Abby Hagyard
Encyclopedia
Abby Hagyard (born in Edmonton, Alberta) is a Canadian
television actress, voice artist, and comedienne.
offices. In 1972 she returned to Edmonton and studied drama at St. Patrick's College (now Carleton University
) for 3 years. She began her work in entertainment as a production assistant
and actress in the 70's, while also working as sketch comedienne
and gofer
for live comedy revues. In the early 1980, she toured the eastern seaboard
performing in small venues, and then began hosting the CBC
television show Scene From Here, while continuing to perform sketch comedy
.
as "one of our town's best and busiest actresses", Hagyard stepped into the role of the mother on You Can't Do That on Television
in 1982. Ruth Buzzi
had co-starred in the 1979 primetime version of the show entitled Whatever Turns You On, but left when it was cancelled at the end of the '79 season. Production on the show resumed in 1981. When Hagyard joined Canadian TV Comic Les Lye
on the series in '82, she became one of only two adult cast members among the hundreds of children who participated over the series' run. She remained a regularly featured member until the series came to an end in 1990.
Between taping sessions Abby provided character voices for the animated cartoon series For Better Or For Worse
, The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin
, Dennis the Menace
and The Care Bears. She also co-hosted a popular morning drive radio show, and produced several award-winning stage plays.
After twenty years in television, radio, stage and film, Hagyard moved out of the spotlight to work in a behind-the-scenes capacity as a writer-for-hire and creative consultant.
As voice artist
winner.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
television actress, voice artist, and comedienne.
Background
Hagyard's interest in acting began when she was 19 years old and enrolled in a modeling class with her mother. She modeled for two years and then had a secretarial position in Playboy's New YorkNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
offices. In 1972 she returned to Edmonton and studied drama at St. Patrick's College (now Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
) for 3 years. She began her work in entertainment as a production assistant
Production assistant
A production assistant, also known as a PA, is a job title used in filmmaking and television for a person responsible for various aspects of a production...
and actress in the 70's, while also working as sketch comedienne
Sketch comedy
A sketch comedy consists of a series of short comedy scenes or vignettes, called "sketches," commonly between one and ten minutes long. Such sketches are performed by a group of comic actors or comedians, either on stage or through an audio and/or visual medium such as broadcasting...
and gofer
Gofer
A gofer or go-fer is an employee who is often sent on errands. "Gofer" reflects the likelihood of instructions to go for coffee, dry cleaning, or stamps, or to make other straightforward or familiar procurements. The term gofer originated in North America...
for live comedy revues. In the early 1980, she toured the eastern seaboard
Eastern seaboard
An Eastern seaboard can mean any easternmost part of a continent, or its countries, states and/or cities.Eastern seaboard may also refer to:* East Coast of Australia* East Coast of the United States* Eastern Seaboard of Thailand-See also:...
performing in small venues, and then began hosting the CBC
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
television show Scene From Here, while continuing to perform sketch comedy
Sketch comedy
A sketch comedy consists of a series of short comedy scenes or vignettes, called "sketches," commonly between one and ten minutes long. Such sketches are performed by a group of comic actors or comedians, either on stage or through an audio and/or visual medium such as broadcasting...
.
Career
Referred to by the Ottawa CitizenOttawa Citizen
The Ottawa Citizen is an English-language daily newspaper owned by Postmedia Network in Ottawa, Canada. According to the Canadian Newspaper Association, the paper had a 2008 weekly circulation of 900,197.- History :...
as "one of our town's best and busiest actresses", Hagyard stepped into the role of the mother on You Can't Do That on Television
You Can't Do That on Television
You Can't Do That on Television is a Canadian television program that first aired locally in 1979 before ultimately airing internationally in 1981...
in 1982. Ruth Buzzi
Ruth Buzzi
Ruth Ann Buzzi is an American comedienne and actress of theatre, film, and television. She is especially known for her performances on the comedy-variety show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In from 1968 to 1973.-Early life:...
had co-starred in the 1979 primetime version of the show entitled Whatever Turns You On, but left when it was cancelled at the end of the '79 season. Production on the show resumed in 1981. When Hagyard joined Canadian TV Comic Les Lye
Les Lye
Leslie Earnest "Les" Lye was a Canadian actor. Best known for his numerous roles as one of the two adults on the children's program, You Can't Do That On Television , he enjoyed a television and radio career spanning nearly half a century.-Career:Following a stint in the armed forces after high...
on the series in '82, she became one of only two adult cast members among the hundreds of children who participated over the series' run. She remained a regularly featured member until the series came to an end in 1990.
