Abby Hagyard Biography

Abby Hagyard (pronounced HA-dyard) (born in Edmonton, Alberta) is a Canadian television actress, voice artist, and comedienne.

Background

Hagyard's interest in acting began when she was 19 years old and enrolled in a modeling class with her mother. She modeled for two years and then had a secretarial position in the New York offices of Playboy. In 1972 she returned to Edmonton and studied drama at St. Patrick's College (now Carleton University) for 3 years. She began her work in entertainment as a production assistant and actress in the 70's, while also working as sketch comedienne and gofer for live comedy revues. In the early 1980, she toured the eastern seaboard performing in small venues, and then began hosting the CBC television show Scene From Here, while continuing to perform sketch comedy.

Career

Referred to by the Ottawa Citizen as "one of our town's best and busiest actresses", Hagyard stepped into the role of the mother on You Can't Do That on Television in 1982. Ruth Buzzi had co-starred in the 1979 primetime version of the show entitled Whatever Turns You On, but left when it was cancelled at the end of the '79 season. Production on the show had resumed in 1981. When Hagyard joined Canadian TV Comic Les Lye on the series in '82, she became one of only two adult cast members among the hundreds of children who participated over the series' run, although adult roles were occasionally played also by some of the older children in the cast, particularly hostess Christine McGlade. She remained a regularly featured member until the series came to an end in 1990. Hagyard's other regularly occurring role on YCDTOTV was as a librarian who spoke with a British accent.

Between taping sessions Abby provided character voices for the animated cartoon series For Better Or For Worse, The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin, Dennis the Menace and The Care Bears. She also co-hosted a popular morning drive radio show, and produced several award-winning stage plays.

Hagyard now works as a business consultant.

Filmography

As actor

• You Can't Do That on Television (113 episodes, 1982"1990)

As voice artist

• The Care Bears in the Land Without Feelings (1983)
• The Care Bears Battle the Freeze Machine (1984)
• For Better or for Worse: The Bestest Present (1985)
• The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin (7 episodes, 1987)
• The Care Bears (1 episode, 1988)
• Dennis the Menace (1986)
• For Better or for Worse: The Last Camping Trip (1992)
• For Better or for Worse: A Christmas Angel (1992)
• For Better or for Worse: A Valentine from the Heart (1993)
• For Better or for Worse: The Good-for-Nothing (1993)
• For Better or for Worse: The Babe Magnet (1994)
• For Better or for Worse: A Storm in April (1997)
• For Better or for Worse (1 episode, 2000)

Recognition

Awards & nominations

• 1983, ACTRA Award for 'Best Female On-Camera Performance'
• 1983, ACTRA Award for 'Best Voice-Over/Narration'