Babz Chula

Babz Chula (born as Barbara Ellen Zuckerman; March 22, 1947 – May 7, 2010) was an American-born Canadian actress and musician.

Early life, education and career
Barbara Ellen Zuckerman was born in Springfield, Massachusetts but spent her early childhood in the working-class neighbourhood of Jamaica, Queens County, New York City. Her widowed mother, Abby Zuckerman, a booking agent for Leonard Bernstein, moved her with two young children, first to Hawaii and then to California, to pursue work in the entertainment field after Chula's father, Larry Zuckerman, an auto mechanic and stock-car racer, was killed in a car race.

Growing up in Los Angeles, where her mother eventually remarried, young Barbara won a scholarship to the California Institute of the Arts and returned to New York after graduation to perform as a folk singer. In 1971, she and her first husband, Phillip Ciulla, relocated to Slocan Valley in British Columbia before moving to Vancouver, where she resumed her acting and singing career as Babz Chula, under the respelled phonetic pronunciation of Ciulla. Her first major supporting role was in Sandy Wilson's award-winning film My American Cousin.

Personal life and death
Chula was married to Larry Lynn. After her death on May 7, 2010, at the age of 63, Lynn was ordained a Catholic priest.

Selected minor films

 * 2002: Croon as Liz
 * 2000: Becoming Dick as Waitress
 * 2000: Wednesday Woman as Andrea Glissner
 * 1999: Sweetwater as Rita
 * 1997: Jitters as Mrs. Hoffman
 * 1997: Intensity as Mrs. John Q. (Citizen)
 * 1997: Seduction in a Small Town as Jesse Pence
 * 1997: Echo as Caseworker
 * 1996: For Hope as Doctor
 * 1994: Roommates as Norma
 * 1994: My Name is Kate as Nora
 * 1993: Without a Kiss Goodbye as Unknown
 * 1993: Double, Double, Toil and Trouble as Madame Lulu
 * 1993: When a Stranger Calls Back as Agent
 * 1986: Mrs. Delafield Wants to Marry as Frieda

Selected television appearances

 * 1991: The Commish - 6 episodes
 * 1993–1996: Madison - 8 episodes
 * 1998: Police Academy - 1 episode
 * 2000–2003: Cold Squad - 1 episode
 * 1999–2001 These Arms of Mine - 5 episodes
 * 2002: Bliss - 1 episode
 * 2002: John Doe - 1 episode
 * 2004: The L Word - 1 episode
 * 2004: The Days - 3 episodes
 * 2007: Final 24 - 1 episode

Voice work

 * Captain N: The Game Master
 * Madeline
 * Captain Zed and the Zee Zone
 * Legend of the Hawaiian Slammers
 * G.I. Joe
 * Bucky O'Hare and the Toad Wars
 * Yvon of the Yukon
 * Camp Candy
 * Toon of the Month
 * Little Witch
 * Action Man
 * Christopher the Christmas Tree
 * Littlest Pet Shop
 * Funky Fables
 * Super Trolls

Recognition

 * 2009: Leo Award Best Lead Performance by a Female in a Feature Length Drama
 * 2008: Sam Payne Award
 * 2006: Leo Award for Individual Outstanding Achievement
 * 2002: Best supporting Actress New York Independent Film Festival (Bitten)
 * 2001: Gemini Award for Best Actress in a Dramatic Series
 * 1999/2002: Leo Awards Nomination "Best Performance by a Female/Picture"
 * 1996: Leo Award Winner "Best Actress"
 * 1996: Woman of the Year by Woman in Film and Video
 * 1995–1996: Jessie Award Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
 * 1992–1993: Jessie Award Outstanding Ensemble Cast