Candice Bergen Biography

Candice Patricia Bergen (born May 9, 1946) is an American actress, producer and former fashion model. She is known for starring in two TV series, as the title character on the situation comedy Murphy Brown, for which she won five Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards; and as Shirley Schmidt on the comedy-drama Boston Legal, for which she was nominated for two Emmys, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

Her first film was The Group (1965), which was based on Mary McCarthy's novel of the same name. She starred in several major films throughout the mid-1960s to early 1980s such as The Sand Pebbles, Carnal Knowledge, The Wind and the Lion, and Gandhi and received an Academy Award nomination for her role in the 1979 film Starting Over. Her later career includes character roles in Miss Congeniality (2000) and Sweet Home Alabama (2002). In her later roles, she could often be seen playing an authority figure or social status symbol.

Early life

Bergen was born in Beverly Hills, California. Her mother, Frances Bergen (née Westerman), was a Powers model who was known professionally as Frances Westcott. Her father, Edgar Bergen, was a ventriloquist, comedian, and actor. Her paternal grandparents were Swedish-born immigrants who anglicized their surname, which was originally "Bergren". As a child, Candice was irritated at being described as "Charlie McCarthy's little sister" (referring to her father's star dummy).

Bergen began appearing on her father's radio program at a young age, and in 1958, at age eleven, with her father on Groucho Marx's quiz show You Bet Your Life as Candy Bergen. She said that when she grew up she wanted to design clothes. She later attended the University of Pennsylvania, where she was elected both Homecoming Queen and Miss University, but acknowledges that her failure to take her education seriously resulted in her being asked to leave. She received an honorary doctorate from Penn in May 1992.

She worked as a fashion model before she took up acting.

Career

Early years

Bergen made her screen debut playing an aloof university student in The Group (1966), which delicately touched on the then-forbidden subject of lesbianism. Her second film in 1966 was The Sand Pebbles, in which she played Shirley Eckert, an assistant school teacher and missionary opposite Steve McQueen. The film was nominated for several Academy Awards. After starring in the French film Live for Life (1967) and The Magus (1968) with Michael Caine and Anthony Quinn, she was featured in a 1970 adventure movie, The Adventurers, playing the main character's sweetheart. In 1975 she starred with Sean Connery in The Wind and the Lion, as a headstrong American widow kidnapped in Morocco in 1904 along with her two young children.

Despite initial rocky reviews, she appeared in Mike Nichols' provocative Carnal Knowledge (1971) and the Burt Reynolds romantic comedy Starting Over (1979), for which she received Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for best supporting actress.

Bergen had roles in Western films including The Hunting Party and Bite the Bullet, both of which starred Gene Hackman. Another Western she starred in was the highly controversial Soldier Blue, a worldwide hit, but a failure in its homeland. It led to Bergen being voted by British exhibitors as the seventh most popular star at the British box office in 1971.

She was the love interest of Ryan O'Neal in the Love Story sequel, Oliver's Story, and portrayed a best-selling author in Rich and Famous (1981) with Jacqueline Bisset. In 1982, Bergen appeared in the Oscar-winning film Gandhi in which she portrayed documentary photographer Margaret Bourke-White. Bergen was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

Turning to television, Bergen appeared in the 1985 miniseries Hollywood Wives.

Murphy Brown

In 1988, she took the lead role in the sitcom Murphy Brown, in which she played a tough television reporter. The series provided her with the opportunity to show her little-seen comic talent, and although primarily a conventional sit-com, the show did tackle important issues. Murphy Brown, a recovering alcoholic, became a single mother and later battled breast cancer. In 1992, Vice President Dan Quayle criticized prime-time TV for showing the Murphy Brown character "mocking the importance of fathers by bearing a child alone and calling it just another lifestyle choice."

