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IMDbPro

Candice Bergen(I)

  • Actress
  • Producer
  • Soundtrack
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000632
Candice Bergen
A divorced mom tries to make peace with her dysfunctional family as she finds a second chance at love.
Play trailer2:00
As They Made Us (2022)
64 Videos
99+ Photos
One cool, eternally classy lady, Candice Bergen was elegantly poised for trendy "ice princess" stardom when she first arrived on the '60s screen, but she gradually reshaped that débutante image in the '70s, both on- and off-camera. A staunch, outspoken feminist with a decisive edge, she went on to take a sizable portion of those contradicting qualities to film and, most particularly, to late 1980s TV.

The daughter of famed ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and former actress and "Chesterfield Girl" model Frances Bergen (née Westerman), Candice Patricia Bergen was born in Beverly Hills, California, of Swedish, German, and English descent. At the age of six, she made her radio debut on her father's show. She attended Westlake School for Girls in Los Angeles, the Cathedral School in Washington D.C. and then went abroad to the Montesano (finishing) School in Switzerland. Although she began taking art history and creative drawing at the University of Pennsylvania, she did not complete her studies.

In between she also worked as a Ford model in order to buy cameras for her new passion--photography. Her Grace Kelly-like glacial beauty deemed her an ideal candidate for Ivy League patrician roles, and Candice made an auspicious film debut while still a college student portraying the Vassar-styled lesbian member of Sidney Lumet's The Group (1966) in an ensemble that included the debuts of other lovely up-and-comers including Kathleen Widdoes, Carrie Nye, Joan Hackett and Joanna Pettet.

Film offers started coming her way, both here and abroad (spurred by her love for travel). Other than her top-notch roles as the co-ed who comes between Jack Nicholson and Art Garfunkel in Carnal Knowledge (1971) and her prim American lady kidnapped by Moroccan sheik Sean Connery in The Wind and the Lion (1975), her performances were deemed a bit too aloof to really stand out among the crowd. During this time, she found a passionate second career as a photographer and photojournalist. A number of her works went on to appear in an assortment of magazines including Life, Playboy and Esquire.

Most of Candice's 1970s films were dismissible and unworthy of her talents, including the campus comedy Getting Straight (1970) opposite the hip counterculture star of the era -- Elliott Gould; the disturbingly violent Soldier Blue (1970); the epic-sized bomb The Adventurers (1970); T.R. Baskin (1971); Bite the Bullet (1975); The Domino Principle (1977), Lina Wertmüller's long-winded and notoriously long-titled Italian drama A Night Full of Rain (1978); and the inferior sequel to the huge box-office soaper Love Story (1970), entitled Oliver's Story (1978) alongside original star Ryan O'Neal. Things picked up toward the second half of the decade, however, when the seemingly humorless Candice made a clever swipe at comedy. She made history as the first female guest host of Saturday Night Live (1975) and then showed an equally amusing side of her in the dramedy Starting Over (1979) as Burt Reynolds' tone-deaf ex-wife, enjoying a "best supporting actress" Oscar nomination in the process. She and Jacqueline Bisset also worked well as a team in George Cukor's Rich and Famous (1981), in which her mother Frances could be glimpsed in a Malibu party scene.

Candice made her Broadway debut in 1985 replacing Sigourney Weaver in David Rabe's black comedy "Hurlyburly". In 1980 Candice married Louis Malle, the older (by 14 years) French director. They had one child, Chloe. In the late 1980s, Candice hit a new career plateau on comedy television as the spiky title role on Murphy Brown (1988), giving great gripe as the cynical and competitive anchor/reporter of a TV magazine show. With a superlative supporting cast around her, the CBS sitcom went the distance (ten seasons) and earned Candice a whopping five Emmys and two Golden Globe awards. TV-movie roles also came her way as a result with colorful roles ranging from the evil Arthurian temptress "Morgan Le Fey" to an elite, high-classed madam -- all many moons away from her initial white-gloved debs of the late 60s.

Husband Malle's illness and subsequent death from cancer in 1995 resulted in Candice maintaining a low profile for an extended period. In time, however, she married a second time (since 2000) to Manhattan real estate developer Marshall Rose and returned to acting with a renewed vigor (or vinegar), with many of her characters enjoyable extensions of her sardonic "Murphy Brown" character. As for TV, she joined the 2005 cast of Boston Legal (2004) playing a brash, no-nonsense lawyer while trading barbs with a much less serious William Shatner, earning an Emmy nomination in the process. In 2018, Candice revisited her Murphy Brown character in a revised series form with many of the cast back on board. The show, however, was cancelled after only one season.

