B. J. Ward | |
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![]() Ward in 2018 | |
Born | Betty Jean Ward September 12, 1944 Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.[1] |
Occupations |
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Years active | 1960–present |
Agent | SBV Talent Agency |
Spouses | |
Website | bjwardnow |
Betty Jean Ward[1] (born September 12, 1944)[2] is an American actress. She is the creator and the star of Stand-Up Opera, a musical one-woman show.
Ward was first married to Donald Trenner in 1966, they divorced in 1978,[1] She was later married to director Gordon Hunt from 1995 until his death in 2016.[3]
She made her debut on the stage in 1960, in the original off-Broadway production of The Fantasticks, where she was an understudy for the role of Luisa/the Girl. B.J. Ward had gotten the part by calling the producer of the show.[1]
She toured with the Groundlings for a short while before starting her own voice over career starting with Hanna-Barbera's Jana of the Jungle in 1978.[4]
Ward also worked as a singer. She is well known for her acclaimed one-woman show, "Stand-Up Opera", which became a massive success with critics and audiences alike.[5] She has released seven albums throughout her singing career.
Though Ward is best known as a voice actress, she has also appeared on television. In 1985, she made a rare film appearance in the TV movie Malice in Wonderland alongside Elizabeth Taylor and Jane Alexander. She has guest-starred on television series such as Frasier, ER, and In-Laws.
Ward has also done voices for video games and for theme parks, including: