Biography for
Bernadette Peters More at IMDb Pro »

Date of Birth

28 February 1948, Queens, New York, USA

Birth Name

Bernadette Lazzara

Height

5' 3" (1.60 m)

Spouse

Michael Wittenberg

(20 July 1996 - 26 September 2005) (his death)

Trivia

Born at 1:15pm-EST

Younger sister of casting director Donna DeSeta

Created the roles of Dot in "Sunday in the Park with George", Mabel Normand in "Mack and Mabel" and The Witch in "Into the Woods" in the original Broadway productions.

Has won two "Best Leading Actress in a Musical" Tony awards for "Song and Dance" and "Annie Get Your Gun".

Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Live Theatre.

Has two siblings, Joseph and Donna.

Awarded the President's Award at the 11th Annual 'Mr. Abbott' Awards Dinner.

Is the youngest performer to be inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame.

Co-hosted The 56th Annual Tony Awards (2002) (TV) with Gregory Hines, June 2002.

Is a member of the MTC Board of Directors.

Was inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame.

Her father Peter Lazzaro drove a bread truck.

Of Italian descent, she changed her last name to Peters (after her father's first name) because she did not "look Italian" and, at the time, ethnic stage names were discouraged.

Measurements: 35C-23-36 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)

Has won two Tony awards as Best Actress (Musical): in 1986 for "Song and Dance" and in 1999 for a revival of "Annie Get Your Gun." In addition, she has received five other Tony nominations: one as Best Supporting or Featured Actress (Musical) in 1972 for a revival of "On the Town;" and four other Best Actress (Musical) nominations: in 1975 for "Mack and Mabel;" in 1984 for "Sunday in the Park with George," a performance she recreated in the television version with the same title, Sunday in the Park with George (1986) (TV); in 1993 for "The Goodbye Girl;" and in 2003 for a revival of "Gypsy."

Aunt of Tian DeSeta.

Her husband, Michael Wittenberg died in a helicopter crash in Montenegro, Europe on September 26, 2005. An investment advisor, he was reportedly on a business trip.

Prior to his marriage to Victoria Tennant, was romantically involved with Steve Martin, her costar in The Jerk (1979) and Pennies from Heaven (1981).

Was last on Broadway in the revival of "Gypsy". She performed in the show for a year and did over 500 performances. Peters was offered a national tour of the show, but bowed out saying, "I love this show and the role of Rose, but after playing her for a year she has worn me totally out!" The role of Mama Rose is considered one of the greatest and most difficult roles for a musical theater actress.

On the The 57th Annual Tony Awards (2003) (TV), she performed the climactic song "Rose's Turn" from "Gypsy", in which she was nominated that year for Best Lead Actress in a Musical. However, she had been suffering from a severe respiratory infection and had missed several performances of the show. Originally the producers did not want her to perform live at the Tonys for fear of her damaging her vocal chords. She refused to cancel and insisted on performing live. She got through the song and received a 2 minute standing ovation, one of the longest in Tony History.

Personal Quotes

"You gotta be original, because if you're like someone else, what do they need you for?"

Where Are They Now

(May 2003) Will star in the Broadway revival of Gypsy at the Shubert Theater in New York City.

(March 2008) Release of her children's book, "Broadway Barks". The book is dedicated to her late husband, Michael Wittenberg.

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