Bernadette Peters

Instantly recognizable for her curly red hair and porcelain doll features, Bernadette Peters was already a seasoned theater actress when she broke through with 1968's "Dames at Sea." Her critical triumphs as the star of a series of stage musicals earned her multiple Tony and Drama Desk Awards, and she earned an amazing track record with acclaimed turns in "Song and Dance," "Sunday in the Park with George," "Into the Woods," "Annie Get Your Gun," "Gypsy" and "A Little Night Music," earning a reputation as the premier interpreter of Stephen Sondheim. Romantically linked to Steve Martin for several years, Peters achieved great success onscreen as well, starring in Mel Brooks' "Silent Movie" (1976), the comedy classic "The Jerk" (1979), "Annie" (1982) and "Pennies from Heaven" (1981), winning a Golden Globe for the latter. Gifted with impeccable comic timing, a powerful voice, and a unique charisma, Peters became one of musical theater's most loved and recognizable ambassadors, appearing in many variety shows, tributes and filmed performances that increased mainstream interest in theater. Even audiences resistant to Broadway's charms could appreciate Peters in popular roles such as the sorceress Circe in "The Odyssey" (NBC, 1997) or as Brandy's wickedly bitchy stepmother in "Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella" (ABC, 1997). Working steadily and to enormous acclaim across the entire entertainment spectrum, Bernadette Peters was universally hailed as one of the greatest musical theater performers of all time, if not the all-time greatest.