Betty Bobbitt was an American-Australian actress, author, singer, playwright, and theatre performer. She is best known for her role as Judy Bryant in the Australian crime drama Prisoner (1979), along with appearances in other shows and films.
Personal and Family Life
Born on February 7, 1939, in Manhattan, New York, Betty lived in Philadelphia from a young age before moving to Los Angeles at 18 to pursue acting. She moved to Australia in 1962 for what was intended to be a six-month stay and ended up becoming an Australian citizen. Betty had two sons, including one named Oliver, and a brother who lived in the USA. She also worked as a teacher, instructing English to Vietnamese students.
Career Highlights
Betty gained fame for her role in Prisoner, appearing in a remarkable 430 episodes before her character’s departure in 1985. After her time on the show, she returned to the Melbourne Theatre Company to continue her passion for theatre. She spent some years in semi-retirement starting in 2010, running a novelty gift shop in Sydney’s Blue Mountains and publishing her book “From The Outside,” which recounted her experiences on Prisoner.
Death and Legacy
Betty Bobbitt passed away on November 30, 2020, at the age of 81 due to complications from a stroke she suffered shortly before her death. Her contributions to Australian television and theatre left a lasting impression, and she is fondly remembered by fans and peers alike.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Survive the Savage Sea | 1992-01-05 | Mrs. Haines |
| Crocodile Dundee II | 1988-05-19 | Meg (Tourist) |
| Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles | 2001-04-12 | American Lady |
| The Clinic | 1983-04-21 | |
| Prisoner: Cell Block H | 1979-02-27 | Judy Bryant |
| The Games | 1998-08-17 | Betty |
| The Flying Doctors | 1986-05-15 | Jo Magee |
| Homicide | 1964-10-20 | Customs Officer |