Betty Thomas
Betty Thomas Nienhauser, born on July 27, 1948, in St. Louis, Missouri, is a notable figure in the entertainment industry, recognized for her work as both an actress and a director. After graduating from Ohio University in 1969, she briefly taught high school art before pursuing a career in acting, which began in Chicago's Second City Improv Club. Thomas gained prominence for her role as Officer Lucille Bates on the acclaimed series *Hill Street Blues*, earning several Emmy nominations and winning one in 1985.
Transitioning to directing, she made significant contributions to both television and film, with directing credits that include *Dream On*, *The Brady Bunch Movie*, and *Private Parts*. Notably, her work on *Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel* made her the first female director to have a film gross over $200 million. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a passion for diverse storytelling, including tackling complex themes such as alcoholism in *28 Days*. Betty Thomas continues to influence the industry, reflecting her dedication to creative projects and her leadership as a former vice-president of the Directors Guild of America.
Subject Terms
Betty Thomas
Director
- Born: July 27, 1948
- Birthplace: Saint Louis, Missouri
Contribution: Betty Thomas is an award-winning actor and director best known for directing the HBO series Dream On (1990–96) and the films The Brady Bunch Movie (1995) and Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009). She also won a 1985 Emmy Award for her portrayal of Lucy Bates on Hill Street Blues (1981–87).
Background
Betty Thomas Nienhauser was born on July 27, 1948, in Saint Louis, Missouri, to Nancy Brown and William Nienhauser. She graduated in 1965 from South High School in Willoughby, Ohio, and then attended Ohio University in Athens, where she majored in art. While there, she enrolled in a film class and made avant-garde short films.
After graduating college in 1969, Thomas spent some time teaching high school art in Chicago, Illinois, but found the teaching profession to be too limiting for her taste. She also took a waitressing job at the Second City Improv Club in Chicago. The improvisational comedy troupe eventually asked Thomas to join them. After three years of performing in Chicago, Thomas relocated to Los Angeles, California.
Career
After moving to Los Angeles, it did not take long for Thomas to land a role in a feature film. She appeared in the parody film Tunnel Vision (1976), about programming on a fictional, uncensored television station, alongside several comedians, including Chevy Chase, John Candy, Al Franken, and Laraine Newman. Also in 1976, she had roles in the comedy film Chesty Anderson, US Navy and on the television sketch show The Fun Factory. She also expanded her acting talents beyond comedy with roles in the drama films The Last Affair (1976) and Jackson County Jail (1976).
In 1981, Thomas landed a breakout role on the police procedural drama Hill Street Blues. As no-nonsense police officer Lucille Bates, Thomas garnered much critical acclaim. During the series, Thomas’s character transitions from a rookie police officer to a respected sergeant. For her role, Thomas was nominated seven times for an Emmy Award for best supporting actress in a drama series and won the award in 1985.
After the end of Hill Street Blues, Thomas had roles on the comedy show The Tracey Ullman Show (1989) and in the film Troop Beverly Hills (1989). The same year, she moved behind the camera, directing episodes of the comedy-drama series Hooperman (1989) and Doogie Howser, MD (1989). Thomas continued directing for television through the 1980s; in 1992, she made her debut as a feature-film director with the romantic comedy Only You.
In 1993, Thomas took home the Emmy Award for best director for a comedy series for her work on the HBO (Home Box Office) sitcom Dream On. On the big screen, she followed up Only You with The Brady Bunch Movie (1995), a satirical comedy based on the popular television series of the same name. The film received mixed reviews from critics but grossed over $60 million, a very successful box-office performance at the time.
Thomas then directed the television movie The Late Shift (1996). The docudrama revolves around the struggle between Jay Leno and David Letterman, two late-night talk-show hosts vying for position. Producer Ivan Reitman stated that he chose Thomas to direct because she worked well with actors and he liked the consistent tone in her films. The film was nominated for several awards, including seven Emmy Awards, and won Thomas a 1997 Directors Guild of America Award.
For her next film, Thomas directed Private Parts (1997), the film adaptation of the memoirs of controversial radio host Howard Stern, which was a surprising critical success. She then helmed the remake Dr. Dolittle (1998), about a man who can talk to animals, which received mixed reviews. Her next film, 28 Days (2000), tackled the difficult subject of alcoholism; critics found it too artificial, and it was given mostly negative reviews.
Her next two films did not fare well with critics either. I Spy (2002), a comedy about two spies based on the 1960s television series, and John Tucker Must Die (2006), a revenge film set in a high school, both received poor reviews. Thomas then directed Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009), based on the popular singing cartoon characters. The family-friendly comedy received disappointing reviews but earned more than $440 million worldwide, making Thomas the first female director with a film grossing over $200 million.
In 2012, Thomas directed Audrey, the WIGS YouTube channel short series about a food blogger. Although Audrey was limited by its small budget, Thomas found the project to be creatively rewarding.
Impact
From waiting tables in Chicago to becoming an award-winning actor and director, Thomas has had a dynamic and fruitful career. With the success of Dream On, The Brady Bunch Movie, The Late Shift, and Private Parts, Thomas became a sought-after director in the industry. Her foray into directing a web series demonstrates her enthusiasm for online projects and her belief in their creative and commercial potential. In 2013, she was elected first vice-president of the Directors Guild of America.
Personal Life
Thomas lives in Studio City, California.
Principal Works
Film
Only You, 1992
The Brady Bunch Movie, 1995
Private Parts, 1997
Dr. Dolittle, 1998
28 Days, 2000
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, 2009
Television
Hill Street Blues, 1981–87
Dream On, 1990–96
The Late Shift, 1996
Bibliography
Elber, Lynn. “Director Thomas Finds Passion Project Online.” AP News. Associated Press, 2 Nov. 2012. Web. 3 Aug. 2013.
Gregory, Mollie. Women Who Run the Show: How a Brilliant and Creative New Generation of Women Stormed Hollywood, 1973–2000. New Haven: St. Martin’s, 2002. Print.
Horton, Marc. “Parody in Polyester: Brady Bunch Movie Masterfully Crafted by Director Betty Thomas to Give Us Satire, Social Commentary.” Record [Kitchener, Ontario] 18 Feb. 1995: E6. Print.
Leigh, Danny. “There’s Something about Betty.” Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 15 June 2000. Web. 3 Aug. 2013.
Thomas, Betty. “Betty Thomas, at the Forefront of an Evolution (Not a Revolution).” Interview by Susan King. Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2000. Web. 3 Aug. 2013.
Turchiano, Danielle. “Kim Shaw on WIGS’ Unlucky-in-Love-and-Life Food Blogger ‘Audrey.’” Examiner. Clarity Digital Group, 29 Oct. 2012. Web. 13 Aug. 2013.
Weinstein, Steve. “A Long Way From Hill Street’s Beat: Betty Thomas Struts Her Comic Side in Directing First Feature, Only You.” Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 1992. Web. 3 Aug. 2013.