Between taping sessions Abby provided character voices for the animated cartoon series For Better Or For Worse
For Better or For Worse
For Better or For Worse is a comic strip by Lynn Johnston that ran for 30 years, chronicling the lives of a Canadian family, The Pattersons, and their friends. The story is set in the fictitious Toronto-area suburban town of Milborough, Ontario. Johnston's strip began in September 1979, and ended...
, The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin
The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin
The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin is an American animated television series based on Teddy Ruxpin, an animatronic teddy bear created by Ken Forsse and distributed by toy manufacturer Worlds of Wonder...
, Dennis the Menace
Dennis the Menace (1986 TV series)
Dennis the Menace is an American animated series produced by DIC Entertainment , based on the comic strip by Hank Ketcham....
and The Care Bears. She also co-hosted a popular morning drive radio show, and produced several award-winning stage plays.
After twenty years in television, radio, stage and film, Hagyard moved out of the spotlight to work in a behind-the-scenes capacity as a writer-for-hire and creative consultant.
Filmography
As actor- You Can't Do That on TelevisionYou Can't Do That on TelevisionYou Can't Do That on Television is a Canadian television program that first aired locally in 1979 before ultimately airing internationally in 1981...
(113 episodes, 1982–1990)
As voice artist
- The Care Bears in the Land Without FeelingsThe Care Bears in the Land Without FeelingsThe Care Bears in the Land Without Feelings is the first television special to feature the Care Bears characters. Made by Atkinson Film-Arts of Canada, it was premiered on syndication in April 1983...
(1983) - The Care Bears Battle the Freeze MachineThe Care Bears Battle the Freeze MachineThe Care Bears Battle the Freeze Machine is the second television special to feature the Care Bears characters. Made by Atkinson Film-Arts of Canada, it premiered in syndication in April 1984.-Overview:...
(1984) - For Better or for Worse: The Bestest Present (1985)
- The Adventures of Teddy RuxpinThe Adventures of Teddy RuxpinThe Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin is an American animated television series based on Teddy Ruxpin, an animatronic teddy bear created by Ken Forsse and distributed by toy manufacturer Worlds of Wonder...
(7 episodes, 1987) - The Care Bears (1 episode, 1988)
- Dennis the MenaceDennis the Menace (1986 TV series)Dennis the Menace is an American animated series produced by DIC Entertainment , based on the comic strip by Hank Ketcham....
(1986) - For Better or for Worse: The Last Camping Trip (1992)
- For Better or for Worse: A Christmas Angel (1992)
- For Better or for Worse: A Valentine from the Heart (1993)
- For Better or for Worse: The Good-for-Nothing (1993)
- For Better or for Worse: The Babe Magnet (1994)
- For Better or for Worse: A Storm in April (1997)
- For Better or for WorseFor Better or For WorseFor Better or For Worse is a comic strip by Lynn Johnston that ran for 30 years, chronicling the lives of a Canadian family, The Pattersons, and their friends. The story is set in the fictitious Toronto-area suburban town of Milborough, Ontario. Johnston's strip began in September 1979, and ended...
(1 episode, 2000)
Awards & nominations
In 1986 Hagyard was reported as a then 5-time ACTRA AwardACTRA Award
The ACTRA Awards were first presented in 1972 to celebrate excellence in Canada's television, film and radio industry. Organized and presented by ACTRA, the Association of Canadian Television and Radio Artists, which represented performers, writers and broadcast journalists, the Nellie statuettes...
winner.
- 1983, ACTRA AwardACTRA AwardThe ACTRA Awards were first presented in 1972 to celebrate excellence in Canada's television, film and radio industry. Organized and presented by ACTRA, the Association of Canadian Television and Radio Artists, which represented performers, writers and broadcast journalists, the Nellie statuettes...
for 'Best Female On-Camera Performance' - 1983, ACTRA AwardACTRA AwardThe ACTRA Awards were first presented in 1972 to celebrate excellence in Canada's television, film and radio industry. Organized and presented by ACTRA, the Association of Canadian Television and Radio Artists, which represented performers, writers and broadcast journalists, the Nellie statuettes...
for 'Best Voice-Over/Narration'
External links
- Abby Hagyard at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- Official website (archive of www.manotick.net/abbyhagyard)