Beth Fowler is an American actress and singer, best known for her performances on Broadway and for her role as Sister Ingalls, on Orange Is the New Black. She is a two-time Tony Award nominee,[1] as well as two-time winner for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series for her role as Sister Ingalls in the ensemble cast of Orange is the New Black.
Born in Jersey City, New Jersey,[2] Fowler attended Caldwell University in New Jersey and was a music teacher for several years, as well as performing in community theater.[3] [4] Fowler attended Catholic schools and planned to enter a convent before becoming a music teacher.[citation needed]
She had a fondness for Broadway theatre when she decided to audition for Gantry in 1970. She was signed for the chorus and as understudy for the lead, but the show closed on opening night.[5] She had better luck with her next outing, Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music. Additional Broadway credits include 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue; Peter Pan; Baby; Take Me Along; Teddy & Alice; the 1989 revival of Sweeney Todd, in which she portrayed Mrs. Lovett; Beauty and the Beast, in which she originated the role of Mrs. Potts; Bells Are Ringing; and The Boy from Oz, where she portrayed Peter Allen's mother Marion.[6]
Fowler has been nominated for two Tony Awards: as Best Featured Actress in a Musical for The Boy From Oz and as Best Actress in a Musical for Sweeney Todd, which garnered her a Drama Desk Award nomination as well.[1]
During her career, Fowler appeared in a number of films, including Sister Act and Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, Friends & Family, Did You Hear About the Morgans?, I Don't Know How She Does It, and Mulan, in which she sang "Honor to Us All". On television, Fowler guest-starred on Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Ed, and Gossip Girl. In 2013, she began appearing in the recurring role as Sister Jane Ingalls in the comedy-drama series Orange Is the New Black. Along with cast, Fowler received the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.[7]
Since 2000, Fowler has been a resident of New Milford, New Jersey, having previously resided in Rutherford, Teaneck, Hawthorne, and Glen Rock.[8][9]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | In the Line of Duty: Manhunt in the Dakotas | Joan Kahl | TV movie |
| 1992 | Sister Act | Choir Nun | |
| 1993 | Law & Order | Mrs. Wrenn | Episode: "Virus" |
| 1993 | Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit | Choir Nun | |
| 1998 | Mulan | Voice | |
| 2000 | Ed | Molly's Mom | Episode: "The Whole Truth" |
| 2001 | Friends & Family | Mrs. Torcelli | |
| 2006 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Margaret Collo | Episode: "On Fire" |
| 2008 | Back to Me | Beth | Short |
| 2009 | Did You Hear About the Morgans? | Ma Simmons | |
| 2010 | The Extra Man | Ms. Marsh | |
| 2011 | Silhouette | Paige | |
| 2011 | I Don't Know How She Does It | Clark's Secretary | |
| 2007–2012 | Gossip Girl | Mistress of Ceremonies | 3 episodes |
| 2013–2016 | Orange Is the New Black | Sister Jane Ingalls | 32 episodes Recurring role Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (2015, 2016) |
| Year | Title | Role | Venue | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Gantry | Deaf Man's Wife | Broadway, George Abbott Theatre | |
| 1973 | A Little Night Music | Mrs. Segstrom | Broadway, Shubert Theatre | |
| 1976 | 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue | Ensemble | Broadway, Mark Hellinger Theatre | |
| 1979 | Peter Pan | Mrs. Darling | Broadway, Lunt-Fontanne Theatre | |
| 1983 | Baby | Arlene McNally | Broadway, Ethel Barrymore Theatre | |
| 1985 | Take Me Along | Lily Miller | Broadway, Martin Beck Theatre | |
| 1987 | Teddy & Alice | Edith Roosevelt | Broadway, Minskoff Theatre | |
| 1989 | Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street | Mrs. Lovett | Broadway, Circle in the Square Theatre | |
| 1994 | Beauty and the Beast | Mrs. Potts | Broadway, Palace Theatre | |
| 2001 | Bells are Ringing | Sue | Broadway, Plymouth Theatre | |
| 2003 | The Boy from Oz | Marion Woolnough | Broadway, Imperial Theatre | |
| 2007 | Inherit the Wind | Mrs. Brady | Broadway, Lyceum Theatre |
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Drama Desk Awards | Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street | Nominated | [10] |
| 1990 | Tony Awards | Best Actress in a Musical | Nominated | ||
| Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Nominated | |||
| 2004 | Tony Awards | Best Featured Actress in a Musical | The Boy from Oz | Nominated | |
| 2015 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Orange is the New Black | Won | [11] |
| 2016 | Won | [12] |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
