Barbara Niven

Barbara Niven (née Bucholz; born February 26, 1953) is an American actress, writer and producer, best known for her performances in Hallmark and Lifetime movies, and television roles in Pensacola: Wings of Gold, One Life to Live, Cedar Cove, and Chesapeake Shores. Niven had the leading role in the independent film A Perfect Ending (2012). She is also a motivational speaker, media trainer, and animal rights activist and spokesperson, as a National Ambassador for American Humane.

Barbara Niven
Born
Barbara Lee Bucholz

(1953-02-26) February 26, 1953
Other names
  • Barby Bucholz
  • Barbara Lee Alexander
  • Barbara Lee Niven
Citizenship
  • United States
  • Canada
Occupation
  • Actress
  • writer
  • media trainer
  • animal rights spokesperson
  • motivational speaker
Years active1986–present
Spouse(s)
  • Ronald Garrison
    (m. 1974, divorced)
  • David Alexander
    (m. 1985, divorced)
  • David Niven, Jr.
    (m. 1993; div. 1998)
Children1
Websitebarbaraniven.com
Signature

Early life

Barbara Lee Bucholz was born in 1953 in Portland, Oregon,[1] to parents George and Edie Bucholz,[2] has two sisters, Shelley[3] and Kim, and attended David Douglas High School. Has stated she knew when she was five that she wanted to be an actress.[4] Niven grew up hunting and fishing[5] and was a senior in high school before getting involved in acting.[6]

After high school, she attended college for six months,[7] worked as export coordinator for a foundry, a general contractor, sold commercial real estate, and modelled.[1] She married at twenty-one and had a business with her husband.[8] Niven became a mother at twenty-six.[9] After a divorce, and with no child support, she found a place to live with roommates to help with expenses.

Her ten year high school reunion committee mailed a questionnaire with the final inquiry, "have you achieved everything in your life that you thought you would by now?" The realization she had not started acting had Niven declare to herself that she was "going to be an actor" and "going to be in show business somehow." Acknowledging a penchant for being on camera and knowing she enjoyed writing, she decided to look for a job in news reporting.[4]

Career

Getting started

Niven went to see the news director at KGW in Portland and asked to make sample stories for him to critique. She promised to ‘pay it forward’ if she had a successful career. He agreed and provided a typical script. She was later hired as an intern, and her story about the White House Easter Egg Roll made the network news.[4]

She spent hours reading from the theater section of Powell's Books and memorized a monologue from Neil Simon’s Chapter Two. In the early 80s, there was a nationwide search to replace the character Tina Lord on One Life to Live. One audition was held in Seattle. Niven drove in freezing rain from Portland, taped the monologue, and drove back home without telling anyone what she had done. She was one of several people chosen to go to New York for a screen test.[10]

In New York she was told by Mari Lyn Henry, then ABC casting director,[11] that she did not have star quality and her voice would only lead to victims' roles.[12] She went back to Portland determined to work on her voice and her craft. She got a retired radio man to be her voice coach. She was cast in Hallmark Hall of Fame’s 1986 Promise, which filmed in Oregon. She received her SAG card on this movie.[13] When her daughter was ten,[14] she packed their belongings into a truck and trailer and moved to Los Angeles.

Television and film

For twelve years, she attended the master classes[15] of Milton Katselas at the Beverly Hills Playhouse.[16] Between 1986-1993 she was billed as Barbara Lee Alexander, and as Barbara Lee Niven for the film Lone Tiger (1994).see Filmography She is known for her roles on soap operas The Bold and the Beautiful as Brenda Dickerson, and in One Life to Live as Liz Coleman Reynolds.[17] [18] [19]

She served for three years on the National Board of Directors for the Screen Actors Guild.[20] From March 20 - September 8, 1989, she was hostess and announcer, with host Michael Burger, for the syndicated game show, Straight to the Heart.[21] [22] In 2000, served as a celebrity blue-team contestant for St. Thomas on Search Party.[23] [24]

Niven starred on the syndicated drama series Pensacola: Wings of Gold (1998-2000). Niven also has appeared in guest roles on numerous television series, including ER, Cold Case, Las Vegas, NCIS,[25] Charmed, Eli Stone, and Parks and Recreation. Additionally, she had multiple roles on Silk Stalkings, and a recurring role on Pacific Palisades.[26] [27]

She played Marilyn Monroe in the HBO film The Rat Pack[19] (1998) and has appeared in many films such as Under Lock and Key (1995), Forest Warrior (1996), Foxfire (1996), Breast Men (1997), The Drone Virus (2004), Chasing Ghosts (2005), Redline (2007) and Summer's Blood (2009). She had the leading role in A Perfect Ending (2012)[28] and co-starred with Kat Dennings and Ray Wise in the horror comedy Suburban Gothic (2014).[29]

Niven has also appeared in over a dozen Lifetime movies, including Stranger in My Bed (2005), The Perfect Neighbor (2005), Double Cross (2006), Murder in My House (2006), The Rival (2006), A Valentine Carol (2007), Black Widow (2008), Dead at 17 (2008), Accused at 17 (2009), Heat Wave (2009), My Mother's Secret (2012), Home Invasion (2012),[26] The Wife He Met Online (2012), and Disney Channel's Tiger Cruise (2004).[30]

She has multiple credits for Hallmark, starting with her first role in Hallmark Hall of Fame's Promise (1986), with James Garner and James Woods. Among other appearances, there are A Carol Christmas (2003),[31] Wedding Daze (2004), Back to You and Me (2005), Mystery Woman: Wild West Mystery (2006), McBride: Semper Fi (2007), and Moonlight & Mistletoe (2008). In 2013, Niven was cast in Hallmark Channel's first original drama series Cedar Cove, opposite Andie MacDowell and Bruce Boxleitner.[32] Niven is currently appearing in the series Chesapeake Shores with Treat Williams and Diane Ladd. For Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, she has been cast in the Murder, She Baked and Crossword Mysteries movies.[27]

Speaker and coach

Barbara Niven has made motivational speeches and said that if she could become an actor as a single mother at thirty, others can also fulfill their dreams. She has spoken to school classes, professional groups, and on television shows. The subjects have included: "Giving up Perfect to Claim Your Dreams", "Paralyzed to Powerful" (tips to save yourself from a stalker), "Eating Disorders & Pressures to be Perfect", and "The Pressure to be Thin in Hollywood".[33]

She has done media training[34] for individuals and corporations. Niven has a studio and developed workshops to educate people to make a positive impression with speaking, presentation, and media video. Her instructions include: for presentations, consciously create a character with voice, use good lighting, and connect heart to heart; and when performing, build relationships, be a personal producer and the welcoming person in the room.[13] [35] She says, “the older one gets the more beautiful tools and instruments you have to add to your orchestra and your palette”.[4]

She has described her writing process as do anything but write, clean the desk, then write from the heart and let the words flow.[36]

Personal life

Niven has been married three times, to Ronald Garrison (m. 1974, divorced), David Alexander (m. 1985, divorced), and David Niven, Jr. (m. June 19, 1993,[37] div. 1998).[38] She has a daughter, Jessica, and three grandchildren.[39] She obtained dual Canadian citizenship because her father was born there.[40] Her favorite color is red, although she likes to wear black.[41] She prefers sweats to fancy dresses.[42]

For thirty years, between fifteen and forty-five, she suffered from bulimia. Her older sister asked about it, and she got help after her daughter fainted at cheerleading practice. Others on the squad were also bulimic/anorexic. Niven promptly got them both help. She says, "secrets are what kept me sick." Once the secret was out, it no longer controlled her.[3] [16] [43] Eating disorders is a topic about which she gives presentations that garner positive feedback.[33] [44]

She supports human rights causes and programs that speak out against bullying. Niven appeared in She4ME[45] ('She' for Marriage Equality), the 2014 five-minute public service video created in support. She has been a proponent of the 2012 seventeen-minute anti-bullying short Love is All You Need?,[46] and its purpose in asking viewers to see themselves as a minority.[47]

Niven is an animal rights activist and spokesperson. She has a four-legged family of dogs and cats at home, and fosters older pets.[48] She has participated on an animal rescue team to save victims of a puppy mill,[49] and is a National Ambassador for American Humane.[50]

Filmography

Film and television
Year Title Role Notes
1986 Promise Joan a Television film [Hallmark Hall of Fame]
1989 My Two Dads Veronica Miles a Episode: "Duel"
1990 Equal Justice Maggie Sue a Episode: "Balancing Act"
1990 Hired to Kill Sheila Rogers a
1990 Fatal Encounter Laura a
1992 Wings Susan a Episode: "The Fortune Cookie"
1993 Psycho Cop Returns Sharon Wells a
1993 Illegal Entry: Formula for Fear Pamela Raby a
1993-1998 Silk Stalkings Cally Henshaw a
Amanda Langley
Jackie McMillan
Sally Coats
Episodes: “Night Games” (‘93)
“The Party’s Over” (‘93)
“Pulp Addiction” (‘95)
“The Party” (‘98)
1994 Lone Tiger Jane Costello n
1995 Renegade Tammy Watkins Episode: "Rancho Escondido"
1995 The Sister-in-Law Ashley Hawkins Television film [USA Network]
1995 Under Lock and Key Tina Lamb Television film [Showtime]
1995 Taken Alive Veronica
1996 Foxfire Goldie's stepmother
1996 Humanoids from the Deep Fran Taylor Television film [Showtime]
1996 Forest Warrior Stacy Franklin
1996 Depraved Monica Stienman
1996 The Bold and the Beautiful Brenda Dickerson Recurring role
1997 Pacific Palisades Evelyn Cabot Recurring role, 4 episodes:
“Past & Present Danger”,
“Desperate Measure”,
“Best Laid Plans”, “Private Showing”
1997 Breast Men Cindy Television film [HBO]
1997 Doublecross on Costa's Island Veronica
1998 Mike Hammer, Private Eye Connie Paley Episode: "Dead Men Talk"
1998 The Rat Pack Marilyn Monroe Television film [HBO]
1998 I Married a Monster Linda Harris Television film [UPN]
1998-2000 Pensacola: Wings of Gold Kate Anderson Series regular, 43 episodes
1999 Love Boat: The Next Wave Elise Daley Episode: "Prom Queen"
1999 Anoosh of the Airways Suzy
1999 Born Bad Brian's mother
2000 Luminarias Jan
2001 Alone with a Stranger Sandy Kennington
2002 ER Stephanie Episode: "Bygones"
2002-2003 One Life to Live Liz Coleman Reynolds Recurring role
2003 A Carol Christmas Morgan Maddox Television film [Hallmark]
2004 Serial Killing 4 Dummys Donna Noland
2004 Cold Case Mavis Breen Episode: "Greed"
2004 Las Vegas Alice Gold Episode: "The Strange Life of Bob"
2004 Tiger Cruise Kate Dolan Television film [Disney]
2004 Wedding Daze News Reporter Television film [Hallmark]
2004 The Drone Virus Dr. Sloan
2005 The Perfect Neighbor Donna Germaine Television film [Lifetime]
2005 Back to You and Me Connie Murray Television film [Hallmark]
2005 Stranger in My Bed Christine Goudet Television film [Lifetime]
2005 Chasing Ghosts Patricia King
2005 NCIS Dr. Elaine Burns Episode: "Silver War"
2006 Double Cross Suzanne Debson Television film [Lifetime]
2006 Mystery Woman: Wild West Mystery Annie Boone Television film [Hallmark]
2006 Charmed Helen Jenkins Episodes: "Mr. & Mrs. Witch" and "Generation Hex"
2006 Murder in My House Lauren Kessler Television film [Lifetime]
2006 All You've Got Peggy McDonald Television film [MTV]
2006 The Rival Linda Zeller Television film [Lifetime]
2007 McBride: Semper Fi Claire Whitman Television film [Hallmark]
2007 A Valentine Carol Jackie Marley Television film [Lifetime]
2007 Redline Sally Martin
2007 The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman Anne O'Connell Episode: "We're Number Two!"
2008 Eli Stone Ellen Wethersby Episodes: "Pilot" and "Father Figure"
2008 Black Widow Tiffany Collins Television film [Lifetime]
2008 Dead at 17 Alyssa Harris Television film [Lifetime]
2008 Never Enough: Sex, Money and Parking Garages in San Francisco Sylvia Chaisem
2008 Short Track Audrey Beckett
2008 Moonlight & Mistletoe Ginny Television film [Hallmark]
2009 Heat Wave Governor Carol Quinlan Television film [Lifetime]
2009 Anti-Narcotics Capt. Chandler
2009 Back to the Horn Capt. Chandler
2009 Let's Make a Deal Capt. Chandler
2009 Summer's Blood Gaia Hoxey
2009 Accused at 17 Claire Werner Television film [Lifetime]
2009 The Alpha Geek Maggie Malone
2012 My Mother's Secret Evelyn Wells Television film [Lifetime]
2012 Home Invasion Tricia Patterson Television film [Lifetime]
2012 The Wife He Met Online Alma Television film [Lifetime]
2012 A Perfect Ending Rebecca Westridge
2012 Gabe the Cupid Dog Ms. Andrews
2013 Meth Head Madelaine
2013 Being Us Julie
2013–2015 Cedar Cove Peggy Beldon Series regular, 25 episodes
2014 The M Word Nicki
2014 Suburban Gothic Eve
2015 Parks and Recreation June Hartwell Episode: "Pie-Mary"
2015 Murder, She Baked: A Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery Delores Swensen Television film [Hallmark Movies & Mysteries]
2015 Murder, She Baked: A Plum Pudding Mystery Delores Swensen Television film [Hallmark Movies & Mysteries]
2015 A Christmas Detour Susan Collins Television film [Hallmark]
2015 Hamlet's Ghost Sarah Goodman
2016 Murder, She Baked: A Peach Cobbler Mystery Delores Swensen Television film [Hallmark Movies & Mysteries]
2016 Murder, She Baked: A Deadly Recipe Delores Swensen Television film [Hallmark Movies & Mysteries]
2016-present Chesapeake Shores Megan O'Brien Series regular
2017 Campfire Kiss Beverly Gowers Television film [Hallmark]
2017 Murder, She Baked: Just Desserts Delores Swensen Television film [Hallmark Movies & Mysteries]
2017 Christmas In Evergreen Carol Shaw Television film [Hallmark]
2018 Christmas In Evergreen: Letters to Santa Carol Shaw Television film [Hallmark]
2019 Love on the Menu Andrea Fitzgerald Television film [Hallmark]
2019 Crossword Mysteries: A Puzzle to Die For Aunt Candace Television film [Hallmark Movies & Mysteries]
2019 Love Takes Flight Virginia Beauman Television film [Hallmark Hall of Fame]
2019 Crossword Mysteries: Proposing Murder Aunt Candace Television film [Hallmark Movies & Mysteries]
2019 Christmas in Evergreen: Tidings of Joy Carol Shaw Television film [Hallmark]
2020 Crossword Mysteries: Abracadaver Aunt Candace Television film [Hallmark Movies & Mysteries]
2020 USS Christmas Elizabeth Contino Television film [Hallmark Movies & Mysteries][51]
2020 Christmas in Evergreen: Bells Are Ringing Carol Shaw Television film [Hallmark][52]
2021 Crossword Mysteries: Terminal Descent Aunt Candace Television film [Hallmark Movies & Mysteries] - premieres February 14[53]
2021 Crossword Mysteries: Riddle Me This Aunt Candace Television film [Hallmark Movies & Mysteries] - filming[54]

a as Barbara Lee Alexander     n as Barbara Lee Niven

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes
1998 Psychopathia Sexualis Lucille Zoo Theatre, Hollywood, CA[23]
2019 The Last Word Jillian Garry Marshall Theatre, Burbank, CA[55]

Video games

Year Title Voice role Notes
1994 Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger Barbara Miles Newscaster
1995 Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom Barbara Miles News anchor

Books

Author

  • Niven, Barbara (2011). 111 Star Power Tips – Insider Secrets from a Hollywood Pro : For Videos, Audios, On-Camera Interviews, TV, Radio & Presentations. Shadoeworks. ISBN 978-1460912331.