Candice also ventured into the romantic comedy film genre with a spray of crisp supports -- sometimes as a confidante, sometimes as a villain. Such films include Miss Congeniality (2000), Sweet Home Alabama (2002), The In-Laws (2003), Sex and the City (2008), The Women (2008), Bride Wars (2009), A Merry Friggin' Christmas (2014), Rules Don't Apply (2016), The Meyerowitz Stories (2017), Home Again (2017) and Book Club (2018).
BornMay 9, 1946
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornMay 9, 1946
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000632
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
  • Nominated for 1 Oscar
    • 20 wins & 61 nominations total

Hollywood Icons, Then and Now

Hollywood Icons, Then and Now

Take a look back at these Hollywood icons in their early days to see how far they've come in their careers.
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Production art
Photos

Photos345

Candice Bergen, Jane Fonda, and Mary Steenburgen in Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen & Mary Steenburgen (2023)
Candice Bergen, Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, and Mary Steenburgen in Book Club: The Next Chapter (2023)
Candice Bergen and Jürgen Prochnow in Murder: By Reason of Insanity (1985)
Jack Nicholson and Candice Bergen in Carnal Knowledge (1971)
Jack Nicholson and Candice Bergen in Carnal Knowledge (1971)
Candice Bergen in TV's All Time Favorites (1995)
Candice Bergen in Saturday Night Live (1975)
Candice Bergen in Saturday Night Live (1975)
Candice Bergen in Saturday Night Live (1975)
Candice Bergen and Art Garfunkel in Carnal Knowledge (1971)
Jack Nicholson and Candice Bergen in Carnal Knowledge (1971)
Jack Nicholson and Candice Bergen in Carnal Knowledge (1971)

Known for

Sandra Bullock in Miss Congeniality (2000)
Miss Congeniality
6.3
  • Kathy Morningside
  • 2000
Candice Bergen in Murphy Brown (1988)
Murphy Brown
6.9
TV Series
  • Murphy Brown
Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson in Bride Wars (2009)
Bride Wars
5.4
  • Marion
  • 2009
Reese Witherspoon in Sweet Home Alabama (2002)
Sweet Home Alabama
6.2
  • Mayor Kate Hennings
  • 2002

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actress

  • Understanding
    • Narrator
    • Released
    • TV Series
    • 1995–2004
  • Harvest Moon
    • Post-production
  • Candice Bergen, Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, and Mary Steenburgen in Book Club: The Next Chapter (2023)
    Book Club: The Next Chapter
    • Sharon
    • 2023
  • Dustin Hoffman, Candice Bergen, Simon Helberg, and Dianna Agron in As They Made Us (2022)
    As They Made Us
    • Barbara
    • 2022
  • John Goodman, Sara Gilbert, Jay R. Ferguson, Alicia Goranson, Laurie Metcalf, Emma Kenney, and Ames McNamara in The Conners (2018)
    The Conners
    • Barb
    • TV Series
    • 2021
  • Meryl Streep in Let Them All Talk (2020)
    Let Them All Talk
    • Roberta
    • 2020
  • Candice Bergen in Murphy Brown (1988)
    Murphy Brown
    • Murphy Brown
    • TV Series
    • 1988–2018
  • Candice Bergen, Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, and Mary Steenburgen in Book Club (2018)
    Book Club
    • Sharon
    • 2018
  • Reese Witherspoon in Home Again (2017)
    Home Again
    • Lillian
    • 2017
  • Dustin Hoffman, Adam Sandler, and Ben Stiller in The Meyerowitz Stories (2017)
    The Meyerowitz Stories
    • Julia
    • 2017
  • Pearl
    • Pearl
    • TV Movie
    • 2016
  • Warren Beatty, Alden Ehrenreich, and Lily Collins in Rules Don't Apply (2016)
    Rules Don't Apply
    • Nadine Henly
    • 2016
  • Will Arnett in BoJack Horseman (2014)
    BoJack Horseman
    • The Closer (voice)
    • TV Series
    • 2016
  • Battle Creek (2015)
    Battle Creek
    • Constance
    • TV Series
    • 2015
  • Beautiful & Twisted (2015)
    Beautiful & Twisted
    • Bernice
    • TV Movie
    • 2015
  • A Merry Friggin' Christmas (2014)
    A Merry Friggin' Christmas
    • Donna Mitchler
    • 2014
  • Michael J. Fox, Katie Finneran, Betsy Brandt, Juliette Goglia, and Jack Gore in The Michael J. Fox Show (2013)
    The Michael J. Fox Show
    • Beth Henry
    • TV Series
    • 2013

