B. J. Ward (actress)
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.
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 |
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Website | bjwardnow |
Personal life
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]
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 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:
- Voices for EPCOT and Disneyland Paris, including the safety narration for Spaceship Earth from 1994 to 2007.
- The narration of the former PeopleMover attraction at Disneyland.
- Mother / Sarah in the 1993 version of the Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress.
- Some of the singing voices ("Burrow's Rabbit", opossums and rabbits) in Splash Mountain
- The current voice guide for “It's a Small World” and the refurbished Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover attraction at Magic Kingdom Park.
Filmography
Television
- The Bugs Bunny Show – Additional voices (1960)
- Jana of the Jungle – Jana (1978)
- Space Stars – Elektra (1981)
- The Little Rascals – Butch / Waldo (1982)
- Pac Preview Party – TV Movie – Butch / Waldo (1982)
- Spider-Man – Medusa / Namorita (1982)
- The Incredible Hulk – Betty Ross / Alicia Masters (1982)
- The Smurfs – Hermes, Additional Voices (1982–1989)
- Alvin and the Chipmunks (1983)
- G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero: The M.A.S.S. Device – TV Mini-Series – Scarlett (1983)
- Pink Panther and Sons – Panky / Punkin (1984)
- Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show – Jayna (1984)
- G.I. Joe: The Revenge of Cobra – TV Mini-Series – Scarlett (1984)
- The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries (1984)
- The Voyages of Dr. Dolittle – Tommy Stubbins (1984)
- Snorks – Casey Kelp (1984–1988)
- The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo – episode – When You Witch Upon a Star – Marcella (1985)
- The Jetsons (1985)
- Star Fairies – TV Movie – Sparkle / Michelle / Mother (1985)
- Challenge of the GoBots – Small Foot (1985)
- G.I. Joe:The Pyramid of Darkness – TV Mini-Series – Scarlett (1985)
- The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians – Wonder Woman / Young Bruce Wayne (1985)
- G.I. Joe – Scarlett / Reporter / Harper Supporter /Pelar Vasquez / Flo Breckinridge / additional Voices (1985–1986)
- The Centurions – Cassandra Cross / Lilith Cross (1986)
- My Little Pony -TV Series- Surprise and North Star (1986)
- Jonny Quest – Additional Voices (1986)
- The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show – Various Characters (1986)
- The Flintstone Kids – Betty Jean Bricker / Mrs. Rockbottom (1986–1988)
- Foofur (1987)
- DuckTales – episode – Top Duck – Birdie McQuack / Loopie McQuack (1987)
- Popeye and Son – Rad (1987)
- Sky Commanders – Dr. Erica Slade (1987)
- Superman – Additional Voices (1988)
- The New Yogi Bear Show – Additional Voices (1988)
- A Pup Named Scooby-Doo – Mrs. Rogers / Sugie Rogers / Babysitter (1988)
- The Flintstone Kids' "Just Say No" Special – TV Special – Betty Bricker / Mrs. Gravelson / Female Announcer (1988)
- The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley – Additional Voices (1988)
- Bugs vs. Daffy: Battle of the Music Video Stars – TV Special – Additional voices (1988)
- Fantastic Max – Additional Voices (1988–1989)
- Matlock – episode – The Black Widow – Bernice Wooley (1989)
- Midnight Patrol: Adventures in the Dream Zone (1990)
- Tiny Toon Adventures – episode – Fields of Honey – Honey (1990)
- The Wizard of Oz – Glinda the Good (1990)
- Yo Yogi! (1991)
- The Pirates of Dark Water – Additional Voices (1991)
- Darkwing Duck – Additional Voices / Patricia / Gloria Swansong (1991)
- James Bond Jr. (1991)
- TaleSpin – episode – Louie's Last Stand – Records Clerk (1991)
- Fish Police – episode – The Shell Game – Widow Casino (1992)
- Capitol Critters – Additional voices (1992–1995)
- A Flintstone Family Christmas – TV Special – Betty Rubble (1993)
- The Town Santa Forgot – TV Special (1993)
- Bonkers – episode – What You Read Is What You Get – Hildy (1993)
- Murder, She Wrote – episode – Love's Deadly Desire – Chairwoman (1993)
- Shining Time Station – episode – Becky Makes a Wish – performs the song "Help Your Wish Along" (1993)
- The Flintstones: Wacky Inventions – Video short – Betty Rubble (1994)
- Captain Planet and the Planeteers – episode – Twilight Ozone – Federal Spokesman (1994)
- Batman: The Animated Series – episode – The Lion and the Unicorn – M3 (1995)
- Daisy-Head Mayzie – TV Special – Mrs. McGrew (1995)
- Gargoyles – episodes – A Lighthouse in the Sea of Time, Pendragon & Sentinel – Fleance / Professor Duane / Lady of the Lake (1995–1996)
- The Story of Santa Claus – TV special – Additional Voices (1996)
- Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles – episode – The Journey – Billy's Mom / Fleance / Alexander (1996)