Contributor

  • Niven, Barbara (2006). "Barbara Niven [actor]". In Stromberg, Gary; Merrill, Jane. Feeding the Fame : Celebrities Tell Their Real-Life Stories of Eating Disorders. Hazelden. pp. 96–107. ISBN 1-59285-350-1.
  • Niven, Barbara (2009). "ACT AS IF!". In Kingsbury, Gail (ed.). How Did You Do That! Stories of Going for It. Yinspire Media. pp. 99–104. ISBN 978-0-9819708-8-2.
  • Niven, Barbara (2011). "Shine Your Light", In Lim, Kimber (ed.). Get Your Woman On! Embracing Beauty, Grace & the Power of Women. Yinspire Media. pp. 41–46. ISBN 978-0-9819708-3-7.
  • Niven, Barbara (2013). "A Perfect Ending...and a New Beginning", In Mayfield, Karen (ed.). Wake Up Women Be You : Spread Your Wings and Fly Emotionally. Wake Up Women. pp. 32–39. ISBN 978-1508705420.
  • Niven, Barbara (2015). "Success, Goosebumps & Your Next Evolution". In Allen, Debbie (ed.). Experts Wisdom : Life Changing Principles and Transformational Business Strategies from the Go-To Authorities. Authentic Endeavors Publishing. pp. 203–218. ISBN 978-0-692-52264-6.
  • Niven, Barbara (2016). "Taking a Leap of Faith, Dreams, Money, & Show Biz" In Giankas, Patricia (ed.). Great Credit Now : Set Your GPS for Positive Success. Authentic Endeavors Publishing. pp. 105–116. ISBN 978-0-9982105-0-6.

