Kelly Bishop Is 80! Here’s a Look Back at Some of Her Most Iconic Roles

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: Todd Williamson/January Images/Shutterstock

Kelly Bishop at ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’ TV series premiere, New York, USA - 13 Nov 2017

Happy birthday Kelly Bishop!

The acclaimed actress turns 80 on Feb. 28 and has much to celebrate.

A Chorus Line

Bishop at a party for the 1976 Tony Awards ceremony, where she won a Tony for her role in ‘A Chorus Line’.Lynn Karlin/WWD/Penske Media via Getty

Kelly Bishop (L) and Sammy Williams attend a Tony Awards party at Sardi’s in New York City on April 18, 1976

Bishop started her Broadway career in 1968 in the musicalGolden Rainbow, and went on to perform in shows likePromises, PromisesandOn the Town.Her theater breakthrough, however, came with the 1975 musicalA Chorus Line.Bishop, then credited as Carole Bishop, originated the role of longtime dancer Sheila Bryant — a character that was largely based upon Bishop’s own life, as explored in the song “At The Ballet.” The role would also earn Bishop the 1975 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.

Dirty Dancing

Kelly Bishop as Marjorie Houseman in ‘Dirty Dancing’.Lionsgate

Kelly Bishop Turns 80 Heres a Look at Some of Her Most Iconic Roles Over The Years

Lionsgate

Gilmore Girls

Kelly Bishop (right) and Lauren Graham in ‘Gilmore Girls’.Warner Bros.

Kelly Bishop Turns 80 Heres a Look at Some of Her Most Iconic Roles Over The Years

Warner Bros.

Though Emily did have her comedic moments — who can forget when she tried frozen pizza for the first time? — Bishop admitted in aSAG-AFTRA panelon the show that the character did have her faults.“Sheisfunny… if you don’t have to live with her," Bishop joked.

Bunheads

Kelly Bishop and Sutton Foster in ‘Bunheads’.ABC

Kelly Bishop Turns 80 Heres a Look at Some of Her Most Iconic Roles Over The Years

ABC

Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life

Kelly Bishop (right), Lauren Graham (center) and Alexis Bledel in ‘Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life’.ABC

Kelly Bishop Turns 80 Heres a Look at Some of Her Most Iconic Roles Over The Years

“I thought, ‘this was great … I’m going to be really comfortable’ because I live in jeans all the time and this is a really familiar place for me,” Bishoptold PEOPLE, at the time.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Kelly Bishop as Benedetta in ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’.Amazon Prime Video

Kelly Bishop Turns 80 Heres a Look at Some of Her Most Iconic Roles Over The Years

Amazon Prime Video

Bishop continued her collaboration with Sherman-Palladino when she took the role of Benedetta, a matchmaker, on the Emmy Award-winning series. Bishop appeared as a guest star in 2022 before being promoted to series regular forMaisel’s final season.

source: people.com

Other Posts

Powered by Hugo