Betty Bobbitt

Betty Ann Bobbitt (February 7, 1939 – November 30, 2020) was an American actress, director, singer, and playwright based in Australia, with a career that spanned over 60 years encompassing theatre, television and film.

Betty Bobbitt
Born
Betty Ann Bobbitt

(1939-02-07)7 February 1939
Died30 November 2020(2020-11-30) (aged 81)
Occupation
  • Actress
  • singer
  • playwright
Years active1957–2004, 2010–2020
Spouse(s)Robin Hill (divorced) (1 child)

Bobbitt was best known for her small screen role as lesbian motherly character Judy Bryant in cult series Prisoner (also known in the UK and US as Prisoner: Cell Block H and Canada as Caged Women) from 1980 and 1985, through 430 episodes, she original audition for the role of Queen Bea Smith, that was given to actress Val Lehman was the second actress to portray a lesbian character in the series after Carol Burns, who played original character Franky Doyle. Bobbitt was the series second-longest serving actor after original Elspeth Ballantyne, who played Officer Meg Jackson (later Morris), who featured in the entire 692 series run.

In the series the character of Judy was convicted of smuggling drugs so she could be with her lesbian lover in the fictional Wentworth Detention Centre, whilst in prison she was raped, survived a murder attempt, broke out on 2 occasions and discovered she had a long lost daughter.[1]

On film she had cameo roles appearing opposite Paul Hogan, in several of the Crocodile Dundee series including Crocodile Dundee II (1988), Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles (2001), and the direct-to-videoThe Very Excellent Mr. Dundee (2020).

Bobbitt died on 30 November 2020, aged 81, following a stroke.[2]

Early career in the United States and Australia

Bobbitt was born in Manhattan, New York, to nurse Elizabeth née, Sprout and Hubert Bobbitt, a steel mill worker and grew up in Norristown, a suburb of Philadelphia.[3] She attended a Catholic school and Norristown High School.

Moving at aged 18 to Los Angeles for a production of Auntie Mame, she was approached by an Australian television producer who asked her if she "wanted to come to Australia and be funny".[3] She was contracted for six months and appeared as a regular on a Melbourne television variety show, Daly at Night, as "a female Victor Borge, singing off-key and just plain acting like a dumb brunette".[3] She was known in Australia in the early 1960s as "Betty Bobbitt the dizzy brunette from Big Bear", referencing a fictitious place ostensibly in Pennsylvania.[4]

She subsequently married an Australian artist, Robin Hill,[4] and had a son, Christopher, in England. Returning to Melbourne, Australia, she appeared in many theatre productions with the Melbourne Theatre Company. She also teamed up with future Prisoner stars Anne Phelan and Colette Mann in a 1970s stage show called The Glitter Girls who performed 1940s songs. Notable theatre included in Martin Cripps Cruel and Tender and Jean Cocteau of 'The Human Voice[5]

Australian television productions

Bobbitt was a fixture on Australian television from the mid-1960s with guest roles in serials including Matlock Police, Homicide, A Country Practice, The Flying Doctors, All Saints, Marshall Law, and  Blue Heelers.

Prisoner: Cell Block H

She became best known for her portrayal of lesbian character Judy Bryant, a series regular on the popular Australian television program Prisoner. She first appeared in the series in February 1980. After it started to gain a cult status in the US, billed as Prisoner: Cell Block H, an American actress was suggested by producers as a nod to local audiences. Her character was intended only for a short-term 13 episode appearance, but she became immensely popular, and was retained in the series. Bobbitt continued in the role until May 1985, making her the show's second-longest serving actor, at 429 episodes, second only to Elspeth Ballantyne as officer Meg Jackson Morris, an original who appeared at the series' inception. After Prisoner, she continued in theatre roles and made guest appearance in television and film

During her time in Prisoner Bobbitt performed with fellow Prisoner cast members Jane Clifton and Colette Mann in a three-woman troupe named "The Mini Busettes" in the 1980s. They performed around Australia in RSL and similar clubs.

Bobbitt appeared in a guest role in TV series Neighbours in 2019, to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Prisoner, she featured alongside fellow stars Jane Clifton, Jentah Sobott and Jenny Lovell, who arrive in Erinsborough to attend Sheila's Bookclub, in doing so she was reunited with other Prisoner co-stars who now star in the series, Colette Mann, who plays regular Sheila Canning and Jackie Woodburne who has long played Susan Kennedy.

Film

She has had cameo roles in the Crocodile Dundee franchise starring Paul Hogan including Crocodile Dundee II and Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles (a.k.a.Crocodile Dundee III) and The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee.

In 2004, Bobbitt made a brief uncredited appearance in the American television remake of the Stephen King classic, Salem's Lot, and in 2010 in a thriller, Torn.

Publication

In 2011, Bobbitt self-published her book From the Outside (ISBN 9780646561332), which documents her life and career playing the role of Judy Bryant on Prisoner.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1982The ClinicWilma
1988Crocodile Dundee IITourist (Meg)
1991Edens LostMabelTelevision film
1992Survive the Savage SeaMrs. HainesTelevision film
1997Doing Time for Patsy ClineConnie
2001Crocodile Dundee IIIAmerican Lady
2003The CadetThe AddictShort film
2010TornDaniel's Mother
2020The Very Excellent Mr. DundeeBetty

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1966,
1975–1976
HomicideVicki Franklin, Blossom, Customs Officer3 episodes
1975Matlock PoliceMrs. Nelson, Valerie Praitt2 episodes
1980–1985PrisonerJudy Bryant429 episodes
1981Prisoner in ConcertJudy BryantTelevision special
1984Special SquadDaisyEpisode: "Until Death"
1986A Country PracticeEllen Dainty2 episodes
1991The Flying DoctorsJo MageeEpisode: "Johnno Be Good"
1992Frankie's HouseSurgeonMiniseries
1998–1999All SaintsOlivia McCreadie2 episodes
2000The GamesBetty, Media LiaisonEpisode: "The End"
2002Marshall LawWandaEpisode: "The Samovar"
2000Blue HeelersMadge Harcourt2 episodes
2004Salem's LotUncredited
2019NeighboursErica KingEpisode: "Episode #1.8048"

References

  1. https://theguardian.com/global/2020/dec/o2/betty-bobbitt-obituary. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. "Prisoner's Betty Bobbitt Dies". Star Observer. 30 November 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  3. Laura Lippstone, "Life in the Land of Oz", Philadelphia Inquirer, 9 November 1986 p. 31.
  4. "Unpredictable Bobbitt recalls other TV days", The Age (Melbourne), 17 March 1966, p. 26.
  5. Neil Jillet 'Reportoire Rounded off in a Small Way' by The Melbourne Age 30 March 1978 P.8
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