Known for movies
Short Info
Date Of Birth | December 11, 1953 |
Spouse | John Fiedler (m. 1985), Chris Carreras (m. 1983–1984) |
Fact | Nicknamed "Precious Poodle" by Mary Kay Place during the filming of the TV series My So-Called Life (1994). |
Bess Armstrong (born December 11, 1953) is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Susan Lawrence in My So-Called Life, Jules Cobb in Cougar Town, Polly Cooper in The O.C., and Sarah Wyndham-Price in Scandal.
Armstrong was born in Baltimore, Maryland, the daughter of Louise Allenby, a homemaker, and Henry Breckinridge Armstrong, an advertising executive. She has a younger sister, Lucy. Armstrong attended the Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore and graduated from Brown University in 1976 with a degree in theater arts.
Armstrong’s first acting role was as a child on the television series The Brady Bunch. She went on to guest star on such shows as The Waltons, Family, and The Love Boat. In 1983, she starred in the short-lived NBC primetime soap opera Bare Essence as young businesswoman Genie Francis.
From 1994 to 1995, Armstrong played the role of Susan Lawrence on the ABC teenage drama My So-Called Life. She later guest-starred on an episode of Freaks and Geeks and had a recurring role as Jules Cobb’s mother in the ABC comedy series Cougar Town.
From 2003 to 2007, Armstrong played the role of Polly Cooper on the Fox teen drama series The O.C.. She also had a recurring role as Sarah Wyndham-Price on the ABC political thriller series Scandal from 2012 to 2013.
Armstrong has been married to actor Bruce Boxleitner since 1986. They have two sons, Michael and Sam.
Armstrong has a net worth of $5 million.
General Info
Full Name | Bess Armstrong |
Date Of Birth | December 11, 1953 |
Profession | Actor, Violinist |
Education | Bryn Mawr School, Brown University |
Nationality | American |
Family
Spouse | John Fiedler (m. 1985), Chris Carreras (m. 1983–1984) |
Children | Lucy Chase Fiedler, Luke Allen Fiedler, Samuel Chase Fiedler |
Parents | Alexander Armstrong, Louise Parlange |
Accomplishments
Movies | Jaws 3-D, High Road to China, Nothing in Common, Pecker, Dream Lover, That Darn Cat, Jekyll and Hyde... Together Again, Diamond Men, The Four Seasons, Second Sight, The Skateboard Kid, Forever Love, 11th Victim, Christmas Every Day, Lace, This Girl for Hire, Forgotten Sins, Take Me Home Again, Stole... |
TV Shows | House of Lies, That Was Then, My So-Called Life, All Is Forgiven, On Our Own, Married People |
Social profile links
Quotes
# | Quote |
---|---|
1 | [1983 comment on Tom Selleck] He is gorgeous, and he has some real power now, but he doesn't use that, or his charm, to exploit women. He genuinely seems to like women. For an actor, that's rare. |
Facts
# | Fact |
---|---|
1 | Nicknamed "Precious Poodle" by Mary Kay Place during the filming of the TV series My So-Called Life (1994). |
2 | She and producer-husband John Fiedler had three children: Lucy, Luke and Samuel. Daughter Lucy Chase Fiedler was born severely disabled on July 22, 1986. Lucy died six months later, on January 8, 1987. Son Luke Allen Fiedler was born on January 14, 1988, and son Samuel Chase Fiedler was born on June 16, 1991. |
3 | Born and raised in Baltimore, she inherited a love of theater and music from her parents. Everyone in the family played instruments and acted in school and/or community theatre productions. Her parents were teachers in her schools and her father, an English teacher, also directed the school plays, where Bess got her start in acting. |
4 | At Brown University, she majored in classics as well as theater arts. By the end of her four years she had acted in, directed or choreographed more than 50 plays, both at school and in various professional summer stock companies around New England. |
5 | She's the daughter of two teachers. |
6 | Acted in over 100 plays at Brown University and the Bryn Mawr School for Girls. |
7 | Graduated with a degree in Latin and Theater from Brown University. |
8 | Is an accomplished violinist. |
Pictures
Movies
Actress
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
Switched at Birth | 2015-2017 | TV Series | Professor Beth Marillo |
Conviction | 2016 | TV Series | Harper Morrison |
Longmire | 2016 | TV Series | Nancy Crandall |
Diagnosis Delicious | 2016 | TV Movie | Lynn Cosworth |
Zoo | 2015-2016 | TV Series | Dr. Elizabeth Oz / Elizabeth |
Bad Internet | 2016 | TV Series | Mom |
Damien | 2016 | TV Series | Mrs. Thorn |