- The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest – Iris the Computer / Nurse Holloway (1996–1997)
- Adventures from the Book of Virtues – additional voices (1996–1998)
- Johnny Bravo – episodes -Johnny Bravo/Jungle Boy in 'Mr. Monkeyman'/Johnny Bravo and the Amazon Women, The Sensitive Male/Bravo Dooby Doo & I Used to Be Funny/My Fair Dork/'Twas the Night – Velma Dinkley / Aunt Jebidisa / additional voices (1997)
- The Cartoon Cartoon Show – Female computer / Stanley / Amazon (1997)
- Cow and Chicken – Betty Rubble (1998)
- The Scooby-Doo Project – TV Short – Velma Dinkley (1999)
- The Bunny Years – TV Movie documentary – Herself (1999)
- Timon & Pumbaa – episode – The Spy's the Limit/Ready, Aim, Fire (1999)
- Batman Beyond – episode – Out of the Past – Singer (2000)
- The New Woody Woodpecker Show – Winnie Woodpecker / Mother Nature (1999–2001)
- Courage the Cowardly Dog – Additional Voices (2002)
- The 1st 13th Annual Fancy Anvil Award Show Program Special... Live!... in Stereo – TV Special – Betty Rubble (2002)
- Samurai Jack – Witch Hag
- Curious George – Aunt Margaret / Aunt Margret (2006–2020)
- The Spectacular Spider-Man – episode – Persona – Mayor Waters (2008)
- Regular Show – Dr. Asinovskovich (2010)
- G.I. Joe: Renegades- episode – Homecoming Part 1 – Connie Hauser (2011)
Film
- The New Maverick – TV Movie – B.J. Vinnie's Henchman (1978)
- GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords – Small Foot (1986)
- G.I. Joe: The Movie – Video – Scarlett (1987)
- The Duxorcist – Looney Tunes Short – Melissa Duck (1987)
- Rockin' with Judy Jetson – TV Movie – Zippy (1988)
- The Good, the Bad, and Huckleberry Hound – TV Movie – Chieftess / Desert Flower / Elderly Lady / Girl / Rusty Nails (1988)
- Pound Puppies and the Legend of Big Paw – Whopper (1988)
- Scooby-Doo! and the Reluctant Werewolf – TV Movie – Googie / Repulsa (1988)
- Daffy Duck's Quackbusters – Possessed Lady Duck (1988)
- Jetsons: The Movie (1990)
- The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera – Short – Betty Rubble (1990)
- Queen Esther – Video short – (1992)
- Bugs Bunny's Creature Features – TV Movie (1992)
- Jonny's Golden Quest – TV Movie – 3-DAC (1993)
- I Yabba-Dabba Do! – TV Movie – Betty Rubble (1993)
- Tom and Jerry: The Movie – Tom's Owner (1993)
- Hollyrock-a-Bye Baby – TV Movie – Betty Rubble (1993)
- The Lion King – Lions (1994)
- The Pagemaster – Queen of Hearts (1994)
- A Flintstones Christmas Carol – TV Movie – Betty Rubble (1994)
- Tom and Jerry's Christmas Carol – Video – Ghost of Christmas Past (1996)
- Hercules and Xena – The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus - Video - Tethys (singing voice)
- Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island – Video – Velma Dinkley (1998)
- The Brave Little Toaster to the Rescue – Video – Police Lady (1999)
- Scooby-Doo! and the Witch's Ghost – Video – Velma Dinkley (1999)
- Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders – Video – Velma Dinkley (2000)
- The Land Before Time VII: The Stone of Cold Fire - Video - Rainbow Face #2 (singing voice) (2000)
- Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase – Video – Velma Dinkley / Cyber-Velma Dinkley (2001)
- Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas – TV Movie – Aunt Margaret (2009)
- DC Super Hero Girls: Hero of the Year – Video – Master Alchemist (2016)
Video games
- Blazing Dragons – Video Game – The Lady of the Lake, Rapunsel Yablanowitz (1996)
- Sword of the Berserk: Guts' Rage – Video Game – Casca, Eriza (1999) (English dub)[6]
- Star Trek: Starfleet Command: Volume II: Empires at War – Video Game (2000)
- Scooby-Doo: Classic Creep Capers – Video Game – Velma Dinkley (2000)
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Fallen – Video Game - Additional voices (2000)
- Grandia II - Video Game - Roan, Elmo (2000) (English dub)[6]
- Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase – Video Game – Velma Dinkley (2001)
- Star Trek: Starfleet Command III – Video Game – Romulan Officer No. 1 (2002)
- Scooby-Doo! Night of 100 Frights – Video Game – Velma Dinkley (2002)
- Star Trek: Elite Force II – Video Game – Katarina Scott (2003)
- Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time – Witch Hag (2020)
Discography
References
- Don Heckman (March 13, 1987). "B.J. Ward: She Talks A Good Show". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
- "Rotten Tomatoes: Movies | TV Shows | Movie Trailers | Reviews - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on May 9, 2022.
- 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.
- "BJ Ward". Retrieved October 7, 2023.
- "Music". Retrieved November 14, 2019.
- "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.
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External links
- Official website
- B. J. Ward at IMDb
- B. J. Ward at Voice Chasers Archived 2020-09-15 at the Wayback Machine