Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Born

July 14, 1930

Died

September 20, 2014 (age 84)

Place of Birth

Knoxville, Tennessee, USA

Also Known As

Nellie Paulina Burgin

IMDb

Polly Bergen

Biography

Polly Bergen (born Nellie Paulina Burgin; July 14, 1930 – September 20, 2014) was an American actress, singer, television host, writer and entrepreneur. She won an Emmy Award in 1958 for her performance as Helen Morgan in The Helen Morgan Story. For her stage work, she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance as Carlotta Campion in Follies in 2001. Her film work included Cape Fear (1962) and The Caretakers (1963), for which she was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama. She hosted her own weekly variety show for one season (The Polly Bergen Show), was a regular panelist on the TV game show To Tell The Truth and later in life had recurring roles in The Sopranos and Desperate Housewives. She wrote three books on beauty, fashion and charm. She is also the inspiration behind Mother Goose in The Land of Stories. Description above from the Wikipedia article Polly Bergen, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

Filmography

2019FilmNice Girls Don't Stay for Breakfastas Self - Actress 2013FilmStruck by Lightningas Grandma 2006FilmCandles on Bay Streetas Rosemary 2006FilmA Very Serious Personas Mrs. A 2005TVCommander in Chiefas Kate Allen 2004TVDesperate Housewivesas Stella Wingfield 1999TVTwice in a Lifetimeas Judge Deborah 1999TVThe Sopranosas Fran Felstein 1998FilmDoris Day: It's Magicas Self 1996FilmFor Hopeas Molly Altman 1996FilmIn the Blink of an Eyeas Murial 1996FilmOnce Upon a Time... When We Were Coloredas Miss Maybry 1995FilmThe Surrogateas Sandy Gilman 1995FilmDr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde 1994TVTouched by an Angelas Stella Applegate 1994FilmLeave of Absenceas Janet 1994TVBurke's Lawas Rachel Doucet 1993FilmPerry Mason: The Case of the Skin-Deep Scandalas Barbara Fox 1991FilmThe Lightning Incidentas Carol 1991FilmRobert Mitchum: The Reluctant Staras Self 1991TVBaby Talkas Doris Campbell 1990FilmCry-Babyas Mrs. Vernon-Williams 1989FilmMy Brother's Wifeas Myra Gilbert 1989FilmThe Haunting of Sarah Hardyas Emily Thetford 1989FilmMother, Motheras Barbara Cutler 1988FilmShe Was Marked for Murderas Laura Lee Webster 1988TVWar and Remembranceas Rhoda Henry 1988FilmAddicted to His Loveas Vivien Langford 1987TVJake and the Fatmanas Emma Julian 1987FilmMaking Mr. Rightas Estelle Stone 1984TVMurder, She Wroteas Dr. Jocelyn Laird 1984FilmVelvetas Mrs. Vance 1983TVThe Winds of Waras Rhoda Henry 1982FilmBorn Beautifulas Marion Carmody 1982TVHotelas Elizabeth Hastings 1981FilmThe Million Dollar Faceas Jo Burns 1978FilmLi'l Abner in the Dogpatch Todayas Phyllis Shoefly 1978FilmHow to Pick Up Girls!as Dana Greenberg 1977FilmTelethonas Dorothy Goodwin 1977TV79 Park Avenueas Vera Keppler 1977TVThe Love Boatas Maisie Nolan 1976FilmBob Hope's World of Comedyas Self (archive footage)1975FilmMurder on Flight 502as Mona Briarly 1975TVEllery Queenas Dina Carroll-Winer 1974FilmDeath Cruiseas Sylvia Carter 1973TVThrilleras Suzy Hunter 1973FilmAn Echo of Theresaas Suzy Hunter 1967TVThe Danny Thomas Houras Self 1967FilmA Guide for the Married Manas Technical Adviser (Clara Brown)1965TVThe Dean Martin Show 1964FilmKisses for My Presidentas Leslie McCloud 1964TVThe Hollywood Palaceas Self 1963FilmMove Over, Darlingas Bianca Steele 1963TVBob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatreas Jennifer Randolph 1963FilmThe Caretakersas Lorna Melford 1962TVThe Merv Griffin Showas Self 1962TVThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carsonas Self 1962FilmBelle Sommersas Belle Sommers 1962FilmCape Fearas Peggy Bowden 1961TVThe Mike Douglas Showas Self 1961TVDr. Kildareas Janice Graham / Cathy Brandon 1959TVStartimeas Self 1959TVThe Bell Telephone Houras Self 1958FilmThe All-Star Christmas Showas Self 1958TVKraft Music Hall 1958TVThe Dick Clark Showas Self 1957TVThe Polly Bergen Showas Host 1957TVWagon Trainas Kitty Allbright 1957TVArt Ford's Greenwich Village Partyas Self 1957TVAmerican Bandstandas Self 1957FilmThe Helen Morgan Storyas Helen Morgan 1956TVThe Dinah Shore Chevy Showas Self 1956TVTony Awardsas Self - Presenter 1955TVAlfred Hitchcock Presentsas Crystal Coe 1954TVThe Jimmy Durante Showas Self 1954TVMax Liebman Presents 1954TVThe Blue Angelas Co-Host 1953FilmEscape from Fort Bravoas Alice Owens 1953TVThe Pepsi-Cola Playhouseas Self - Hostess 1953FilmArenaas Ruth Danvers 1953FilmFast Companyas Carol Maldon 1953FilmCry of the Huntedas Janet Tunner 1953TVThe Oscarsas Self 1953TVGeneral Electric Theateras Susan Barry 1951TVHallmark Hall of Fameas Rosemary 1951FilmWarpathas Molly Quade 1951FilmThe Stoogeas Mary Turner 1951TVSchlitz Playhouse of Starsas Shirley 1951TVThe Red Skelton Showas Self / Myrtle 1951FilmThat's My Boyas Betty 'Babs' Hunter 1950FilmAt War with the Armyas Helen Palmer 1950TVThe Jack Benny Programas Self 1950TVThe Colgate Comedy Houras Self 1950FilmThe Menas Nightclub Singer (Uncredited)1950TVThe Bob Hope Showas Self 1950TVWhat's My Line?as Self - Mystery Guest 1949FilmAcross The Rio Grandeas Polly Burgin 1949FilmChampionas Radio and Jukebox Singer (voice) (uncredited)1948TVThe Ed Sullivan Showas Self 1944TVGolden Globe Awardsas Self - Presenter