Bette Ford
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Harriet Elizabeth Dingeldein, (born June 24, 1937 in McKeesport, Pennsylvania), better known as Bette Ford has been a model, an actress and the first American bullfighter ever to fight in the Plaza Mexico, making history for the United States.
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[edit] Modeling career
Bette began her eclectic career as a model in New York. Her image was soon seen on billboards and in magazines as the face and form of the "Jantzen Bathing Suit Girl", "The Camay Bride", "The Parliament (cigarette) Girl" and scores of others. Soon she became a regular on the "Jackie Gleason Show" and "The Jimmy Durante Show".
[edit] Bullfighting career
Bette became enamored with the art form of bullfighting on a fateful trip to Bogotá, Colombia. Soon thereafter, she moved to Mexico to begin her training. Tenaciously she worked at the art, and within three years she was known as one of the top ten bullfighters in Central America. Her bullfighting took her all over all over Mexico, Panama and the Philippines where she was awarded a citation for bravery. By her third year the press ranked her one of the top ten bullfighting "figuras" in the world. Bullrings were built and named for her, and she was known as Bette "Guts" Ford- with over two hundred kills to her career, retiring from bullfighting as a top ranked Matadora. In 2007 Bette was inducted into the McKeesport Hall of Fame as one of the 70-plus greatest American Sports Heroes, and both the McKeesport Heritage Museum and the Harrisburg State Capitol Museum included Bette in an archival commemoration of her bullfighting as one of the great American sports figures from Pennsylvania.
[edit] Acting career
Bette's acting career began in New York during the time of her modeling. After retiring from bullfighting she resumed her acting and has since forged a theatrical resume as impressive as her bullfighting. Bette has created roles on Broadway and acted with a range of movie stars from Clint Eastwood to Sarah Jessica Parker to Steven Segal. She has an extensive television career often personifying the sensual older woman who can turn heads. She was recommended for an Emmy nomination for her two-part appearance on Cheers titled "Coach in Love" and was granted the title of "Mother of the year" for her series of sexy "mother" roles including her star turning performances as "Lusty Rusty" on the hit series L.A. Law where she was again recommended for an Emmy. Her unique voice can be heard in the Animatrix (The Final Flight of the Osiris), the companion animated DVD of the film trilogy The Matrix and many commercials.
[edit] Filmography
- Peanut Butter .... Dolores (2007)
- The Animatrix .... (voice) The Old Woman (segment "Final Flight of the Osiris") (2003)
- Final Flight of the Osiris .... (voice) The Old Woman (2003)
- The Division .... (TV Episode) Mrs. Sanders (aka Heart of the City/Insult to the Body) (2002)
- Felicity .... (TV Episode) Professor May (Boooz) (2001)
- ER .... (TV Episode) Princess Taffeta (Fear of Commitment) (2001)
- Providence .... (TV Episode) Hildy (Taste of providence) (1999)
- Providence .... (TV Episode) Hildy (Blind Faith) (1999)
- Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place .... (TV Episode) Marge Ryecart (aka Two Guys and a Girl) (1998)
- The Landlady .... Justine Welch (1998)
- My Engagement Party .... Estelle Salsburg (1998)
- Promised Land .... (TV Episode) Marie Jasper (aka Home of the Brave/The Winner) 1997)
- A River Made To Drown In .... Lady with Whip (1997)
- Nash Bridges .... (TV Episode) (aka Bridges/Till Death Do Us Part) (1996)
- A Face To Die For (TV Episode) .... Mrs. Berman (aka The Face) (1996)
- Life Among the Cannibals .... Betty (aka Thrill Kill) (1996)
- It Was Him or Us .... (TV Episode) Maggie Shepherd (1995)
- Party of Five .... (TV Episode) Miss Corso (Change Partners... and Dance) (1995)
- Thunder Alley .... (TV Episode) Wanda (Guess Who's Coming To Dinner) (1995)
- Tales From The Crypt .... (TV Episode) Mrs. Peterson (aka HBO's Tales From the Crypt/Surprise Party (1994)
- Season of Change .... Granny Upton (1994)
- Melrose Place .... (TV Episode) Mrs. Wilson (Married to It) (1993)
- The Wonder Years .... (TV Episode) Aunt Muriel (Scenes From a Wedding) (1992)
- The Commish .... (TV Episode) Irene Wallerstein (The Fourth Man) (1992)
- Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter .... (TV Episode) De-De (1991)
- Marked for Death .... Kate Hatcher (1990)
- The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air .... (TV Episode) Madame Chatchka (Bang the Drum, Ashley) (1990)
- Hunter .... (TV Episode) Anna Scarlatti (Son and Heir) (1990)
- Major Dad .... (TV Episode) Mom (Wedding) (1990)
- L.A. Law .... (TV Episode) Rusty Farrell (Open Heart Perjury) (1988)
- L.A. Law .... (TV Episode) Rusty Farrell (Belle of the Bald) (1988)
- L.A. Law .... (TV Episode) Rusty Farrell (Fetus Completus) (1988)
- L.A. Law .... (TV Episode) Rusty Farrell (The Brothers Grimm) (1987)
- A Year in the Life .... (TV Episode) Jackie (Acts of Faith) (1987)
- Crime Story .... (TV Episode) Angie (Atomic Fallout) (1987)
- Hotel .... (TV Episode) Mrs. Fielding (aka Arthur Hailey's Hotel/Echoes) (1985)
- Crazy Like a Fox .... (TV Episode) (Fox in 3/4 Time) (1985)
- Cheers .... (TV Episode) Irene Blanchard (Coach in Love: Part 2) (1984)
- Cheers .... (TV Episode) Irene Blanchard (Coach in Love: Part 1) (1984)
- St. Elsewhere .... (TV Episode) Pat Kroll (Playing God: Part 2) (1984)
- Emerald Point N.A.S. .... (TV Episode) Mrs. Randolph (Pandora's Box) (1984)
- Sudden Impact .... Leah (1983)
- Falcon Crest .... (TV Episode) Prison Guard (Judge and Jury) (1983)
- Falcon Crest .... (TV Episode) Prison Guard (Conspiracy) (1983)
- Another Woman's Child .... (TV Episode) Bar Girl (1983)
- Honky Tonk Man .... Lulu (1982)
- James at 15 .... (TV Episode) Mrs. Droste (aka James at 16/The Girl with the Bad Rep) (1977)
- Emergency! .... (TV Episode) Juen Edwards (Hypochondricap) (1977)
