Abby Hagyard

Abby Hagyard
Abby Hagyard
Born Edmonton, Alberta
Nationality Canadian
Alma mater St. Patrick's College, now part of Carleton University
Occupation Television Actress
Voice Artist
Comedienne
Writer
Producer
Known for You Can't Do That on Television
The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin
The Care Bears
For Better or for Worse
Home town Ottawa, Ontario
Awards ACTRA Awards
Website
www.nowwhatstrategies.com

Abby Hagyard (pronounced HAG-yard, of Norwegian descent[1]) (born in Edmonton, Alberta)][1]) is a Canadian television actress, producer, director, playwright, dramatist, voice artist, and comedienne.[1]

Background

Hagyard's interest in acting began when she was enrolled in a modeling class with her mother. She modeled for two years and then had a secretarial position in the New York offices of Playboy.[1] She returned to Ottawa and studied drama at St. Patrick's College (now Carleton University) for 3 years.[1][2] She began her work in entertainment as a high fashion model on Miami Beach and actress.[3] In the early 1980s, she toured the eastern seaboard performing in small venues,[2] and then began hosting the CBC television show Scene From Here,[1] while continuing to perform sketch comedy.[4]

Career

Referred to by the Ottawa Citizen as "one of our town's best and busiest actresses",[5] Starring roles in Dinner Theatre productions led to a one-woman show and an invitation to host her own entertainment series on CBC. After that, Roger Price came calling. Hagyard stepped into the role of the mother on You Can't Do That on Television in 1982. Ruth Buzzi had co-starred in the 1979 prime time version of the show entitled Whatever Turns You On, but left when it was cancelled at the end of the '79 season. Production on the show had resumed in 1981.[5] When Hagyard joined Canadian TV Comic Les Lye on the series in '82, she became one of only two adult cast members among the hundreds of children who participated over the series' run,[6] although adult roles were occasionally played also by some of the older children in the cast, particularly hostess Christine McGlade. She remained a regularly featured member until the series came to an end in 1990.[7] Hagyard's other regularly occurring role on YCDTOTV was as a librarian who spoke with a British accent.

Between taping sessions Abby provided character voices for the animated cartoon series For Better Or For Worse, The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin, Dennis the Menace and The Care Bears. She also co-hosted a popular morning drive radio show,[8] and produced several award-winning stage plays.

Since 2005, Hagyard has been developing new media projects for entrepreneurs.

Filmography

As actor
As voice artist

Recognition

Awards & nominations

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Bedard, Eva (November 28, 1980). "Comedienne on her way up". Ottawa Citizen. p. 17. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ashley, Audry (February 16, 1980). "On Stage". Ottawa Citizen. p. 36. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  3. ↑ Costigliola, Bozica (July 30, 1976). "Actress says looking at bright side only way to cope with her busy life". The Citizen. p. 90. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  4. ↑ Brown, Dave (November 9, 1981). "Brown's Beat". Ottawa Citizen. p. 4. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Brown, Dave (September 11, 1982). "Brown's Beat". Ottawa Citizen. p. 2. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Les Lye, Canadian TV Comic, Dies at 84". The New York Times. July 24, 2009. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Heading south to make it big: the American success of Canada's you can't do that on television.". American Review of Canadian Studies. March 22, 2005. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Am 1200 Breakfast Team Gets an Early Start". Ottawa Citizen. December 7, 1985. p. 47. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "CBOT wins five awards". Ottawa Citizen. March 24, 1983. p. 82. Retrieved June 3, 2010.

External links