Abby Hagyard

Born in Edmonton, Alberta and of Norwegian descent,[1] 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, Ontario, 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]

Referred to by the Ottawa Citizen as "one of our town's best and busiest actresses",[5] Starring roles in dinner theater 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. Abby 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 the early 1980s, Abby Hagyard has been in demand as a celebrity speaker, event host and MC, taking the stage at galas, fund-raisers and conventions, and entertaining audiences with her signature brand of comedy, Stuff That Never Gets Old

Abby also has a boutique publishing service AH Publisher. She is the author of Fame: The Collectors' Edition, Patches And The Damsel Dragon, Vicarious: A Novel Idea and Unsuitable: A Novel Romance. These and other titles are available in print and digital formats on Amazon. Unsuitable: A Novel Romance will launch in audio, digital and print formats in the fall of 2019. Insatiable: A Novel Desire is scheduled for release in 2020.

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) – Friend Bear, Love-A-Lot Bear, Wish Bear
• The Care Bears Battle the Freeze Machine (1984) – Friend Bear, Love-A-Lot Bear, Wish Bear
• For Better or for Worse: The Bestest Present (1985)
• The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin (7 episodes, 1986-1987)
• The Care Bears (1 episode, 1988)
• Dennis the Menace (1986) - Additional Voices (Season 2)
• 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)

• Official website
• Abby Hagyard at IMDb