Quayle's remarks became comedic fodder, and were written into the show as if he were talking about the Murphy Brown character, who was depicted watching Quayle's speech. A subsequent episode explored the subject of family values within a diverse set of families. The Brown character arranges for a truckload of potatoes to be dumped in front of Quayle's residence, an allusion to an infamous incident in which Quayle erroneously directed a school child to spell the word "potato" as "potatoe". In reality, Bergen agreed with at least some of Quayle's observations, saying that while the particular remark was "an arrogant and uninformed posture", as a whole, it was "a perfectly intelligent speech about fathers not being dispensable and nobody agreed with that more than I did." Bergen's run on Murphy Brown was extremely successful. The show ran for ten seasons and between 1989 and 1998, Bergen was nominated for an Emmy Award seven times and won five. After her fifth win, she declined future nominations for the role.

Throughout the same time frame as Murphy Brown, Bergen also appeared as the main spokesperson for a Sprint telephone ad campaign.

Later career

After playing the role of Murphy Brown, Bergen was offered a chance to work as a real-life journalist. After the run of Murphy Brown ended in 1998, CBS approached her to cover stories for 60 Minutes, an offer she declined, with the conviction that she didn't personally want to blur the lines between actor and journalist at the time.

She hosted Exhale with Candice Bergen on the Oxygen network. She also appeared in character roles in films, most notably Miss Congeniality (2000) as a former beauty queen alongside Sandra Bullock; and as the mayor of New York who disapproves of her son marrying Reese Witherspoon in Sweet Home Alabama (2002). She also appeared in the comedies View from the Top with Gwyneth Paltrow and The In-Laws with Michael Douglas, both released in 2003.

In January 2005, Bergen joined the cast of the television series Boston Legal as Shirley Schmidt, a founding partner in the law firm of Crane, Poole & Schmidt. She played the role for five seasons. In 2006 and 2008, she received Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.

A frequent host on NBC's Saturday Night Live, she was the first woman to host the show and the first host to do a second show. She was also the first woman to join the Five-Timers Club, when she hosted for the fifth time in 1990. Bergen guest-starred on The Muppet Show in its first year, appearing in several skits, an episode now available in a DVD collection. She was also featured in a long-running "Dime Lady" ad campaign for the Sprint phone company.

She has also made guest appearances on many other TV shows, including Seinfeld (as herself playing Murphy Brown), Law & Order, Family Guy, Will & Grace (playing herself), and Sex and the City, where she played Enid Frick, Carrie Bradshaw's editor at Vogue. More recently she appeared in the 2009 movie Bride Wars as Marion St. Claire, New York's most sought-after wedding planner, who also serves as the narrator of the story.

Since its launch in 2008, Candice Bergen has been a contributor for wowOwow.com, a website for women to talk culture, politics and gossip.

Bergen had an occasional role on House as Lisa Cuddy's mother, starting in Season 7, including the 2011 episodes "Larger Than Life" and "Family Practice".

In 2010, she appeared in a one-night only concert semi staged reading of Evening Primrose by Stephen Sondheim.

Personal life

A political activist, Bergen accepted a date with Henry Kissinger. During her activist days she participated in a Yippie prank when she, Abbie Hoffman, and others threw dollar bills onto the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in 1967, leading to its temporary shut-down. In 1972, she served as a fundraiser and organizer for George McGovern's presidential campaign.

In addition to acting, Bergen has written articles, a play, and a memoir, Knock Wood (1984). She has also studied photography and worked as a photojournalist.

Relationships and marriages

During the 1960s, Bergen dated and lived with Terry Melcher, a music producer and the son of Doris Day. The couple lived at 10050 Cielo Drive in Los Angeles, which was later occupied by Sharon Tate and her husband, Roman Polanski. Tate and four others were murdered in the home in 1969 by followers of Charles Manson. There was some initial speculation that Melcher may have been the intended victim, although Melcher, his former roommate Mark Lindsay, and Vincent Bugliosi have all indicated Manson was aware Melcher was no longer living at that address at the time of the murders.

On September 27, 1980, she married French film director Louis Malle (Bergen herself has traveled extensively and speaks French fluently). They had one child, a daughter named Chloe, in 1985. The couple were married until Malle's death from cancer on Thanksgiving Day in 1995.

Since June 15, 2000, she has been married to New York real estate magnate and philanthropist Marshall Rose.

