Bernadette Peters was born Bernadette Lazzara in 1948 in New York City. She is of Sicilian-American descent and the youngest of three children. Her siblings include Joseph Lazzara and casting director Donna DeSeta. Her father, Peter Lazzara, worked as a bread delivery truck driver, while her mother, Marguerite, introduced her to show business at a very young age. At just three and a half years old, Peters appeared on the television show Juvenile Jury. By age five, she had made appearances on Name That Tune and The Horn and Hardart Children’s Hour.
To avoid ethnic stereotyping, she adopted the stage name "Bernadette Peters," taking her father's first name as her last. At age nine, she obtained her Actors' Equity Association card under this name and made her professional stage debut in Otto Preminger’s comedy This Is Goggle.
Bernadette Peters began her performance career as a child actress and transitioned into television and film by the 1970s. Her early television work included appearances on The Carol Burnett Show and The Muppet Show, both of which earned her significant acclaim. During this period, she also appeared in notable films such as The Jerk, Silent Movie, Annie, and Pennies From Heaven.
By the 1980s, Peters had returned to her roots in theater, becoming a prominent Broadway star for over three decades. Her distinctive voice and compelling stage presence established her as one of the most critically acclaimed performers in musical theatre.
Peters is particularly noted for her interpretations of Stephen Sondheim's work, a distinction that has led many to regard her as one of the foremost interpreters of his musicals. Her celebrated Broadway roles include performances in Gypsy, Annie Get Your Gun, Into the Woods, Song and Dance, Sunday in the Park with George, and Mack and Mabel.
She has received seven Tony Award nominations, winning two, including one honorary award. Peters has also been nominated for nine Drama Desk Awards, winning three. Additionally, four cast albums from productions she starred in have won Grammy Awards. Her impact on the Broadway stage remains influential and widely recognized.
| Birth Date: | 28 Feb, 1948 |
| Age: | 72 yrs |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | Queens |
| Gender: | Female |
| Description: | Actress, singer |
| Twitter Id: | OfficialBPeters |
| Net Worth 2021: | 40 million |
