Adrienne Jo Barbeau (born June , ) is an American actress, singer and
the author of three books. Barbeau came to prominence in the s as
Broadway's original Rizzo in the musical Grease, and as Carol Traynor,
the divorced daughter of Maude Findlay (played by Beatrice Arthur) on
the sitcom Maude (â€"). In she began appearing in horror and science
fiction films, including The Fog (), Escape from New York (),
Creepshow (), and Swamp Thing (). Other films included: Back to School
() and Argo (). During the s, she became known for providing the voice
of Catwoman on Batman: The Animated Series (â€"), and subsequent
Batman cartoon series. In the s, she appeared on the HBO series
Carnivà le as Ruthie the snake dancer.Barbeau was born in Sacramento,
California, in , the daughter of Armene (née Nalbandian) and Joseph
Barbeau, who was a public relations executive for Mobil Oil. Her
mother was of Armenian descent and her father's ancestry was French
Canadian, Irish, and German. She has a sister, Jocelyn, and a half
brother on her father's side, Robert Barbeau, who still resides in the
Sacramento area. She attended Del Mar High School in San Jose,
California. In her autobiography, Barbeau says that she first caught
the show business bug while entertaining troops at army bases
throughout Southeast Asia, touring with the San Jose Civic Light
Opera.In the late s, Barbeau moved to New York City and worked "for
the mob" as a go-go dancer. She made her Broadway debut in the chorus
of Fiddler on the Roof, and later took the role of Hodel, Tevye's
daughter; Bette Midler played her character's sister Tzeitel. She left
Fiddler in to play the leading role of Cookie Kovac in the
off-Broadway nudie musical Stag Movie. Barbeau, as Cookie Kovac, and
Brad Sullivan, as Rip Cord, were "quite jolly and deserve to be
congratulated on the lack of embarrassment they show when, on
occasion, they have to wander around stark naked. They may not be sexy
but they certainly keep cheerful," wrote The New York Times theater
critic Clive Barnes in an otherwise negative review. Barbeau went on
to star in more than musicals and plays, including Women Behind Bars,
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and Grease. She received a
Theater World Award and a Tony Award nomination for her portrayal of
tough-girl Rizzo in Grease.
the author of three books. Barbeau came to prominence in the s as
Broadway's original Rizzo in the musical Grease, and as Carol Traynor,
the divorced daughter of Maude Findlay (played by Beatrice Arthur) on
the sitcom Maude (â€"). In she began appearing in horror and science
fiction films, including The Fog (), Escape from New York (),
Creepshow (), and Swamp Thing (). Other films included: Back to School
() and Argo (). During the s, she became known for providing the voice
of Catwoman on Batman: The Animated Series (â€"), and subsequent
Batman cartoon series. In the s, she appeared on the HBO series
Carnivà le as Ruthie the snake dancer.Barbeau was born in Sacramento,
California, in , the daughter of Armene (née Nalbandian) and Joseph
Barbeau, who was a public relations executive for Mobil Oil. Her
mother was of Armenian descent and her father's ancestry was French
Canadian, Irish, and German. She has a sister, Jocelyn, and a half
brother on her father's side, Robert Barbeau, who still resides in the
Sacramento area. She attended Del Mar High School in San Jose,
California. In her autobiography, Barbeau says that she first caught
the show business bug while entertaining troops at army bases
throughout Southeast Asia, touring with the San Jose Civic Light
Opera.In the late s, Barbeau moved to New York City and worked "for
the mob" as a go-go dancer. She made her Broadway debut in the chorus
of Fiddler on the Roof, and later took the role of Hodel, Tevye's
daughter; Bette Midler played her character's sister Tzeitel. She left
Fiddler in to play the leading role of Cookie Kovac in the
off-Broadway nudie musical Stag Movie. Barbeau, as Cookie Kovac, and
Brad Sullivan, as Rip Cord, were "quite jolly and deserve to be
congratulated on the lack of embarrassment they show when, on
occasion, they have to wander around stark naked. They may not be sexy
but they certainly keep cheerful," wrote The New York Times theater
critic Clive Barnes in an otherwise negative review. Barbeau went on
to star in more than musicals and plays, including Women Behind Bars,
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and Grease. She received a
Theater World Award and a Tony Award nomination for her portrayal of
tough-girl Rizzo in Grease.
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