Betty Thomas
Encyclopedia
Betty Thomas is an American
actress and director in television
and motion pictures
.
, Thomas graduated from Ohio University
in Athens, Ohio
, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts
degree. She worked as an artist and taught school in Chicago before deciding to pursue a career in show business.
Thomas joined The Second City
comedy group and appeared in the films Tunnel Vision (1975), Chesty Anderson, USN
(1976), Used Cars
(1980) and Loose Shoes (1980) and on the TV series The Fun Factory (1976). Later, she appeared as a guest performer on the British comedy program Whose Line Is It Anyway?
in 1988.
While Thomas had been building her career in comedy, her breakthrough role as an actress came when she was cast in the dramatic role of police officer (later Sergeant) Lucille Bates on the TV series Hill Street Blues
(1981–1987). She was nominated for six Emmy Award
s for this role and won one for Best Supporting Actress in 1985. Thomas' character was paired with Officer Joe Coffey, portrayed by Ed Marinaro
.
Following the end of the series, Thomas moved into directing. She first worked in TV, directing episodes of series such as Doogie Howser, M.D.
, Dream On
, Hooperman
, Mancuso, F.B.I.
, Midnight Caller
, On the Air, Parenthood, Shannon's Deal
and Sons and Daughters, and TV movies such as Couples
(1994), My Breast (1994), and The Late Shift
(1996). She won Emmys for her direction of Dream On in 1990 and My Breast in 1994.
Thomas made her feature film directorial debut in 1992 with Only You
. She went on to direct several films, including The Brady Bunch Movie
(1995), Private Parts
(1997), Dr. Dolittle
(1998), 28 Days
(2000), and I Spy
(2002). She has also produced several films, including Can't Hardly Wait
(1998), Charlie's Angels
(2000), and Surviving Christmas
(2004).
In 2009, Thomas directed Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress and director in television
Television director
A television director directs the activities involved in making a television program and is part of a television crew.-Duties:The duties of a television director vary depending on whether the production is live or recorded to video tape or video server .In both types of productions, the...
and motion pictures
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
.
Life and career
Born Betty Thomas Nienhauser in St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Thomas graduated from Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
in Athens, Ohio
Athens, Ohio
Athens is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Athens County, Ohio, United States. It is located along the Hocking River in the southeastern part of Ohio. A historic college town, Athens is home to Ohio University and is the principal city of the Athens, Ohio Micropolitan Statistical Area. ...
, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts
Bachelor of Fine Arts
In the United States and Canada, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, usually abbreviated BFA, is the standard undergraduate degree for students seeking a professional education in the visual or performing arts. In some countries such a degree is called a Bachelor of Creative Arts or BCA...
degree. She worked as an artist and taught school in Chicago before deciding to pursue a career in show business.
Thomas joined The Second City
The Second City
The Second City is a improvisational comedy enterprise which originated in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.The Second City Theatre opened on December 16, 1959 and has since expanded its presence to several other cities, including Toronto and Los Angeles...
comedy group and appeared in the films Tunnel Vision (1975), Chesty Anderson, USN
Chesty Anderson, USN
Chesty Anderson, USN is a 1976 R-rated comedy film featuring Shari Eubank in one of her two movies. The film features Fred Willard, Betty Thomas, Scatman Crothers, Dyanne Thorne, Rosanne Katon, Joyce Mandel, and many others....
(1976), Used Cars
Used Cars
Used Cars is a 1980 comedy satire film. It stars Kurt Russell, Jack Warden , Deborah Harmon, and Gerrit Graham.Kurt Russell portrays a devious car salesman working for affable but monumentally unsuccessful used car dealer Luke Fuchs . Luke's principal rival, located directly across the street, is...
(1980) and Loose Shoes (1980) and on the TV series The Fun Factory (1976). Later, she appeared as a guest performer on the British comedy program Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Whose Line Is It Anyway? is a short-form improvisational comedy TV show. Originally a British radio programme, it moved to television in 1988 as a series made for the UK's Channel 4, for a 10 series run...
in 1988.
While Thomas had been building her career in comedy, her breakthrough role as an actress came when she was cast in the dramatic role of police officer (later Sergeant) Lucille Bates on the TV series Hill Street Blues
Hill Street Blues
Hill Street Blues is an American serial police drama that was first aired on NBC in 1981 and ran for 146 episodes on primetime into 1987. Chronicling the lives of the staff of a single police precinct in an unnamed American city, the show received critical acclaim and its production innovations ...
(1981–1987). She was nominated for six Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
s for this role and won one for Best Supporting Actress in 1985. Thomas' character was paired with Officer Joe Coffey, portrayed by Ed Marinaro
Ed Marinaro
Ed Marinaro is an American former football player turned actor.-Football career:Marinaro played high school football in New Milford, New Jersey, for the New Milford High School Knights....
.
Following the end of the series, Thomas moved into directing. She first worked in TV, directing episodes of series such as Doogie Howser, M.D.
Doogie Howser, M.D.
Doogie Howser, M.D. is an American television comedy-drama starring Neil Patrick Harris as a 16-year-old doctor who also faces the problems of being a normal teenager. Created by Steven Bochco and David E. Kelley, ABC aired the show from 1989 to 1993 for four seasons totaling 97 episodes.-Plot:Dr....
