Bettye Louise Ackerman (February 28, 1924 – November 1, 2006) was an American actress primarily known for her work on television.
Early years Ackerman was born in Cottageville, South Carolina (another source says she was born in Williston, South Carolina), the daughter of Clarence Kilgo Ackerman and Mary Baker Ackerman, and grew up in Williston, in Barnwell County in southwestern South Carolina, one of four children. She graduated from Columbia College in South Carolina in 1945 and left for New York City soon after. She studied theater at the graduate level at Columbia University in New York and pursued art studies with Joseph Mugnaini and George DeGroat at Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles.
Television From 1961 until 1966, Ackerman played Dr. Maggie Graham on the ABC medical drama Ben Casey. She played Anne Frazer on Bracken's World and the original Constance MacKenzie on the daytime program Return to Peyton Place. She appeared in an early episode of prime time soap Falcon Crest portraying the character of Elisabeth Bradbury. She also appeared in two episodes of Perry Mason, starring Raymond Burr: in 1965. she played the role of Amy Reid in the episode, "The Case of the Thermal Thief," and in 1966. she played Laura Brandon in "The Case of the Positive Negative." In 1972, she appeared in the Gunsmoke episode, “This Golden Land.” In 1977, she appeared in "Never Con a Killer," the pilot for the ABC crime drama The Feather and Father Gang.
Stage Ackerman played the title role in the one act play Salome, by Oscar Wilde, as part of the Alexander Kirkland Acting Group. The production was released on Magic-Tone Records (CTG 4011). Ackerman's Broadway credits include A Meeting by the River (1979).
Film Ackerman's film debut came in Face of Fire in 1959.
Personal life On June 7, 1956, Ackerman, at 32, married her future Ben Casey co-star Sam Jaffe, who was then 65. Although there was a 33-year difference in their ages, the couple had a very successful and happy marriage until Jaffe died of cancer in 1984. They had no children.
She sold her home in Beverly Hills, California, and returned to South Carolina to be near her large extended family in 1998. Shortly afterwards, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
Ackerman was also a noted artist, who had numerous exhibits in both Beverly Hills and Columbia, South Carolina.
Death Ackerman died November 1, 2006, after having suffered a stroke in Columbia, South Carolina. She was 82.
She is buried in Williston Cemetery in South Carolina.Resting Places: The Burial Places of 14,000 Famous Persons, by Scott Wilson
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes1959Face of FireGrace Trescott1969RascalMiss Whalen1991Ted & VenusPoetry Award Presenter1994Prehysteria! 2Miss WintersVideo
Television Year Title Role Notes1953Girl (uncredited)Season 6 Episode 2: "The Bachelor Party"1955Studio OneBettySeason 7 Episode 39: "The Incredible World of Horace Ford"1959Alfred Hitchcock PresentsMrs. InkelSeason 5 Episode 12: "Specialty of the House"1961Naked CitySusan BognarSeason 2 Episode 25: "An Economy of Death"1961InsightIlsa DavisSeason 1 Episode 133: "Breakthrough"1961–1966Ben CaseyDr. Maggie Graham58 episodes1962Lorna DicksonSeason 1 Episode 14: "The Tender Poisoner"1962–1963Alcoa PremiereEllen / Dorothy Swift2 episodes1964Breaking PointEunice OsmentSeason 1 Episode 18: "Better Than a Dead Lion"1965–1966Perry MasonAmy Reid / Laura Brandon2 episodes1967Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler TheatreDorothy ReynoldsSeason 4 Episode 21: "Verdict for Terror"1967BonanzaEstelle DawsonSeason 9 Episode 1: "Second Chance"1968Companions in NightmareSara NicholsonTV Movie1968–1970Annette Jurgens / Miss Kurland / Mary Binyon3 episodes1969MannixRita ClamanSeason 2 Episode 15: "Only Giants Can Play"1969–1973Medical CenterNurse Marsh4 episodes1969–1974IronsideDr. Pat Manners / Sylvia Harris2 episodes1970Bracken's WorldAnne Frazer13 episodes1972ColumboMiss ShermanSeason 1 Episode 7: "Blueprint for Murder"1972HeleneSeason 1 Episode 6: "Can a Dead Man Strike from the Grave?"1972Heat of AngerStella GalvinTV Movie1972–1974Return to Peyton PlaceConstance MacKenzie #11973GunsmokeZisha GorofskySeason 18 Episode 24: "This Golden Land"1973–1975Ellen Tabnor / Judge2 episodes1974Murder or MercyNurse CantelliTV Movie1974MoochBettye Ackerman (uncredited)TV Movie1974Lucas TannerFrances Shaw2 episodes1974–1976Police StoryMartha Dunnhill / Katherine Moran2 episodes1974–1976Barnaby JonesMargery Kinner / Mrs. Nesbitt2 episodes1975Dr. HamillSeason 3 Episode 21: "Asylum"1975Harry OLaureen ListerSeason 2 Episode 6: "The Acolyte"1975PetrocelliAnn HendricksSeason 2 Episode 11: "Too Many Alibis"1977Never Con a KillerDorothyTV Movie1977DorothySeason 1 Episode 6: "Never Con a Killer"1977Wonder WomanAsclepiaSeason 2 Episode 1: "The Return of Wonder Woman"1977CHiPsMrs. BurgessSeason 1 Episode 2: "Undertow"1977–1981Belle Becker 2 episodes1978Doctors' Private LivesSylviaTV Movie1978Police WomanHelen FletcherSeason 4 Episode 22: "Good Old Uncle Ben"1979240-RobertEileen PhillipsSeason 1 Episode 2: "Stuntman"1980Trouble in High Timber CountryMrs. LomaxTV Movie1981Foul PlaySeason 1 Episode 9: "The Terrible Tara O'Hara"1982Falcon CrestElizabeth BradburySeason 1 Episode 11: "For Love or Money"1982A Day for Thanks on Walton's MountainBelle TuckerTV Movie1982DynastyKatherineSeason 3 Episode 4: "The Will"1982–1984Trapper John, M.D.Mrs. Bayard / Dr. Michaels2 episodes1983Confessions of a Married ManSocial Security EmployeeTV Movie1983Professor Helen BurtonSeason 6 Episode 26: "The Professor Has Class/When the Magic Disappears/We, the Jury"1984Double TroubleThe JudgeSeason 1 Episode 5: "Dueling Feet"1985Me and MomSeason 1 Episode 1: "A Killing in the Market"1985Tales of the UnexpectedRubySeason 8 Episode 3: "Nothin' Short of Highway Robbery"1986St. ElsewhereMrs. NovaSeason 5 Episode 11: "Lost Weekend"
References
External links