Producer

  • Candice Bergen in Murphy Brown (1988)
    Murphy Brown
    • executive producer
    • co-executive producer
    • TV Series
    • 1995–2018
  • Mary & Tim (1996)
    Mary & Tim
    • co-executive producer
    • TV Movie
    • 1996

Soundtrack

  • Candice Bergen, Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, and Mary Steenburgen in Book Club: The Next Chapter (2023)
    Book Club: The Next Chapter
    • performer: "Anywhere with You"
    • 2023
  • Stealing Time
    • performer: "(Walkin' in a) Winter Wonderland"
    • 2009
  • The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (1998)
    The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts
    • performer: "That's Pure Mike Nichols", "That's Pure Mike Nichols (Reprise Credits Version)"
    • TV Special
    • 2003
  • Saturday Night Live Christmas Special (1999)
    Saturday Night Live Christmas Special
    • performer: "Winter Wonderland" (uncredited)
    • TV Series
    • 1999
  • Candice Bergen in Murphy Brown (1988)
    Murphy Brown
    • performer: "Respect"
    • performer: "Happy Birthday to You"
    • performer: "Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)" ...
    • TV Series
    • 1988–1997
  • Sing! Sesame Street Remembers Joe Raposo and His Music (1990)
    Sing! Sesame Street Remembers Joe Raposo and His Music
    • performer: "Sing, Sing a Song"
    • TV Movie
    • 1990
  • Candice Bergen, Burt Reynolds, and Jill Clayburgh in Starting Over (1979)
    Starting Over
    • performer: "Better Than Ever", "Easy for You", "Starting Over"
    • 1979
  • The Great Gonzo, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and Fozzie Bear in The Muppet Show (1976)
    The Muppet Show
    • performer: "Friends"
    • TV Series
    • 1976
  • Saturday Night Live (1975)
    Saturday Night Live
    • performer: "Winter Wonterland"
    • TV Series
    • 1975
  • Groucho Marx in You Bet Your Life (1950)
    You Bet Your Life
    • performer: "Play A Simple Melody"
    • TV Series
    • 1958

Videos64

Different Kind Of Fun
Clip 0:40
Different Kind Of Fun
He Brought Flowers
Clip 0:52
He Brought Flowers
Lethargic Cat
Clip 0:49
Lethargic Cat
Our New Book
Clip 0:53
Our New Book
"He Has to Love You More" from The Romantics
Clip 2:13
"He Has to Love You More" from The Romantics
Rules Don't Apply
Clip 0:57
Rules Don't Apply
Rules Don't Apply
Clip 1:02
Rules Don't Apply
A Merry Friggin' Christmas
Clip 0:32
A Merry Friggin' Christmas
A Merry Friggin' Christmas
Clip 0:24
A Merry Friggin' Christmas
Sweet Home Alabama: 10th Anniversary Edition
Clip 1:09
Sweet Home Alabama: 10th Anniversary Edition
Sweet Home Alabama: 10th Anniversary Edition
Clip 0:56
Sweet Home Alabama: 10th Anniversary Edition
Sweet Home Alabama: 10th Anniversary Edition
Clip 1:14
Sweet Home Alabama: 10th Anniversary Edition

Personal details

Edit
  • Official sites
    • Candice Bergen Art
    • Instagram
  • Alternative names
    • Candy Bergen
  • Height
    • 5′ 7″ (1.70 m)
  • Born
    • May 9, 1946
    • Los Angeles, California, USA
  • Spouses
      Marshall RoseJune 15, 2000 - present
  • Children
      Chloe Malle
  • Parents
      Edgar Bergen
  • Relatives
    • Kris Bergen(Sibling)
  • Other works
    (1970s) TV commercial for Polaroid SX-70 Land Camera.
  • Publicity listings
    • 2 Print Biographies
    • 2 Portrayals
    • 5 Interviews
    • 13 Articles
    • 8 Pictorials
    • 201 Magazine Cover Photos

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    First female host of Saturday Night Live (1975).
  • Quotes
    [on Burt Reynolds]: I have always said Burt's sensitivity and generosity were in great measure responsible for my Academy Award nomination for Starting Over (1979).
  • Trademark
      Husky resonant voice
  • Nickname
    • Candy

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