, Dream On
Dream On (TV series)
Dream On is an American adult-themed situation comedy about single New Yorker, Martin Tupper. The show used a gimmick where old black and white clips were used to punctuate the main character's feelings or thoughts...
, Hooperman
Hooperman
Hooperman is a U.S. television series starring John Ritter. It ran for two seasons on ABC, from 1987 to 1989. A comedy-drama, the series was created by Steven Bochco and Terry Louise Fisher who were the team responsible for creating L.A. Law....
, Mancuso, F.B.I.
Mancuso, F.B.I.
Mancuso, F.B.I. was a crime drama which was aired by NBC as part of its 1989-90 schedule.Mancuso, F.B.I. starred veteran actor Robert Loggia as Nick Mancuso, a hardened veteran of the Bureau now assigned to Washington, D.C., where he was largely regarded by his superiors and bureaucratic types as a...
, Midnight Caller
Midnight Caller
Midnight Caller is a dramatic NBC television series created by Richard DiLello, which ran from 1988 to 1991. It was one of the first television series to address the dramatic possibilities of the then-growing phenomenon of talk radio...
, On the Air, Parenthood, Shannon's Deal
Shannon's Deal
Shannon's Deal is an American legal drama about a successful Philadelphia corporate lawyer named Jack Shannon who lost his family and his job to a compulsive gambling habit. It aired on NBC, originating as a high-rated two-hour television pilot on June 4, 1989, later becoming a regular series for...
and Sons and Daughters, and TV movies such as Couples
Couples
thumb|right|1st edition Couples is a 1968 novel by American author John Updike.-Summary:The novel focuses on a promiscuous circle of ten couples in the small Massachusetts town of Tarbox...
(1994), My Breast (1994), and The Late Shift
The Late Shift (film)
The Late Shift is a 1996 American TV movie produced by HBO. It is directed by Betty Thomas and based on the book of the same name by The New York Times media reporter Bill Carter.-Plot synopsis:...
(1996). She won Emmys for her direction of Dream On in 1990 and My Breast in 1994.
Thomas made her feature film directorial debut in 1992 with Only You
Only You (1992 film)
Only You is a 1992 film starring Andrew McCarthy, Kelly Preston, and Helen Hunt.- Plot :Clifford Godfrey is a doll house designer who is dumped by his fiance a few hours before they are to depart for a vacation in Mexico. Clare Enfield, a travel agent, informs Godfrey that his tickets are...
. She went on to direct several films, including The Brady Bunch Movie
The Brady Bunch Movie
The Brady Bunch Movie is a 1995 American comedy film based on the 1969–1974 television series The Brady Bunch.The film features all the original regular characters, all played by new actors...
(1995), Private Parts
Private Parts (1997 film)
Private Parts is a 1997 American biographical comedy film produced by Ivan Reitman and released by Paramount Pictures. Written by Len Blum and Michael Kalesniko, the film is an adaptation of the 1993 best-selling book of the same name by radio personality Howard Stern, who stars as himself. It...
(1997), Dr. Dolittle
Dr. Dolittle (film)
Dr. Dolittle is a 1998 American family comedy film starring Eddie Murphy as a doctor who discovers that he has the ability to talk to animals...
(1998), 28 Days
28 Days (film)
28 Days is a 2000 American drama film directed by Betty Thomas. Sandra Bullock plays Gwen Cummings, a newspaper columnist obliged to enter rehabilitation for alcoholism. The film costars Viggo Mortensen, Dominic West, Elizabeth Perkins, Steve Buscemi and Diane Ladd.-Plot:Gwen Cummings borrows the...
(2000), and I Spy
I Spy (film)
I Spy is a 2002 American spy comedy film starring Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson. The film was based on the television series of the same name, that aired in the 1960s which starred Robert Culp and Bill Cosby.- Plot :...
(2002). She has also produced several films, including Can't Hardly Wait
Can't Hardly Wait
Can't Hardly Wait is a 1998 American teen comedy film written and directed by Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont. It stars Ethan Embry, Charlie Korsmo, Lauren Ambrose, Peter Facinelli, Seth Green, and Jennifer Love Hewitt, and is notable for a number of "before-they-were-famous" appearances by various...
(1998), Charlie's Angels
Charlie's Angels (film)
Charlie's Angels is a 2000 American action comedy film directed by McG, starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu as three women working for a private investigation agency...
(2000), and Surviving Christmas
Surviving Christmas
Surviving Christmas is a 2004 comedy film, directed by Mike Mitchell and starring Ben Affleck. Despite being a Christmas movie, DreamWorks SKG released the movie towards the end of October. This was due to it being advanced from December 2003 to avoid clashing with Affleck's other film, Paycheck....
(2004).
In 2009, Thomas directed Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel is a 2009 American comedy film directed by Betty Thomas. The film stars Zachary Levi, David Cross, Jason Lee, and the voices of Justin Long, Jesse McCartney, Matthew Gray Gubler, Christina Applegate, Amy Poehler, and Anna Faris...
.