Awards won

Emmy Awards:

• Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for: Murphy Brown (1989, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995) 5 wins

Golden Globe Awards:

• Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series " Comedy/Musical for: Murphy Brown (1989, 1992) 2 wins

Television Academy Hall of Fame:

• Inducted in 2010

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1947	Unusual Occupations: Film Tot Holiday	Herself	Uncredited
1966	'	Lakey
1966	'	Shirley Eckert	Nominated"?Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer " Female
1967	'	Electra Brown
1967	Vivre pour vivre	Candice	aka Live for Life (US)
1967	Flash 02	Herself
1968	'	Lily
1968	Wedding of the Doll	Herself
1970	'	Sue Ann Daley
1970	Getting Straight	Jan
1970	Soldier Blue	Kathy Maribel Lee, 'Cresta'
1971	Carnal Knowledge	Susan
1971	'	Melissa Ruger
1971	T.R. Baskin	T. R. Baskin	aka A Date with a Lonely Girl (UK)
1974	11 Harrowhouse	Maren Shirell
1975	The Lion Roars Again	Herself	Uncredited
1975	'	Eden Pedecaris
1975	Bite the Bullet	Miss Jones
1977	'	Ellie Tucker	aka The Domino Killings (UK)
1978	'	Lizzy
1978	Oliver's Story	Marcie Bonwit
1979	Starting Over	Jessica Potter	Nominated"?Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated"?Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress " Motion Picture
1981	Rich and Famous	Merry Noel Blake
1982	Gandhi	Margaret Bourke-White	Nominated"?BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
1984	2010	SAL 9000	voice only (credited as Olga Mallsnerd)
1985	Stick	Kyle McClaren
1989	Frames from the Edge	Herself
1996	Belly Talkers	Herself
1997	Who Is Henry Jaglom?	Herself
2000	Miss Congeniality	Kathy Morningside	Nominated"?Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy
2002	Sweet Home Alabama	Mayor Kate Hennings
2003	View from the Top	Sally Weston
2003	'	Judy Tobias
2008	Sex and the City	Enid Frick
2008	'	Catherine Frazier
2009	Bride Wars	Marion St. Claire	Nominated"?Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress
2010	'	Augusta
2013	A Friggin' Christmas Miracle	Donna Mitchler	Post-production

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1958	You Bet Your Life	Herself	Episode: "7.34"
1967	Coronet Blue	Enid Toler	Episode: "The Rebels"
1969	The Kraft Music Hall	Various	Episode: "The Woody Allen Special"
1975-2013	Saturday Night Live	Herself	6 episodes
1976	The Muppet Show	Clara Cartwell	Episode: "#1.15"
1985	Arthur the King	Morgan le Fay	TV movie
1985	Murder: By Reason of Insanity	Ewa Berwid	TV movie
1985	Hollywood Wives	Elaine Conti	2 episodes
1987	Mayflower Madam	Sydney Biddle Barrows	TV movie
1987	Trying Times	Barbara	Episode: "Moving Day"
1988-1998	Murphy Brown	Murphy Brown	247 episodes Golden Globe Award for Best Actress " Television Series Musical or Comedy (1989, 1992) Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (1989-90, 1992, 1994-95) Nominated"?Golden Globe Award for Best Actress " Television Series Musical or Comedy (1990-91, 1993-96) Nominated"?Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (1991, 1993) Nominated"?Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Nominated"?Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series (1995-96)
1992	Seinfeld	Murphy Brown	Episode: "The Keys"
1994	Understanding Sexy	Narrator	TV movie
1995	Understanding	Narrator	2 episodes
1996	Mary & Tim	Mary Horton	TV movie
1997	Ink	Murphy Brown	Episode: "Murphy's Law"
2000	Family Guy	Gloria Ironbox	2 episodes
2002	Sex and the City	Enid Mead	2 episodes
2003	Footsteps	Daisy	TV movie
2004	Sex and the City	Enid Splick	Episode: "Splat!"
2004	Law & Order	Judge Amanda Anderlee	Episode: "The Brotherhood"
2004	Will & Grace	Herself	Episode: "Strangers with Candice"
2005	Law & Order: Trial by Jury	Judge Amanda Anderlee	3 episodes
2005-2008	Boston Legal	Shirley Schmidt	91 episodes Nominated"?Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress " Series, Miniseries or Television Film Nominated"?Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (2006, 2008) Nominated"?Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress " Series, Miniseries or Television Film Nominated"?Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Nominated"?Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2007-09) Nominated"?Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
2011	House	Arlene Cuddy	3 episodes

