The daughter of famed ventriloquist Edgar Bergen, this cool blonde beauty grew up in the public eye as the "little sister" of Charlie McCarthy, her father's famous wooden dummy. Still in college when she landed her debut film role in the ensemble drama
The Group, Bergen went on to enjoy three very different careers: first as a so-so film actress, then as a celebrated photojournalist, and finally as a huge small-screen star as the title character on the sitcom
Murphy Brown, a role that earned her two Golden Globes and five Emmys. Although Bergen had undisputed movie-star looks, her big-screen roles were mostly unrewarding, except for her Oscar-nominated turn as a tone-deaf aspiring singer in the 1979 romantic comedy
Starting Over. Reportedly choosing her projects based on their filming locations, Bergen launched a concurrent career in journalism, contributing photos and articles based on her travels to numerous prestigious publications including
New York,
Life and
Playboy magazines. Disenchanted with her film offers in the '80s, Bergen did what many aging actresses do and turned to TV. But few former film players find such resounding success on the small screen. From the moment go,
Murphy Brown captivated viewers. As a smart, sassy, outspoken and often difficult TV newsmagazine anchor who also happened to be a recovering alcoholic, Bergen won critical accolades and myriad awards, and incurred the inane wrath of then-vice president Dan Quayle in 1992, when her alter ego became a single mother. (During the run of the show, Bergen became a single mom in real life when her husband, French film director Louis Malle, died of cancer in 1995.) After a 10-year run,
Murphy Brown left the airwaves in 1998, but Bergen remained a feminist icon and beloved personality, winning supporting film roles and even hosting her own TV talk show,
Exhale with Candice Bergen. In 2005 she returned to the small screen as a series regular on
Boston Legal, playing a high-powered lawyer.
Candice Bergen Fast Facts:
- Left the University of Pennsylvania in 1965 after flunking art and opera; she ultimately received an honorary degree in 1992.
- First female host of Saturday Night Live, on November 8, 1975.
- Engaged in a well-publicized war of words in 1992 with Vice President Dan Quayle, who criticized her Murphy Brown character for having a child out of wedlock claiming it undermined traditional family values.
- After winning her fifth Emmy for Murphy Brown, she took herself out of the running for future consideration.
- Besides acting and modeling, she was also a photojournalist whose work appeared in Life, Esquire and Playboy magazines. Post-Murphy Brown, she turned down an offer to be a 60 Minutes correspondent.
- Candice Bergen Relationships:
- Chloe Malle - Daughter
- Marshall Rose - Husband
- Kris Bergen - Brother
- Frances Bergen - Mother
- Louis Malle - Husband (deceased)
- Edgar Bergen - Father
- Candice Bergen Awards:
- 2008 Emmy: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series - Nominee
- 1980 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture - Nominee
- 2006 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television - Nominee
- 1989 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy - Winner
- 1990 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy - Nominee
- 1991 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy - Nominee
- 1992 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy - Winner
- 1993 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy - Nominee
- 1994 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy - Nominee
- 1995 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy - Nominee
- 1996 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy - Nominee
- 1967 Golden Globe: New Star of the Year - Actress - Nominee
- 1967 Golden Globe: New Star of the Year - Actress - Nominee
- 1989 Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - Winner
- 1990 Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - Winner
- 1991 Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- 1992 Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - Winner
- 1993 Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- 1994 Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - Winner
- 1995 Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - Winner
- 2006 Emmy: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series - Nominee
- 1979 Oscar: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role - Nominee
- College:
- Attended the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
