Betty Bobbitt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Betty Bobbitt
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| Born |
Betty Ann Bobbitt
7 February 1939 Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
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| Died | 30 November 2020 (aged 81) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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| Years active | 1957–2004, 2010–2020 |
| Spouse(s) | Robin Hill (divorced) |
| Partner(s) | Mig Dann |
| Children | Oliver Bobbitt Christopher Hill |
Betty Ann Bobbitt (February 7, 1939 – November 30, 2020) was an American actress, director, singer, and playwright. She moved to Australia and had a career that lasted over 60 years. She worked in theatre, television, and movies.
Betty Bobbitt was best known for her role as Judy Bryant in the TV series Prisoner. This show was also known as Prisoner: Cell Block H in the UK and North America. She appeared in 430 episodes from 1980 to 1985.
She also had small roles in several Crocodile Dundee movies. These included Crocodile Dundee II (1988), Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles (2001), and The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee (2020).
Betty Bobbitt passed away on November 30, 2020, at the age of 81. She died after having a stroke.
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Early Life and Career Beginnings
Betty Bobbitt was born in Manhattan, New York. Her mother, Elizabeth Bobbitt, was a nurse, and her father, Hubert Bobbitt, worked in a steel mill. Betty grew up in Norristown, Pennsylvania, a town near Philadelphia. She went to a Catholic school and then to Norristown High School.
When she was 18, Betty moved to Los Angeles. She was there for a theatre play called Auntie Mame. An Australian TV producer saw her and asked if she wanted to come to Australia. He said she could "be funny" on TV.
She signed a six-month contract and became a regular on a Melbourne TV show called Daly at Night. She was known for singing off-key and acting like a "dizzy brunette." In the early 1960s, people in Australia called her "Betty Bobbitt the dizzy brunette from Big Bear." This was a made-up place in Pennsylvania.
Later, she married an Australian artist named Robin Hill. They had a son, Christopher, in England. After that, she returned to Melbourne, Australia. She performed in many theatre plays with the Melbourne Theatre Company. She also joined two future Prisoner stars, Anne Phelan and Colette Mann. They had a stage show in the 1970s called The Glitter Girls. They sang songs from the 1940s.
Television Appearances
Betty Bobbitt was a common face on Australian television starting in the mid-1960s. She had guest roles in many TV series.
Some of these shows included Matlock Police, Homicide, and Cop Shop. She also appeared in A Country Practice, The Flying Doctors, and All Saints. Other roles were in Marshall Law and Blue Heelers.
Her Famous Role in Prisoner
Betty Bobbitt became most famous for playing Judy Bryant in the TV series Prisoner. She first appeared on the show in February 1980.
The show became very popular in the US, where it was called Prisoner: Cell Block H. Producers thought it would be good to have an American actress on the show. Betty's character was only meant to be in 13 episodes at first. However, she became very popular with viewers. Because of this, she stayed on the show.
Betty continued playing Judy Bryant until May 1985. She appeared in 429 episodes. This made her the show's second-longest serving actor. Only Elspeth Ballantyne, who played Officer Meg Jackson/Morris, was on the show longer. After Prisoner, Betty kept acting in theatre and made guest appearances in TV shows and movies.
During her time on Prisoner, Betty Bobbitt also performed with other cast members. She joined Jane Clifton and Colette Mann in a group called "The Mini Busettes." They performed around Australia in the 1980s.
In 2019, Betty Bobbitt had a guest role in the TV series Neighbours. This was to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Prisoner. She appeared with fellow Prisoner stars Jane Clifton, Jentah Sobott, and Jenny Lovell. They came to the fictional town of Erinsborough for a book club. This also reunited her with other Prisoner co-stars. These included Colette Mann, who plays Sheila Canning, and Jackie Woodburne, who plays Susan Kennedy.
Movie Roles
Betty Bobbitt had small roles in the Crocodile Dundee movies. She appeared with Paul Hogan in Crocodile Dundee II and Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles. She was also in The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee.
In 2004, Betty had a brief role in the TV movie remake of Salem's Lot. This was a classic story by Stephen King. In 2010, she appeared in a thriller movie called Torn.
Her Book
In 2011, Betty Bobbitt wrote and published her own book. It was called From the Outside (ISBN: 9780646561332). The book shares her life story and her experiences playing Judy Bryant on Prisoner.