Reckless | 2014 | TV Series | Melinda Rayder |
True Blood | 2014 | TV Series | Nancy Mills |
Drop Dead Diva | 2014 | TV Series | Rita Kaswell |
NCIS | 2014 | TV Series | U.S. Senator Denise O'Hara |
Rake | 2014 | TV Series | Helen Cole |
House of Lies | 2013-2014 | TV Series | Julianne Hotschragar |
Reckless | 2013 | TV Movie | |
I Married Who? | 2012 | TV Movie | Elaine |
Mad Men | 2012 | TV Series | Catherine Orcutt |
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | 2012 | TV Series | Patricia Lydecker |
Castle | 2010 | TV Series | Paula Casillas |
One Tree Hill | 2004-2010 | TV Series | Lydia James |
Criminal Minds | 2009 | TV Series | Sheila Hawkes |
Next of Kin | 2008/I | Susan | |
Boston Legal | 2008 | TV Series | Penelope Kimball |
Corporate Affairs | 2008 | Emily Parker | |
Frasier | 2000-2004 | TV Series | Kelly Kirkland |
Good Morning, Miami | 2002 | TV Series | Louise Messinger |
That Was Then | 2002 | TV Series | Mickey Glass |
Her Best Friend's Husband | 2002 | TV Movie | Mandy Roberts |
Diamond Men | 2000 | Katie Harnish | |
When It Clicks | 1998 | Short | Betsy Cummings |
Forever Love | 1998 | TV Movie | Gail |
Pecker | 1998 | Dr. Klompus | |
The Nanny | 1994-1998 | TV Series | Sara Sheffield |
Touched by an Angel | 1998 | TV Series | Mary Gibson |
Sports Theater with Shaquille O'Neal | 1998 | TV Series | Noreen Hanley |
That Darn Cat | 1997 | Judy Randall | |
Christmas Every Day | 1996 | TV Movie | Molly Jackson |
She Cried No | 1996 | TV Movie | Denise Connell |
The Perfect Daughter | 1996 | TV Movie | Jill Michaelson |
Forgotten Sins | 1996 | TV Movie | Roberta 'Bobbie' Bradshaw |
Mixed Blessings | 1995 | TV Movie | Pilar Graham Coleman |
Stolen Innocence | 1995 | TV Movie | Becky Sapp |
She Stood Alone: The Tailhook Scandal | 1995 | TV Movie | Barbara Pope |
My So-Called Life | 1994-1995 | TV Series | Patty Chase |
Take Me Home Again | 1994 | TV Movie | Connie |
Serial Mom | 1994 | Eugene Sutphin's Nurse (uncredited) | |
The Skateboard Kid | 1993 | Maggie | |
Dream Lover | 1993 | Elaine | |
Batman: The Animated Series | 1993 | TV Series | Clio |
Tales from the Crypt | 1992 | TV Series | Erma |
Married People | 1990-1991 | TV Series | Elizabeth Meyers |
Second Sight | 1989 | Sister Elizabeth | |
Mother, Mother | 1989 | Short | Kate Watson |
Nothing in Common | 1986 | Donna Mildred Martin | |
All Is Forgiven | 1986 | TV Series | Paula Winters Russell |
The House of God | 1984 | Cissy Anderson | |
Lace | 1984 | TV Mini-Series | Judy Hale |
This Girl for Hire | 1983 | TV Movie | B.T. Brady |
Jaws 3-D | 1983 | Dr. Kathryn 'Kay' Morgan | |
High Road to China | 1983 | Eve | |
Jekyll and Hyde... Together Again | 1982 | Mary Carew | |
Barefoot in the Park | 1982 | TV Movie | Corie Bratter |
The Four Seasons | 1981 | Ginny Newley (Callan) | |
The Great Space Coaster | 1981 | TV Series | Newswoman (1981) |
11th Victim | 1979 | TV Movie | Jill Kelso |
Walking Through the Fire | 1979 | TV Movie | Laurel Lee |
$weepstake$ | 1979 | TV Series | |
How to Pick Up Girls! | 1978 | TV Movie | Sally Claybrook |
The Love Boat | 1978 | TV Series | Laura Stanton |
Getting Married | 1978 | TV Movie | Kristine Lawrence |
On Our Own | 1977-1978 | TV Series | Julia Peters |
Thanks
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
My So-Called Life: Angela | 2007 | Video documentary short special thanks | |
My So-Called Life: The Chase Family | 2007 | Video documentary short special thanks | |
My So-Called Life: The Friends | 2007 | Video documentary short special thanks |
Self
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
My So-Called Life: The Chase Family | 2007 | Video documentary short | Herself - Patty Chase |
My So-Called Life: The Friends | 2007 | Video documentary short | Herself - Patty Chase |
Biography | 2007 | TV Series documentary | Herself - Co-star, High Road to China |
The Making of 'Jaws 3-D': Sharks Don't Die | 1983 | TV Movie documentary | Herself |
The John Davidson Show | 1981 | TV Series | Herself |
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | 1978 | TV Series | Herself / Herself - Guest |
The Mike Douglas Show | 1978 | TV Series | Herself - Actress |
CBS Galaxy | 1977 | TV Special | Herself - Guest |
Awards
Nominated Awards
Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
---|---|---|---|---|
1984 | Saturn Award | Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA | Best Actress | High Road to China (1983) |
Source: IMDb, Wikipedia