B. J. Ward (actress)

American actress

Donn Trenner

(m. 1966; div. 1978)

Gordon Hunt

(m. 1995; died 2016)

Websitebjwardnow.com

Betty Jean Ward^[1] (born September 12, 1944)^[2] is an American actress. She is the creator and the star of Stand-Up Opera, a musical one-woman show.

Personal life

Ward was first married to Donald Trenner in 1966, they divorced in 1978,^[1] She was later married to director Gordon Hunt from 1995 until his death in 2016.^[3]

Career

Early career

She made her debut on the stage in 1960, in the original off-Broadway production of The Fantasticks, where she was an understudy for the role of Luisa/the Girl. B.J. Ward had gotten the part by calling the producer of the show.^[1]

She toured with the Groundlings for a short while before starting her own voice over career starting with Hanna-Barbera's Jana of the Jungle in 1978.^[4]

Singing career

Ward also worked as a singer. She is well known for her acclaimed one-woman show, "Stand-Up Opera", which became a massive success with critics and audiences alike.^[5] She has released seven albums throughout her singing career.

Though Ward is best known as a voice actress, she has also appeared on television. In 1985, she made a rare film appearance in the TV movie Malice in Wonderland alongside Elizabeth Taylor and Jane Alexander. She has guest-starred on television series such as Frasier, ER, and In-Laws.

Ward has also done voices for video games and for theme parks, including:

Voices for EPCOT and Disneyland Paris, including the safety narration for Spaceship Earth from 1994 to 2007.
The narration of the former PeopleMover attraction at Disneyland.
Mother / Sarah in the 1993 version of the Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress.
Some of the singing voices ("Burrow's Rabbit", opossums and rabbits) in Splash Mountain
The current voice guide for “It's a Small World” and the refurbished Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover attraction at Magic Kingdom Park.

