Net Worth Ranker
What Is Bernadette Peters’ Net Worth?
Bernadette Peters, a celebrated American actress, singer, and author, has accumulated a net worth of $20 million. A significant portion of this net worth is attributed to her marriage to Michael Wittenberg, an investment advisor. They were married in 1996 until his unfortunate death in a helicopter crash in 2005. Besides her financial circumstances, Peters is also known for her four-year relationship with Steve Martin, from 1977 to 1981. During their time together, they co-starred in the iconic movie “The Jerk.”
Bernadette Peters’ Early Career and Rise to Fame
Born Bernadette Lazzara on February 28, 1948, in Queens, New York City, Bernadette began her journey in the entertainment industry remarkably early. Her mother, Marguerite, played a pivotal role in nurturing her talent. Even before kindergarten, Bernadette appeared on various television shows. When she was three and a half, she was featured on “Juvenile Jury,” marking the official start of her acting career as a child actor. By the age of nine, Peters had already obtained her Actors Equity Card, and she made her professional stage debut in “This is Goggle.” She then appeared in the television show “A Boy Called Ciske.” Over the next few years, she had a successful career as a child actor, both onscreen and on-stage. Her early work set the foundation for a versatile and enduring career in acting, singing, and writing.
In 1968, her performance in the Off-Broadway production of “Dames at Sea” brought her critical acclaim and her first Drama Desk Award. Bernadette then starred in “La Strada” in 1969 and “On the Town” in 1971. For the latter play, she received her first Tony Award nomination. She received another nomination in 1974 when she appeared in “Mack and Mabel.” Around this time, she decided to move from New York to Los Angeles to focus her career more on television and film.
Bernadette Peters’ Career Milestones and Financial Highlights
Bernadette Peters’ career is marked by numerous achievements across film, television, and theater. Her talent has garnered her seven Tony Award nominations, winning two. She won a Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for “Song and Dance” by Andrew Lloyd Webber in 1985. Additionally, she has received three Emmy Award nominations and three Golden Globe nominations, winning one Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Actress in a Comedy or Musical for her role in “Pennies from Heaven” in 1981.
In 1976, she appeared in the Mel Brooks film “Silent Movie” and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture. She also co-starred in her own television series, “All’s Fair,” with Richard Crenna from 1976 to 1977.
Throughout the 1990s, Peters appeared in many films, including Woody Allen’s “Alice” in 1990 and the period drama film “Impromptu” in 1991. She voiced the character of Sophie in the animated film “Anastasia” in 1997.
In the 2000s, Bernadette appeared in the Fox series “Ally McBeal” and received a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. She also appeared in the film “It Runs in the Family” in 2003 and on Broadway in the revival of “Gypsy,” for which she earned another Tony nomination. She made multiple appearances on television series like “Will & Grace,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” among others. In 2010, Peters starred in the Broadway revival of “A Little Night Music” and then in “Follies” in 2011. From 2014 to 2018, she appeared in “Mozart in the Jungle,” a web video series by Amazon Studios.
Aside from acting, Peters has recorded six solo albums, with three receiving Grammy Award nominations.
Since 2013, she has been touring intermittently with her cabaret act “An Evening with Bernadette Peters.”
Peters has written three children’s books in support of her animal adoption charity, Broadway Barks. Her first book, “Broadway Barks,” reached the fifth spot on “The New York Times” chart of best-selling picture books. Her second book, “Stella is a Star,” was released in 2010, followed by a third book, “Stella and Charlie Friends Forever” in 2015.
Bernadette Peters’ Personal Life and Philanthropic Ventures
Bernadette Peters married investment advisor Michael Wittenberg in July 1996, at the home of her friend Mary Tyler Moore. Wittenberg’s passing in 2005, due to a helicopter crash, marked a significant turning point in her life.
Bernadette is known for her charitable efforts. She co-founded Broadway Barks with Mary Tyler Moore, an annual animal adopt-a-thon, and has organized benefit concerts to raise money for the event. In 2018, she was honored with the Brooke Aster Award from the Animal Medical Center for her commitment to animal welfare. She also serves on the board of trustees of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
Bernadette Peters’ dedication to animal welfare and her involvement in charitable causes further highlight her commitment to making a positive impact beyond her artistic endeavors.
