Bettye Ackerman
Encyclopedia
Bettye Ackerman was an American
actress primarily known for her work on television
.
Ackerman was born in Cottageville, South Carolina
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 played Dr. Maggie Graham on the ABC
medical drama
, Ben Casey
, from 1961 until 1966. 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.
On June 7, 1956, Ackerman, at thirty-two, married her future Ben Casey co-star Sam Jaffe
, who was then sixty-five. 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
and died in 2006 after having suffered a stroke
in Columbia, South Carolina
.
Bettye Ackerman Jaffe was also a noted artist, who had numerous exhibits in both Beverly Hills and Columbia, South Carolina.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress primarily known for her work on television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
.
Ackerman was born in Cottageville, South Carolina
Cottageville, South Carolina
Cottageville is a town in Colleton County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 707 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Cottageville has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
and grew up in Williston
Williston, South Carolina
Williston is a town in Barnwell County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 3,307 at the 2000 census.The town lies in the center of the Charleston-Hamburg railroad line, the line of the Best Friend locomotive. The train tracks were removed in the 1990s, however, the track site has...
in Barnwell County
Barnwell County, South Carolina
-History:The Barnwell District was created in 1798 from the southwestern portion of the Orangeburg District, along the Savannah River...
in southwestern South Carolina, one of four children. She graduated from Columbia College
Columbia College (Columbia, South Carolina)
Columbia College is a private liberal arts women's college in Columbia, South Carolina. The school is affiliated with United Methodist Church and has more than 1,500 students...
in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
in 1945 and left for New York City
New 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...
soon after. She played Dr. Maggie Graham on the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
medical drama
Medical drama
A medical drama is a television program, in which events center upon a hospital, an ambulance staff, or any medical environment.In the United States, most medical episodes are one hour long and, more often than not, are set in a hospital. Most current medical Dramatic programming go beyond the...
, Ben Casey
Ben Casey
Ben Casey is an American medical drama series which ran on ABC from 1961 to 1966. The show was known for its opening titles, which consisted of a hand drawing the symbols "♂, ♀, *, †, ∞" on a chalkboard, as cast member Sam Jaffe intoned, "Man, woman, birth, death, infinity." Neurosurgeon Joseph...
, from 1961 until 1966. She played Anne Frazer on Bracken's World
Bracken's World
Bracken's World is an American drama series broadcast on NBC from September 19, 1969 to December 25, 1970. The series was created and produced by Dorothy Kingsley.-Synopsis:...
and the original Constance MacKenzie on the daytime program Return to Peyton Place
Return to Peyton Place (TV series)
Return to Peyton Place is an American daytime soap opera which aired on NBC from April 3, 1972 to January 4, 1974. The series was a spin-off of the primetime drama series Peyton Place rather than an adaptation of the 1959 novel of the same name by Grace Metalious.The storylines from the daytime...
. She appeared in an early episode of prime time soap Falcon Crest
Falcon Crest
Falcon Crest is an American primetime television soap opera which aired on the CBS network for nine seasons, from December 4, 1981 to May 17, 1990. A total of 227 episodes were produced....
portraying the character of Elisabeth Bradbury.
On June 7, 1956, Ackerman, at thirty-two, married her future Ben Casey co-star Sam Jaffe
Sam Jaffe (actor)
Sam Jaffe was an American actor, teacher, musician and engineer. In 1951, he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in The Asphalt Jungle and appeared in other classic films such as Ben-Hur and The Day the Earth Stood Still...
, who was then sixty-five. Although there was a 33-year difference in their ages, the couple had a very successful and happy marriage
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
until Jaffe died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in 1984. They had no children.
She sold her home in Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and returned to South Carolina to be near her large extended family in 1998. Shortly afterwards she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
and died in 2006 after having suffered a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
in Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
.
Bettye Ackerman Jaffe was also a noted artist, who had numerous exhibits in both Beverly Hills and Columbia, South Carolina.
Movies
- Face of Fire (1959) as Grace Trescott
- Companions in NightmareCompanions in NightmareCompanions in Nightmare is a 1968 crime-drama film. it had early roles for Louis Gossett Jr. and Bettye Ackerman it also starred Gig Young, Melvyn Douglas, Patrick O'Neal and Leslie Nielsen-Plot:...
(1968) as Sara Nicholson - RascalRascal (film)Rascal is a film that was released in 1969 by Walt Disney Pictures.-Synopsis:The movie is based on Sterling North's 1963 "memoir of a better era." North, born near Edgerton, Wisconsin, was a former literary editor for newspapers in Chicago and New York...
(1969) as Miss Whalen
Television
- Ben CaseyBen CaseyBen Casey is an American medical drama series which ran on ABC from 1961 to 1966. The show was known for its opening titles, which consisted of a hand drawing the symbols "♂, ♀, *, †, ∞" on a chalkboard, as cast member Sam Jaffe intoned, "Man, woman, birth, death, infinity." Neurosurgeon Joseph...
(ABC) (1961–1966) as Dr. Maggie Graham - Breaking Point (ABC) as Eunice Osment in "Better Than a Dead Lion" (1964)
- Bracken's WorldBracken's WorldBracken's World is an American drama series broadcast on NBC from September 19, 1969 to December 25, 1970. The series was created and produced by Dorothy Kingsley.-Synopsis:...
(NBC) (1970) as Anne Frazer, Bracken's secretary - The Sixth SenseThe Sixth Sense (TV series)The Sixth Sense is an American paranormal thriller television series featuring Gary Collins and Catherine Ferrar. Based on the 1971 television movie Sweet, Sweet Rachel, the series was broadcast by the American Broadcasting Company from January 1972 through December 1972.-Synopsis:Collins is...
(ABC) (1972) as Helene, a piano instructor, and mother of a psychic, who attempts murder - Falcon CrestFalcon CrestFalcon Crest is an American primetime television soap opera which aired on the CBS network for nine seasons, from December 4, 1981 to May 17, 1990. A total of 227 episodes were produced....
(1982) as Elisabeth Bradbury