References

  1. Riggs 2003, p. 260
  2. Niven, Barbara (2011). 111 Star Power Tips : Insider Secrets From A Hollywood Pro: For Videos, Audios, On-Camera Interviews, TV, Radio & Presentations. Shadoeworks. p. 7. ISBN 978-1460912331.
  3. Stromberg & Merrill 2006, p. 100
  4. Montague, Joe (2017-09-01). "Barbara Niven at Home on Chesapeake Shores". Riveting Riffs. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
  5. Graham, Alex (2013-04-05). "Barbara Niven "Unleash Your Star Power!"". Celebrity English. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
  6. Turnquist, Kristi (2014-07-18). "Barbara Niven: From Portland's David Douglas High School to 'Cedar Cove'". The Oregonian/OregonLive. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
  7. Jacks and Shawl 2019, at 7:20 min.
  8. Johnson 2019, at 6:09 min.
  9. Serafini 2016, at 22:10 min.
  10. Jacks and Shawl 2019, at 10:00 min.
  11. Mari-Lyn Henry listing. Marquis Who’s Who. OCLC 4778535502.
  12. Jacks and Shawl 2019, at 13:30 min.
  13. Hill, Ruth Mayer (2017-08-27). "Interview With Actress Barbara Niven, "Chesapeake Shores"". My Devotional Thoughts. Retrieved 2020-09-20.
  14. Stromberg & Merrill 2006, p. 105
  15. Johnson 2019. at 25:00 min.
  16. Furminger, Sabrina (2014-07-23). "Cedar Cove's Barbara Niven pays it forward". Vancouver Courier. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
  17. "Barbara Niven (ex-Liz, OLTL, 2002-03; ex-Brenda, B&B, 1996)". Soap Opera Digest. 2004-07-08. Retrieved 2013-06-25.
  18. Mistretta, Amy. "Ex-One Life To Live's Barbara Niven In Us. (Video Included.) - One Life To Live News - Soaps.com". Soaps.sheknows.com. Archived from the original on 2013-02-16. Retrieved 2013-06-25.
  19. Thurston, Katherine from October 2002 (2013-02-14). ""One Live to Live" Star Bio - Barbara Niven - "Elizabeth Reynolds"". Onelifetolive.about.com. Archived from the original on 2013-05-13. Retrieved 2013-06-25.
  20. Johnson, Melissa (2018-12-24). "Heartfelt Success Podcast: How to Live Your Dreams with Barbara Niven". Best Friends for Frosting. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
  21. Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010, 2nd ed. McFarland. p. 1034/#8897. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  22. Schwartz, David; Ryan, Steve; Wostbrock, Fred (1995). The Encyclopedia of TV Game Shows, 2nd ed. Facts on File. p. 187. ISBN 0-8160-3093-6.
  23. Riggs 2003, p. 261
  24. "Search Party". tv.com. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
  25. "The NCIS Team Investigates When a Body Is Found in a Cival War". CBS Studios. 2005-12-12. Retrieved 2020-10-19.
  26. "Barbara Niven". digiguide.tv. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
  27. "Barbara Niven". TV Guide. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
  28. Dumitru, Anca (2013-03-22). "Barbara Niven's role of a lifetime in 'A Perfect Ending' (Includes interview)". Digital Journal. Retrieved 2015-06-07.
  29. Harvey, Dennis (2015-01-27). "Film Review: 'Suburban Gothic'". variety.com.
  30. "Tiger Cruise". suggap. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
  31. "A Carol Christmas (2003)". bfi.org.uk. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
  32. "Hallmark Channel's 'When Calls The Heart' Adds Cast; 'Cedar Cove' July Premiere Set". Deadline.com. Retrieved 2013-06-25.
  33. "Barbara Niven: Actress-Speaker-Coach". findCE.com. Retrieved 2020-09-23.
  34. Allen, Debbie (2014). The Highly Paid Expert. Career Press. p. 147. ISBN 978-1-60163-321-7.
  35. Johnson 2019. at 17:01 min.
  36. Jacks and Shawl 2019, at 30:55 min.
  37. Archerd, Army (1993-05-11). "Smith stays strong thru cancer surgery". Variety. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
  38. Barbara Niven Biography
  39. Wallace, Debra (2020-07-28). "Barbara Niven on Creating "Comfort TV" With Hallmark and Why It's Never Too Late for Love". Parade Magazine. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
  40. Serafini 2016, at 49:35 min.
  41. Rachel 2018, at 41:38 min.
  42. Rachel 2018, at 48:15 min.
  43. Serafini 2016, at 42:45 min.
  44. Lowe, Elizabeth D. (2008-09-13). "Grand Blanc students captivated by actress Barbara Nivens' eating disorder struggle". Michigan Live. Retrieved 2020-09-24.
  45. "She4ME". marriageequality.org. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  46. "Love is All You Need?". Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  47. Dawson, M (May 2014). "Unleashing Her Star Power". Empowered Woman. p. 28-30. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  48. Serafini 2016, at 55:50 min.
  49. Ganzert, Robin (May 1, 2020). "Presidential Fireside Chat #7 with Barbara Niven". Parade Magazine. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
  50. "American Humane National Ambassador Council". Retrieved 2020-09-09.
  51. "Miracles of Christmas 2020 Preview: USS Christmas". Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  52. "Countdown to Christmas 2020 Preview: Christmas in Evergreen: Bells Are Ringing". Hallmark Channel. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  53. Hallmark. "Crossword Mysteries". hallmarkmoviesandmysteries.com. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  54. Barbara Niven (2020-11-27). "Selfie in my trailer". Facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
  55. Gidlow, Steve (2019-11-07). "Hallmark Stars Barbara Niven and John Kapelos Hit the Stage in Los Angeles". MediaVillage. Retrieved 2020-09-03.

Sources

Additional reading

  • Markel, Adam (2016). Pivot : The Art and Science of Reinventing Your Career and Life. Atria Books. [see index]. ISBN 978-1-4767-7947-8.
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