. She has more than 50 TV and film credits, and two producer credits with roles in the drama series “Eight Is Enough,” HBO’s “Oz,” Freeform’s “Pretty Little Liars,” and M. Night Shyamalan films, “The Happening” and ”Split.”
Buckley has released 18 solo albums. She is also the recipient of numerous accolades including two Grammy nominations, an Emmy nomination, Tony Award nominations, the Texas Medal of the Arts Award in Theater, and inductions into the Texas Film Hall of Fame and the Theater Hall of Fame, respectively.
Today, Buckley continues to travel the globe performing in concerts and appearing on stage, on TV, and film.
Her latest movie role as Gloria in the horror film “Imaginary,” was released in theaters March 8, 2024. On March 24, 2024, Buckley is set to debut “The Mayfly,” an aminated short film that she created, wrote, and narrates, at the American Documentary and Animation Film Festival in Palm Springs, California.
