Stage actress and singer who’s made quite a name for herself in her later years, drawing rave reviews for starring in
Sunset Boulevard and winning a
Tony for playing
Grizabella in
Cats. (Grizabella’s the one who sings “
Memory.”)
Probably better known to thirtysomething Everythingers as Abby, the stepmom, in Eight Is Enough, where she replace actress Diana Hyland, who died in real life. She also has a recurring role as Suzanne Fitzgerald on the HBO series, Oz.
In 1976, Buckley appeared in the movie Carrie as the girls’ gym teacher. When they made a musical version of Carrie in 1988, she was tapped to take a starring role as Carrie’s mother. This is not the highlight of her career.