Candice Bergen

Biography: The daughter of famed ventriloquist Edgar Bergen, this cool beauty grew up in the public eye as the "little sister" of Charlie McCarthy, her father's famous wooden dummy. Still in college when she landed her debut film role in the 1966 ensemble drama The Group, Bergen went on to enjoy three very different careers: first as a so-so film actress, then as a celebrated photojournalist, and finally as a huge small-screen star as the title character on the sitcom Murphy Brown, a role that earned her two Golden Globes and five Emmys. Although Bergen had undisputed movie-star looks, her big-screen roles were mostly unrewarding, except for her Oscar-nominated turn as a tone-deaf aspiring singer in the 1979 romantic comedy Starting Over. Reportedly choosing her projects based on their filming locations, Bergen launched a concurrent career in journalism, contributing photos and articles based on her travels to numerous prestigious publications, including New York, Life and PlayboyThe daughter of famed ventriloquist Edgar Bergen, this cool beauty grew up in the public eye as the "little sister" of Charlie McCarthy, her father's famous wooden dummy. Still in college when she landed her debut film role in the 1966 ensemble drama The Group, Bergen went on to enjoy three very different careers: first as a so-so film actress, then as a celebrated photojournalist, and finally as a huge small-screen star as the title character on the sitcom Murphy Brown, a role that earned her two Golden Globes and five Emmys. Although Bergen had undisputed movie-star looks, her big-screen roles were mostly unrewarding, except for her Oscar-nominated turn as a tone-deaf aspiring singer in the 1979 romantic comedy Starting Over. Reportedly choosing her projects based on their filming locations, Bergen launched a concurrent career in journalism, contributing photos and articles based on her travels to numerous prestigious publications, including New York, Life and Playboy magazines. Disenchanted with her film offers in the '80s, Bergen did what many aging actresses do and turned to TV. But few former film players find such resounding success on the small screen. From the moment go, Murphy Brown captivated viewers. As a smart, sassy, outspoken and often difficult TV newsmagazine anchor who also happened to be a recovering alcoholic, Bergen won critical accolades and myriad awards, and incurred the wrath of then-vice president Dan Quayle in 1992, when her alter ego became a single mother. (During the run of the show, Bergen herself faced single parenthood when her husband, French film director Louis Malle, died of cancer in 1995.) In 1998, after a 10-year run, Murphy Brown left the airwaves, but Bergen remained a feminist icon and beloved personality, winning supporting film roles and even hosting her own TV talk show, Exhale With Candice Bergen. In 2005 she returned to the small screen as a series regular on Boston Legal, playing a high-powered lawyer. Expand

Candice Bergen's Scores

Average career score: 74
Highest Metascore: 100 Murphy Brown: Season 2
Lowest Metascore: 64 The Michael J. Fox Show: Season 1
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
6 tv reviews
Title: Year: Credit: User score:
tbd Saturday Night Live: Season 44 Sep 29, 2018 Herself tbd
tbd The View: Season 22 Sep 4, 2018 Guest tbd
tbd Late Show with Stephen Colbert: Season 4 Sep 4, 2018 Guest tbd
tbd Late Show with Stephen Colbert: Season 4 Sep 4, 2018 Guest tbd
tbd Late Night with Seth Meyers: Season 5 Sep 26, 2017 Guest tbd
tbd The Talk: Season 8 Sep 11, 2017 Guest tbd
73 Battle Creek: Season 1 Mar 1, 2015 Constance 7.5
tbd Sunday Morning: Season 37 Sep 21, 2014 Guest tbd
tbd The Talk: Season 5 Sep 8, 2014 Guest tbd
tbd The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Season 12 Sep 8, 2014 Guest tbd
64 The Michael J. Fox Show: Season 1 Sep 26, 2013 Mike's Mom 6.5
tbd Katie: Season 2 Sep 9, 2013 Guest tbd
tbd Late Night with Jimmy Fallon: Season 5 Sep 18, 2012 Guest tbd
tbd Saturday Night Live: Season 38 Sep 15, 2012 Herself 7.6
64 Rock Center with Brian Williams: Season 1 Oct 31, 2011 Remarks By tbd
tbd America In Primetime: Season 1 Oct 30, 2011 Remarks By tbd
tbd House: Season 7 Sep 20, 2010 Arlene / Arlene Cuddy 7.6
tbd Late Night with Jimmy Fallon: Season 3 Sep 14, 2010 Guest tbd
tbd The View: Season 13 Sep 8, 2009 Candice Bergen tbd
tbd Boston Legal: Season 5 Sep 22, 2008 Shirley Schmidt / Shirley Schmidt 8.1
tbd Boston Legal: Season 4 Sep 25, 2007 Shirley Schmidt / Shirley Schmidt 8.1
tbd Boston Legal: Season 3 Sep 19, 2006 Shirley Schmidt / Shirley Schmidt 7.9
tbd Boston Legal: Season 2 Sep 27, 2005 Shirley Schmidt / Shirley Schmidt 8.2
tbd The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Season 3 Sep 5, 2005 Guest tbd
tbd Law & Order: Trial by Jury: Season 1 Mar 3, 2005 Judge Amanda Anderlee / Judge Anderlee 9.3
69 Boston Legal: Season 1 Oct 3, 2004 Shirley Schmidt / Shirley Schmidt 8.3
tbd Law & Order: Season 15 Sep 22, 2004 Judge Amanda Anderlee 8.8
tbd The View: Season 8 Sep 6, 2004 Candice Bergen tbd
tbd Will & Grace: Season 6 Sep 25, 2003 Candice Bergen 8.7
tbd The View: Season 6 Sep 9, 2002 Candice Bergen tbd