Bibi Besch was an American actress who is best known for her roles in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Steel Magnolias, and Tremors. Born on February 1, 1942, in Vienna, Austria, she had a prolific career in television and film until her untimely death in 1996.
Personal and Family Life
Bibi Besch was born to actress Gusti Huber and Gotfrid Köchert, a well-known race car driver. She graduated from Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua, New York, in 1959. Besch was married to Donald Beverly Mathis from 1965 to 1973, and they had one daughter, Samantha Mathis, born on May 12, 1970. She also had one older sister, Christiana Barbara Kochert.
Career Highlights
Bibi Besch had a distinguished acting career, appearing in numerous television movies from 1976 to 1995. She received an Emmy nomination for her role in the TV movie “Doing Time on Maple Drive” and was nominated again for a guest appearance in “Northern Exposure.” In addition to her iconic role as Dr. Carol Marcus in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, she showcased her talent in films like Steel Magnolias and Tremors, and made guest appearances on popular shows such as ER and Murder, She Wrote.
Death and Legacy
Bibi Besch passed away on September 7, 1996, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 54 due to complications from breast cancer. Her contributions to film and television have left a lasting impact, inspiring many in the acting community.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan | 1982-06-04 | Dr. Carol Marcus |
| Steel Magnolias | 1989-11-15 | Belle Marmillion |
| Victory at Entebbe | 1976-12-13 | German Woman |
| Doing Time on Maple Drive | 1992-03-16 | Lisa Carter |
| The Day After | 1983-11-20 | Eve Dahlberg |
| Tremors | 1990-01-19 | Megan – The Doctor’s Wife |
| Who’s That Girl | 1987-08-07 | Ms. Worthington |
| The Beast Within | 1982-02-12 | Caroline MacCleary |
| Date with an Angel | 1987-11-20 | Grace Sanders |
| Hardcore | 1979-02-09 | Mary |
| Betsy’s Wedding | 1990-06-22 | Nancy Lovell |
| The Pack | 1977-11-20 | Marge |
| Mrs. Delafield Wants to Marry | 1986-03-30 | Doreen Delafield |
| The Promise | 1979-03-08 | Dr. Faye Allison |
| The Lonely Lady | 1983-10-02 | Veronica Randall |
| Abandoned and Deceived | 1995-03-20 | Iris |