Early Life
Bernadette Peters was born Bernadette Lazzara on February 28, 1948, in the Queens borough of New York City. She is the daughter of Marguerite and Peter Lazzara. Her father drove a bread delivery truck. Bernadette grew up with her two older siblings, Donna and Joseph. Her mother was intent on getting Peters involved in show business from a young age.
Career
At the age of nine, Peters obtained her Actors Equity Card. She made her professional stage debut in This is Goggle. She then appeared on the television show A Boy Called Ciske. Over the next few years, she had a successful career as a child actor, both on screen and on-stage. She was able to transition her success into a career as an adult actor as well. In 1968, her performance in the Off-Broadway production of Dames at Sea brought her critical acclaim and her first Drama Desk Award. Bernadette then starred in La Strada in 1969 and “On the Town” in 1971. For the latter play, she received her first Tony Award nomination. She received another nomination in 1974 when she appeared in “Mack and Mabel.” Around this time, she decided to move from New York to Los Angeles to focus her career more on television and film.
Beginning in 1973, Peters has appeared in over 40 films and television films. In 1976, she appeared in the Mel Brooks film Silent Movie and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture. She also co-starred in her own television series, All’s Fair, with Richard Carenna from 1976 to 1977. In 1979, she appeared in the film The Jerk with Steve Martin. She again acted alongside him in “Pennies from Heaven” in 1981.
