B. J. Ward (actress)

Betty Jean Ward[1] (born September 12, 1944)[2] is an American actress, voice actress, comedian, singer and voice-over teacher. She is the creator and the star of Stand-Up Opera, a musical one-woman show.

For other people with the same name, see B. J. Ward.

B. J. Ward
Ward in 2018
Born
Betty Jean Ward

(1944-09-12) September 12, 1944
Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.[1]
Occupations
  • Actress
  • voice actress
  • comedian
  • singer
  • voice-over teacher
Years active1960–present
AgentSBV Talent Agency
Spouses
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 1966; div. 1978)​
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 1995; died 2016)​
Websitebjwardnow.com

Personal life

Ward was first married to Donald Trenner in 1966, they divorced in 1978,[1] but they each remained one another's dearest and closest friends until his death on May 16, 2020.

She was later married to director Gordon Hunt from 1995 until his death in 2016.[3] Her stepdaughter is actress Helen Hunt.

Career

Early career

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]

Singing career

Ward also worked as a singer, she is well known fir her highly critical acclaim one-woman show, "Stand-Up Opera", were it became a massive success with critics and audience alike.[5] She has also released seven different albums throughout her singing career including Vocal Ease, Queen Of The Night, Stand-Up Opera, B.J. Ward Sings Marshall Barer, Double Feature: Love Songs From The Movies and Double Feature 2: More Songs From The Movies!.[5]

Voice acting career

Ward is best known as a voice actress. Her animation voice credits include:

Live-action career

In 1985, she made a rare film appearance in the TV movie Malice in Wonderland alongside Elizabeth Taylor and Jane Alexander.

Ward has also guest-starred on television series such as Frasier, ER, and In-Laws.

Video game career

Ward has also done voices for video games, including:

Other acting and singing work

In addition, she has also done voiceovers for theme parks, including:

Filmography

Television

Film

Video games

Discography
  • Vocal Ease (1970)
  • Queen Of The Night (1994)[5]
  • Stand-Up Opera (1995)[5]
  • Syrinx: Voice of the Songbird (2003)[5]
  • B.J. Ward Sings Marshall Barer (2005)[5]
  • Double Feature: Love Songs From The Movies (2015)[5]
  • Double Feature 2: More Songs From The Movies! (2016)[5]

References
  1. Don Heckman (March 13, 1987). "B.J. Ward: She Talks A Good Show". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  2. "Rotten Tomatoes: Movies | TV Shows | Movie Trailers | Reviews - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on May 9, 2022.
  3. Steve Marble (December 20, 2016). "Gordon Hunt, director, voice actor and father of Helen Hunt, dies at 87". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  4. "BJ Ward". Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  5. "Music". Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  6. Capcom (April 27, 2004). Onimusha 3: Demon Siege. Scene: Closing credits, 0:45 in, cast.
  7. "BJ Ward (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved April 30, 2021. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
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