Abby Hagyard
| Abby Hagyard | |
|---|---|
| Born | Edmonton, Alberta |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Alma mater | St. Patrick's College, now part of Carleton University |
| Occupation |
Television Actress Voice Artist Comedian Author Writer Producer |
| Known for |
You Can't Do That on Television The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin The Care Bears For Better or for Worse |
| Home town | Ottawa, Ontario |
| Awards | ACTRA Awards |
| Website |
www |
Abby Hagyard (pronounced HAG-yard, of Norwegian descent[1]) (born in Edmonton, Alberta)][1]) is a Canadian television actress, author, producer, director, playwright, dramatist, voice artist, and comedian.[1]
Background
Hagyard's interest in acting began when she was enrolled in a modeling class with her mother. She modeled for two years and then had a secretarial position in the New York offices of Playboy.[1] She returned to Ottawa and studied drama at St. Patrick's College (now Carleton University) for 3 years.[1][2] She began her work in entertainment as a high fashion model on Miami Beach and actress.[3] In the early 1980s, she toured the eastern seaboard performing in small venues,[2] and then began hosting the CBC television show Scene From Here,[1] while continuing to perform sketch comedy.[4]
Career
Referred to by the Ottawa Citizen as "one of our town's best and busiest actresses",[5] Starring roles in Dinner Theatre productions led to a one-woman show and an invitation to host her own entertainment series on CBC. After that, Roger Price came calling. Hagyard stepped into the role of the mother on You Can't Do That on Television in 1982. Ruth Buzzi had co-starred in the 1979 prime time version of the show entitled Whatever Turns You On, but left when it was cancelled at the end of the '79 season. Production on the show had resumed in 1981.[5] When Hagyard joined Canadian TV Comic Les Lye on the series in '82, she became one of only two adult cast members among the hundreds of children who participated over the series' run,[6] although adult roles were occasionally played also by some of the older children in the cast, particularly hostess Christine McGlade. She remained a regularly featured member until the series came to an end in 1990.[7] Hagyard's other regularly occurring role on YCDTOTV was as a librarian who spoke with a British accent.
Between taping sessions Abby provided character voices for the animated cartoon series For Better Or For Worse, The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin, Dennis the Menace and The Care Bears. She also co-hosted a popular morning drive radio show,[8] and produced several award-winning stage plays.
Since 2005, Hagyard has been developing new media projects for entrepreneurs.
Filmography
- As actor
- You Can't Do That on Television (113 episodes, 1982–1990)
- As voice artist
- The Care Bears in the Land Without Feelings (1983)
- The Care Bears Battle the Freeze Machine (1984)
- For Better or for Worse: The Bestest Present (1985)
- The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin (7 episodes, 1987)
- The Care Bears (1 episode, 1988)
- Dennis the Menace (1986)
- For Better or for Worse: The Last Camping Trip (1992)
- For Better or for Worse: A Christmas Angel (1992)
- For Better or for Worse: A Valentine from the Heart (1993)
- For Better or for Worse: The Good-for-Nothing (1993)
- For Better or for Worse: The Babe Magnet (1994)
- For Better or for Worse: A Storm in April (1997)
- For Better or for Worse (1 episode, 2000)
Recognition
Awards & nominations
- 1983, ACTRA Award for 'Best Female On-Camera Performance'[9]
- 1983, ACTRA Award for 'Best Voice-Over/Narration'[9]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bedard, Eva (November 28, 1980). "Comedienne on her way up". Ottawa Citizen. p. 17. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
- 1 2 Ashley, Audry (February 16, 1980). "On Stage". Ottawa Citizen. p. 36. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
- ↑ Costigliola, Bozica (July 30, 1976). "Actress says looking at bright side only way to cope with her busy life". The Citizen. p. 90. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
- ↑ Brown, Dave (November 9, 1981). "Brown's Beat". Ottawa Citizen. p. 4. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
- 1 2 Brown, Dave (September 11, 1982). "Brown's Beat". Ottawa Citizen. p. 2. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
- ↑ "Les Lye, Canadian TV Comic, Dies at 84". The New York Times. July 24, 2009. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
- ↑ "Heading south to make it big: the American success of Canada's you can't do that on television.". American Review of Canadian Studies. March 22, 2005. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
- ↑ "Am 1200 Breakfast Team Gets an Early Start". Ottawa Citizen. December 7, 1985. p. 47. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
- 1 2 "CBOT wins five awards". Ottawa Citizen. March 24, 1983. p. 82. Retrieved June 3, 2010.