# B. J. Ward (actress)

Betty Jean Ward (born September 12, 1944) is an American actress. She is the creator and the star of Stand-Up Opera, a musical one-woman show.

## Personal life

Ward was first married to Donald Trenner in 1966, they divorced in 1978. She was later married to director Gordon Hunt from 1995 until his death in 2016.

## Career
### Early career

She made her debut on the stage in 1960, in the original off-Broadway production of The Fantasticks, where she was an understudy for the role of Luisa/the Girl. B.J. Ward had gotten the part by calling the producer of the show.
She toured with the Groundlings for a short while before starting her own voice over career starting with Hanna-Barbera's Jana of the Jungle in 1978.

### Singing career

Ward also worked as a singer. She is well known for her acclaimed one-woman show, "Stand-Up Opera", which became a massive success with critics and audiences alike. She has released seven albums throughout her singing career.
Though Ward is best known as a voice actress, she has also appeared on television. In 1985, she made a rare film appearance in the television film Malice in Wonderland alongside Elizabeth Taylor and Jane Alexander. She has guest-starred on television series such as Frasier, ER, and In-Laws.
Ward has also done voices for video games and theme parks, including:
* Voices for EPCOT and Disneyland Paris, including the safety narration for Spaceship Earth from 1994 to 2007.
* The narration of the former PeopleMover attraction at Disneyland.
* Mother / Sarah in the 1993 version of the Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress.
* Voice of mother opossum and mother rabbit in the Disneyland version of Splash Mountain (1989–2023)
* The current voice guide for "It's a Small World" and the refurbished Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover attraction at Magic Kingdom Park.

## Filmography
### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1978 | Jana of the Jungle | Jana | Main role (13 episodes) |
| 1978 | The New Maverick | B.J. Vinnie's Henchman | Television film |
| 1981 | Space Stars | Elektra | 11 episodes |
| 1982 | Spider-Man | Medusa, Namorita | 2 episodes |
| 1982–1983 | The Little Rascals | Butch, Waldo | 33 episodes |
| 1982–1983 | The Incredible Hulk | Betty Ross, Alicia Masters | 13 episodes |
| 1984–1985 | Pink Panther and Sons | Panky, Punkin | 26 episodes |
| 1984–1985 | Super Friends | Jayna, Wonder Woman, young Bruce Wayne | 10 episodes |
| 1984–1985 | The Littles | Ashley Little | 16 episodes |
| 1984–1985 | Voltron | Princess Allura, additional voices | Main cast (122 episodes) |
| 1984–1988 | Snorks | Casey Kelp | 65 episodes |
| 1985 | The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo | Marcella | Episode: "When You Witch Upon a Star" |
| 1985 | Star Fairies | Sparkle, Michelle | Television film |
| 1985 | Challenge of the GoBots | Small Foot | 5 episodes |
| 1985–1986 | G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero | Scarlett | 38 episodes |
| 1986–1987 | Centurions | Cassandra Cross, Lilith Cross | 2 episodes; uncredited |
| 1986–1987 | My Little Pony | North Star, Surprise | 4 episodes |
| 1986–1988 | The Flintstone Kids | Betty Rubble, Mrs. Rockbottom | 34 episodes |
| 1987 | DuckTales | Birdie McQuack, Loopie McQuack | Episode: "Top Duck" |
| 1987 | Popeye and Son | Rad | 2 episodes |
| 1987 | Sky Commanders | Erica Slade | 2 episodes |
| 1987 | The Little Troll Prince | Bjorn's Wife | Television film |
| 1988 | The Good, the Bad, and Huckleberry Hound | Various voices | Television film |
| 1988 | Superman | Syrene | Episode: "Superman and Wonder Woman vs. the Sorceress of Time" |
| 1988 | A Pup Named Scooby-Doo | Sugie Rogers, Betsy Brainy | 2 episodes |
| 1988 | The Flintstone Kids' "Just Say No" Special | Betty Rubble, Mrs. Gravelson, Announcer | Television special |
| 1988 | Rockin' with Judy Jetson | Zippy | Television film |
| 1988 | Scooby-Doo! and the Reluctant Werewolf | Googie, Repulsa | Television film |
| 1989 | Matlock | Bernice Wooley | Episode: "The Black Widow" |
| 1990 | Tiny Toon Adventures | Honey | Episode: "Fields of Honey" |
| 1990 | The Wizard of Oz | Glinda | 13 episodes |
| 1991 | Darkwing Duck | Patricia, Gloria Swansong | 2 episodes |
| 1991 | TaleSpin | Records Clerk | Episode: "Louie's Last Stand" |
| 1992 | Fish Police | Widow Casino | Episode: "The Shell Game" |
| 1993 | I Yabba-Dabba Do! | Betty Rubble | Television film |
| 1993 | Jonny's Golden Quest | 3-DAC | Television film |
| 1993 | Bonkers | Hildy | Episode: "What You Read Is What You Get" |
| 1993 | Murder, She Wrote | Chairwoman | Episode: "Love's Deadly Desire" |
| 1993 | Hollyrock-a-Bye Baby | Betty Rubble | Television film |
| 1994 | Captain Planet and the Planeteers | Federal Spokesman | Episode: "Twilight Ozone" |
| 1994 | A Flintstones Christmas Carol | Betty Rubble | Television film |
| 1995 | Batman: The Animated Series | M3 | Episode: "The Lion and the Unicorn" |
| 1995 | Daisy-Head Mayzie | Mrs. McGrew | Television special |
| 1995–1996 | Dumb and Dumber | Various voices | 2 episodes |
| 1995–1996 | Gargoyles | Lydia Duane, Fleance, Lady of the Lake, Alexander Fox | 4 episodes |
| 1996–1997 | The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest | Iris, Nurse Holloway | 8 episodes |
| 1997 | What a Cartoon! | Melissa, Computer | 2 episodes |
| 1997 | The Angry Beavers | Computer | Episode: "House Broken" |
| 1998 | Johnny Bravo | Velma Dinkley, Jebidisa, Mother | 3 episodes |
| 1999 | The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries | Madame Pamplemousse | Episode: "Dutch Tweet" |
| 1999–2000 | Voltron: The Third Dimension | Princess Allura, additional voices | 26 episodes |
| 2002 | Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law | Velma Dinkley | Episode: "Shaggy Busted" |
| 2002 | Samurai Jack | Witch Hag | Episode: "Jack and the Zombies" |
| 2007 | Ben 10 | Betty Tennyson | Episode: "Big Fat Alien Wedding" |
| 2008 | The Spectacular Spider-Man | Mayor Waters | Episode: "Persona" |
| 2009 | Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas | Aunt Margaret | Television special |
| 2010 | Regular Show | Dr. Asinovskovich | Episode: "Grilled Cheese Deluxe" |
| 2011 | G.I. Joe: Renegades | Connie Hauser | Episode: "Homecoming" |

### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1984 | Gallavants | Galli | |
| 1986 | GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords | Small Foot | |
| 1987 | G.I. Joe: The Movie | Scarlett | Direct-to-video |
| 1988 | Pound Puppies and the Legend of Big Paw | Whopper | |
| 1988 | Daffy Duck's Quackbusters | Possessed Duck/Melissa Duck | |
| 1991 | The Little Engine That Could | Grumpella | |
| 1993 | Tom and Jerry: The Movie | Tom's Owner | |
| 1994 | The Pagemaster | Queen of Hearts | |
| 1994 | The Bears Who Saved Christmas | Mrs. Bucktooth | |
| 1994 | Tom and Jerry's Christmas Carol | Ghost of Christmas Past | Direct-to-video |
| 1995 | The Pebble and the Penguin | Magellanic Penguin | |
| 1998 | Hercules and Xena – The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus | Tethys (singing voice) | Direct-to-video |
| 1998 | Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island | Velma Dinkley | Direct-to-video |
| 1999 | Scooby-Doo! and the Witch's Ghost | Velma Dinkley | Direct-to-video |
| 1999 | The Brave Little Toaster to the Rescue | Police Lady | Direct-to-video |
| 2000 | The Land Before Time VII: The Stone of Cold Fire | Rainbow Face (singing voice) | Direct-to-video |
| 2000 | Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders | Velma Dinkley | Direct-to-video |
| 2001 | Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase | Velma Dinkley | Direct-to-video |
| 2016 | DC Super Hero Girls: Hero of the Year | Master Alchemist | Direct-to-video |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1996 | Down in the Dumps | Mrs. Blub, Computer, Grandma Louse, Mole |
| 1996 | Blazing Dragons | Lady of the Lake, Rapunsel Yablanowitz |
| 1999 | Sword of the Berserk: Guts' Rage | Casca, Eriza |
| 2000 | Orphen: Scion of Sorcery | Sephy |
| 2000 | Grandia II | Roan, Elmo |
| 2000 | Scooby-Doo! Showdown in Ghost Town | Velma Dinkley |
| 2000 | Scooby-Doo! Phantom of the Knight | Velma Dinkley |
| 2000 | Scooby-Doo! Classic Creep Capers | Velma Dinkley |
| 2001 | Scooby-Doo: Activity Challenge | Velma Dinkley |
| 2001 | Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase | Velma Dinkley |
| 2001 | Scooby-Doo! Jinx at the Sphinx | Velma Dinkley |
| 2002 | Scooby-Doo! Night of 100 Frights | Velma Dinkley |
| 2002 | Star Trek: Starfleet Command III | Romulan Officer |
| 2003 | Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits | Camellia |
| 2003 | Star Trek: Elite Force II | Katarina Scott |
| 2004 | Onimusha 3: Demon Siege | Henri Blanc |
| 2020 | Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time | Witch Hag |

## Discography

* Vocal Ease (1970)
* Queen of the Night (1994)
* Stand-Up Opera (1995)
* Syrinx: Voice of the Songbird (2003)
* B.J. Ward Sings Marshall Barer (2005)
* Double Feature: Love Songs From The Movies (2015)
* Double Feature 2: More Songs From The Movies! (2016)