Biography
Born, raised, and educated in the Midwest, character actress Bonnie Bartlett moved to New York City with her actor husband,
William Daniels (otherwise known as the voice of K.I.T.T. on
Knight Rider). During the '50s, she played Vanessa Raven on the CBS soap opera Love of Life. After adopting two children in the '60s, she went on to a prolific career on television. From 1974-1977 she played widow Grace Snider who married the farmer Isaiah Edwards on
Little House on the Prairie. From 1982-1988 she played Ellen, the wife of Dr. Mark Craig (played by husband Daniels) on St. Elsewhere. At the 1986 Emmy awards, the couple became the first married team to win acting awards on the same night. Of her many made-for-television movies and miniseries, she had starring roles in
Right to Die, Victim of Love: The Shannon Mohr Story, and
Tuesdays With Morrie. Her supporting roles in feature films include
Twins,
Dave, and
Primary Colors. Back on television in the late '90s, she played several reoccurring characters, most notably Lucille on
Home Improvement, Dean Bolander on
Boy Meets World, and Barbara Brooks on
Once and Again. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide