Candice Bergen Biography

CANDICE BERGEN

Date of Birth: May 9, 1946

Daughter of popular radio ventriloquist Edgar Bergen, Beverly Hills native Bergen was big news before she was even born. She was only an infant when she made her first professional appearance, with her parents in a magazine advertisement. By the age of ten, Bergen also appeared occasionally on her father's radio program, demonstrating the ability to throw her own voice. At age 11, she was a contestant on the TV quiz show, You Bet Your Life.

She regularly received Christmas presents from Walt Disney and her many friends included Jimmy Stewart's son and Liza Minnelli. When she was six, Candice's turtle Toby died. The "funeral" for him was photographed and filmed, and can be seen on Edgar Bergen's A&E's Biography, as well as in the prologue to Candice's book Knock Wood, and Candice's second appearance on the Tonight Show.

Candice attended one year of boarding school in Switzerland. Her parents, visiting her after one semester, thought that all Candy had really learned was smoking and drinking, so they brought her back to California with them.

Although she loved her family and their posh lifestyle, she rebelled against the conservatism and adopted a well-publicized, freewheeling lifestyle, as well as a movie career. Candice attended University of Pennsylvania, where she became interested in photography and also landed some modeling jobs. She was kicked out after failing two subjects, which she defends by saying that she simply couldn't get to her 8 am class on time. She moved to New York and landed her first role as a wealthy young lesbian in the film The Group (1966).

Critics panned her "wooden" performance in The Sand Pebbles (1966), something which stuck with her for the rest of the '60s. Several films later, Bergen decided to take her career more seriously than did her critics, and began emerging into a talented and reliable actress in such films as Carnal Knowledge (1971) and The Wind and the Lion (1975).

Bergen's roller-coaster offscreen life settled into relative normality when she married French film director Louis Malle; meanwhile, her acting career gained momentum as she sought out and received ever-improving movie and TV roles, including becoming the first female host of Saturday Night Live.

In 1988, Bergen began a run in the title role of the television sitcom Murphy Brown, in which she was brilliant as a mercurial, high-strung TV newsmagazine reporter. The role won Bergen several Emmy Awards.

In the late 90s, Bergan was often spotted in-between shows as spokeswoman for the Sprint and Sprint Canada commercials.

She also appeared in the comedies Miss Congeniality (2000), Sweet Home Alabama (2002), View from the Top (2003), and The In-Laws (2003).

She worked on various TV shows throughout the '00s, including episodes of Sex and the City, Law & Order, and Boston Legal.

In 2010, she acted in the film Bride Wars alongside Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway before appearing in the comedy A Merry Christmas Miracle (2014) with Joel McHale, Lauren Graham, Oliver Platt and Robin Williams.

Candice's latest projects include the ensemble Rules Don't Apply (2016) and the romantic comedy Home Again (2017) starring Reese Witherspoon.

She has also worked as a successful photojournalist for more than 25 years, contributing articles and photographs to many magazines.

In 1995, her husband died, leaving her with one daughter, Chloe Malle. She married New York real estate magnate, Marshall Rose, in June 2000.

Filmography:

Home Again (2017)
Rules Don't Apply (2016)
A Merry Christmas Miracle (2014)
The Romantics (2010)
Bride Wars (2009)
The Women (2008)
Sex and the City (2008)
The In-Laws (2003)
View From the Top (2003)
Sweet Home Alabama (2002)
Miss Congeniality (2000)
Belly Talkers (1996)
Who Is Henry Jaglom? (1996)
Stick (1985)
2010 (1984) (voice)
Gandhi (1982)
Rich and Famous (1981)
Starting Over (1979)
Oliver's Story (1978)
La Fine del mondo nel nostro solito letto in una notte piena di pioggia (1978)
The Domino Principle (1977)
The Wind and the Lion (1975)
Bite the Bullet (1975)
11 Harrowhouse (1974)
T.R. Baskin (1971)
Carnal Knowledge (1971)
The Hunting Party (1971)
Soldier Blue (1970)
Getting Straight (1970)
The Adventurers (1970)
The Magus (1968)
Flash 02 (1967)
The Day the Fish Came Out (1967)
Vivre pour vivre (1967)
The Sand Pebbles (1966)
The Group (1966)
Unusual Occupations (1947/I) (uncredited)