Awards and nominations

Year	Association	Category	Nominated work	Result
1967	Golden Globe Awards	Most Promising Newcomer " Female	The Sand Pebbles
1980	Academy Awards	Best Supporting Actress	Starting Over
1980	Golden Globe Awards	Best Supporting Actress " Motion Picture	Starting Over
1983	BAFTA Awards	Best Actress in a Supporting Role	Gandhi
1989	American Comedy Awards	Funniest Female in a Television Series	Murphy Brown
1989	People's Choice Awards	Favorite Female TV Performer	Murphy Brown
1989	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series	Murphy Brown
1989	Viewers for Quality Television	Best Actress in a Quality Comedy Series	Murphy Brown
1990	American Comedy Awards	Funniest Female in a Television Series	Murphy Brown
1990	Golden Globe Awards	Best Actress " Television Series Musical or Comedy	Murphy Brown
1990	People's Choice Awards	Favorite Female TV Performer	Murphy Brown
1990	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series	Murphy Brown
1990	Viewers for Quality Television	Best Actress in a Quality Comedy Series	Murphy Brown
1991	American Comedy Awards	Funniest Female in a Television Series	Murphy Brown
1991	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series	Murphy Brown
1991	Viewers for Quality Television	Best Actress in a Quality Comedy Series	Murphy Brown
1992	Golden Globe Awards	Best Actress " Television Series Musical or Comedy	Murphy Brown
1992	American Comedy Awards	Funniest Female in a Television Series	Murphy Brown
1992	Golden Globe Awards	Best Actress " Television Series Musical or Comedy	Murphy Brown
1992	People's Choice Awards	Favorite Female TV Performer	Murphy Brown
1992	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series	Murphy Brown
1993	Golden Globe Awards	Best Actress " Television Series Musical or Comedy	Murphy Brown
1993	People's Choice Awards	Favorite Female TV Performer	Murphy Brown
1993	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series	Murphy Brown
1994	Golden Globe Awards	Best Actress " Television Series Musical or Comedy	Murphy Brown
1994	People's Choice Awards	Favorite Female TV Performer	Murphy Brown
1994	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series	Murphy Brown
1995	Golden Globe Awards	Best Actress " Television Series Musical or Comedy	Murphy Brown
1995	People's Choice Awards	Favorite Female TV Performer	Murphy Brown
1995	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series	Murphy Brown
1995	Screen Actors Guild Awards	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series	Murphy Brown
1995	Screen Actors Guild Awards	Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series	Murphy Brown
1996	American Comedy Awards	Funniest Female in a Television Series	Murphy Brown
1996	Golden Globe Awards	Best Actress " Television Series Musical or Comedy	Murphy Brown
1996	People's Choice Awards	Favorite Female TV Performer	Murphy Brown
1996	Screen Actors Guild Awards	Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series	Murphy Brown
2001	Blockbuster Entertainment Awards	Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy	Miss Congeniality
2003	Teen Choice Awards	Choice Movie Villain	Sweet Home Alabama
2006	Golden Globe Awards	Best Supporting Actress " Series, Miniseries or Television Film	Boston Legal
2005	Satellite Awards	Best Supporting Actress " Series, Miniseries or Television Film	Boston Legal
2006	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series	Boston Legal
2006	Screen Actors Guild Awards	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series	Boston Legal
2006	Screen Actors Guild Awards	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series	Boston Legal
2007	Screen Actors Guild Awards	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series	Boston Legal
2008	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series	Boston Legal
2008	Screen Actors Guild Awards	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series	Boston Legal
2009	Screen Actors Guild Awards	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series	Boston Legal
2010	Golden Raspberry Awards	Worst Supporting Actress	Bride Wars