Filmography

Television

The Bugs Bunny Show – Additional voices (1960)
Jana of the Jungle – Jana (1978)
Space Stars – Elektra (1981)
The Little Rascals – Butch / Waldo (1982)
Pac Preview Party – TV Movie – Butch / Waldo (1982)
Spider-Man – Medusa / Namorita (1982)
The Incredible Hulk – Betty Ross / Alicia Masters (1982)
The Smurfs – Hermes, Additional Voices (1982–1989)
Alvin and the Chipmunks (1983)
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero: The M.A.S.S. Device – TV Mini-Series – Scarlett (1983)
Pink Panther and Sons – Panky / Punkin (1984)
Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show – Jayna (1984)
G.I. Joe: The Revenge of Cobra – TV Mini-Series – Scarlett (1984)
The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries (1984)
The Voyages of Dr. Dolittle – Tommy Stubbins (1984)
Snorks – Casey Kelp (1984–1988)
The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo – episode – When You Witch Upon a Star – Marcella (1985)
The Jetsons (1985)
Star Fairies – TV Movie – Sparkle / Michelle / Mother (1985)
Challenge of the GoBots – Small Foot (1985)
G.I. Joe:The Pyramid of Darkness – TV Mini-Series – Scarlett (1985)
The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians – Wonder Woman / Young Bruce Wayne (1985)
G.I. Joe – Scarlett / Reporter / Harper Supporter /Pelar Vasquez / Flo Breckinridge / additional Voices (1985–1986)
The Centurions – Cassandra Cross / Lilith Cross (1986)
My Little Pony -TV Series- Surprise and North Star (1986)
Jonny Quest – Additional Voices (1986)
The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show – Various Characters (1986)
The Flintstone Kids – Betty Jean Bricker / Mrs. Rockbottom (1986–1988)
Foofur (1987)
DuckTales – episode – Top Duck – Birdie McQuack / Loopie McQuack (1987)
Popeye and Son – Rad (1987)
Sky Commanders – Dr. Erica Slade (1987)
Superman – Additional Voices (1988)
The New Yogi Bear Show – Additional Voices (1988)
A Pup Named Scooby-Doo – Mrs. Rogers / Sugie Rogers / Babysitter (1988)
The Flintstone Kids' "Just Say No" Special – TV Special – Betty Bricker / Mrs. Gravelson / Female Announcer (1988)
The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley – Additional Voices (1988)
Bugs vs. Daffy: Battle of the Music Video Stars – TV Special – Additional voices (1988)
Fantastic Max – Additional Voices (1988–1989)
Matlock – episode – The Black Widow – Bernice Wooley (1989)
Midnight Patrol: Adventures in the Dream Zone (1990)
Tiny Toon Adventures – episode – Fields of Honey – Honey (1990)
The Wizard of Oz – Glinda the Good (1990)
Yo Yogi! (1991)
The Pirates of Dark Water – Additional Voices (1991)
Darkwing Duck – Additional Voices / Patricia / Gloria Swansong (1991)
James Bond Jr. (1991)
TaleSpin – episode – Louie's Last Stand – Records Clerk (1991)
Fish Police – episode – The Shell Game – Widow Casino (1992)
Capitol Critters – Additional voices (1992–1995)
A Flintstone Family Christmas – TV Special – Betty Rubble (1993)
The Town Santa Forgot – TV Special (1993)
Bonkers – episode – What You Read Is What You Get – Hildy (1993)
Murder, She Wrote – episode – Love's Deadly Desire – Chairwoman (1993)
Shining Time Station – episode – Becky Makes a Wish – performs the song "Help Your Wish Along" (1993)
The Flintstones: Wacky Inventions – Video short – Betty Rubble (1994)
Captain Planet and the Planeteers – episode – Twilight Ozone – Federal Spokesman (1994)
Batman: The Animated Series – episode – The Lion and the Unicorn – M3 (1995)
Daisy-Head Mayzie – TV Special – Mrs. McGrew (1995)
Gargoyles – episodes – A Lighthouse in the Sea of Time, Pendragon & Sentinel – Fleance / Professor Duane / Lady of the Lake (1995–1996)
The Story of Santa Claus – TV special – Additional Voices (1996)
Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles – episode – The Journey – Billy's Mom / Fleance / Alexander (1996)
The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest – Iris the Computer / Nurse Holloway (1996–1997)
Adventures from the Book of Virtues – additional voices (1996–1998)
Johnny Bravo – episodes -Johnny Bravo/Jungle Boy in 'Mr. Monkeyman'/Johnny Bravo and the Amazon Women, The Sensitive Male/Bravo Dooby Doo & I Used to Be Funny/My Fair Dork/'Twas the Night – Velma Dinkley / Aunt Jebidisa / additional voices (1997)
The Cartoon Cartoon Show – Female computer / Stanley / Amazon (1997)
Cow and Chicken – Betty Rubble (1998)
The Scooby-Doo Project – TV Short – Velma Dinkley (1999)
The Bunny Years – TV Movie documentary – Herself (1999)
Timon & Pumbaa – episode – The Spy's the Limit/Ready, Aim, Fire (1999)
Batman Beyond – episode – Out of the Past – Singer (2000)
The New Woody Woodpecker Show – Winnie Woodpecker / Mother Nature (1999–2001)
Courage the Cowardly Dog – Additional Voices (2002)
The 1st 13th Annual Fancy Anvil Award Show Program Special... Live!... in Stereo – TV Special – Betty Rubble (2002) ^{[citation needed]}
Samurai Jack – Witch Hag
Curious George – Aunt Margaret / Aunt Margret (2006–2020)
The Spectacular Spider-Man – episode – Persona – Mayor Waters (2008)
Regular Show – Dr. Asinovskovich (2010)
G.I. Joe: Renegades- episode – Homecoming Part 1 – Connie Hauser (2011)

