Barbara Babcock

Barbara Babcock is an American actress. She began her career on television in mid-1950s with guest-starring appearances in more than 60 television series through her career. She made several appearances on Star Trek: The Original Series, Mannix and Murder, She Wrote and had a recurring role in the CBS prime time soap opera, Dallas from 1978 to 1982.

In 1981, Babcock received Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Grace Gardner in the NBC police drama series, Hill Street Blues (1981–87). She later starred in a number of short-lived television series, most notable The Law & Harry McGraw (1987–88). From 1993 to 1998, Babcock starred as Dorothy Jennings in the CBS Western series, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, for which she was nominated for an Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 1995. Babcock also appeared in films Day of the Evil Gun (1968), Heaven with a Gun (1969), Chosen Survivors (1974), The Black Marble (1980), The Lords of Discipline (1983), Far and Away (1992) and Space Cowboys (2000).

Early life
Born in the United States, Babcock spent a large part of her childhood in Tokyo, Japan, where her father, U.S. Army Gen. Conrad Stanton Babcock, Jr., was stationed. She learned to speak Japanese before English.

Babcock studied at University of Lausanne in Switzerland and in Italy at the University of Milan. She also attended Miss Porter's School and graduated from Wellesley College, where she was a classmate of Ali MacGraw's.

Career
Babcock made her television debut appearing in an episode of anthology series The United States Steel Hour in 1956. The following years she made many guest-starring appearances on television, notable in The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis as a cousin to the rich boy nemesis of the title character. She made appearances on The Lieutenant, The Munsters, The Green Hornet, The Lucy Show, Judd, for the Defense and Mission: Impossible. From 1967 to 1969 she appeared in several episodes of the original series of Star Trek, although much of her work on the show consisted of uncredited voice roles. She also appeared in three episodes of Hogan's Heroes from 1967 to 1970.

In 1968, she made her big screen debut on the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Western film Day of the Evil Gun starring Glenn Ford, followed by role in the Heaven with a Gun (1969) also with Glenn Ford. She appeared in a number of made-for-television movies and miniseries in 1970s, including The Last Child (1971), Christmas Miracle in Caufield, U.S.A. (1977), The Survival of Dana (1979) and Salem's Lot (1979). She had supporting roles in films Bang the Drum Slowly (1973), Chosen Survivors (1974), The Black Marble (1980), Back Roads (1981), The Lords of Discipline (1983), and That Was Then... This Is Now (1985), Heart of Dixie (1989) and Happy Together (1989). She also made appearances on The F.B.I., Cannon, Love, American Style, Medical Center, Starsky & Hutch and The Rockford Files, as well four appearances on Mannix. She had regular role on the CBS daytime soap opera Search for Tomorrow in 1976 and from 1978 to 1982 had a recurring role of Liz Craig in the CBS prime time soap opera, Dallas.

In 1981, Babcock received critical acclaim for playing Grace Gardner in the NBC police drama series Hill Street Blues. She won the 1981 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her work on Hill Street Blues. She appeared in 17 episodes from 1981 to 1987. After her break with show, Babcock went to star in a made-for-television movies Quarterback Princess (1983), Attack on Fear (1984) and News at Eleven (1986). She starred in the short-lived CBS drama series The Four Seasons in 1984, based on 1981 film The Four Seasons. She also starred in the short-lived sitcom Mr. Sunshine in 1986, and the detective series The Law & Harry McGraw from 1987 to 1988. During 1980s, Babcock also guest-starred on Cheers, Hotel, Remington Steele, and starred in an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents — receiving the 1987 CableACE Award for Outstanding Actress in a Dramatic Series. She made five appearances on Murder, She Wrote from 1985 to 1993, and also appeared on The Golden Girls, Empty Nest, China Beach, Wings, and Sisters. She played the mother of Nicole Kidman's character in the 1992 Western film Far and Away.

From 1993 to 1998, Babcock played the role of Dorothy Jennings in the CBS Western series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, for which she was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 1993. (However, the Emmy Awards website lists the nomination for 1995.) She was voted one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World by People in 1994. She reprised her role in the 1998 made-for-television movie Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: The Movie. In 1999 she played the leading role in A Vow to Cherish opposite Ken Howard. In 2000, Babcock made her final big screen appearance in the science fiction film Space Cowboys with Clint Eastwood and James Garner. She also made guest appearances on The Pretender, Chicago Hope, Frasier, and Judging Amy. From 2001 to 2002, she played the role of the mother of Dana Delany's character in the Fox drama series, Pasadena. In 2002, she appeared in a made-for-television comedy Home Alone 4.

Personal life
In 2004, Babcock was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and resided in Carmel, California.

In 1982, Babcock and actress Susan Bjurman received for a combination solid stick scalp cleanser and hair shampoo-conditioner gel that they developed.