Film

The New Maverick – TV Movie – B.J. Vinnie's Henchman (1978)
GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords – Small Foot (1986)
G.I. Joe: The Movie – Video – Scarlett (1987)
The Duxorcist – Looney Tunes Short – Melissa Duck (1987)
Rockin' with Judy Jetson – TV Movie – Zippy (1988)
The Good, the Bad, and Huckleberry Hound – TV Movie – Chieftess / Desert Flower / Elderly Lady / Girl / Rusty Nails (1988)
Pound Puppies and the Legend of Big Paw – Whopper (1988)
Scooby-Doo! and the Reluctant Werewolf – TV Movie – Googie / Repulsa (1988)
Daffy Duck's Quackbusters – Possessed Lady Duck (1988)
Jetsons: The Movie (1990)
The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera – Short – Betty Rubble (1990)
Queen Esther – Video short – (1992)
Bugs Bunny's Creature Features – TV Movie (1992)
Jonny's Golden Quest – TV Movie – 3-DAC (1993)
I Yabba-Dabba Do! – TV Movie – Betty Rubble (1993)
Tom and Jerry: The Movie – Tom's Owner (1993)
Hollyrock-a-Bye Baby – TV Movie – Betty Rubble (1993)
The Lion King – Lions (1994)
The Pagemaster – Queen of Hearts (1994)
A Flintstones Christmas Carol – TV Movie – Betty Rubble (1994)
Tom and Jerry's Christmas Carol – Video – Ghost of Christmas Past (1996)
Hercules and Xena – The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus - Video - Tethys (singing voice)
Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island – Video – Velma Dinkley (1998)
The Brave Little Toaster to the Rescue – Video – Police Lady (1999)
Scooby-Doo! and the Witch's Ghost – Video – Velma Dinkley (1999)
Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders – Video – Velma Dinkley (2000)
The Land Before Time VII: The Stone of Cold Fire - Video - Rainbow Face #2 (singing voice) (2000)
Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase – Video – Velma Dinkley / Cyber-Velma Dinkley (2001)
Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas – TV Movie – Aunt Margaret (2009)
DC Super Hero Girls: Hero of the Year – Video – Master Alchemist (2016)

Video games

Blazing Dragons – Video Game – The Lady of the Lake, Rapunsel Yablanowitz (1996)
Sword of the Berserk: Guts' Rage – Video Game – Casca, Eriza (1999) (English dub)^[6]
Star Trek: Starfleet Command: Volume II: Empires at War – Video Game (2000)
Scooby-Doo: Classic Creep Capers – Video Game – Velma Dinkley (2000)
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Fallen – Video Game - Additional voices (2000)
Grandia II - Video Game - Roan, Elmo (2000) (English dub)^[6]
Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase – Video Game – Velma Dinkley (2001)
Star Trek: Starfleet Command III – Video Game – Romulan Officer No. 1 (2002)
Scooby-Doo! Night of 100 Frights – Video Game – Velma Dinkley (2002)
Star Trek: Elite Force II – Video Game – Katarina Scott (2003)
Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time – Witch Hag (2020)

Discography

Vocal Ease (1970)
Queen Of The Night (1994)^[5]
Stand-Up Opera (1995)^[5]
Syrinx: Voice of the Songbird (2003)^[5]
B.J. Ward Sings Marshall Barer (2005)^[5]
Double Feature: Love Songs From The Movies (2015)^[5]
Double Feature 2: More Songs From The Movies! (2016)^[5]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Don Heckman (March 13, 1987). "B.J. Ward: She Talks A Good Show". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
^ "Rotten Tomatoes: Movies | TV Shows | Movie Trailers | Reviews - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on May 9, 2022.
^ Steve Marble (December 20, 2016). "Gordon Hunt, director, voice actor and father of Helen Hunt, dies at 87". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
^ "BJ Ward". Retrieved October 7, 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "Music". Retrieved November 14, 2019.
^ ^a ^b "BJ Ward (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved April 30, 2021. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)