Bibi Besch Austro-American actress Date of Birth: 01.02.1940 Country: USA

1. Biography of Bibi Besch
2. Early Career
3. Notable Roles
4. Recognition and Later Career

Biography of Bibi Besch

Bibiana 'Bibi' Besch was born on February 1, 1940, in Vienna, Austria. She was the daughter of theater actress Gusti Huber, who played starring roles in German films during World War II and left Austria in the mid-1940s. Her stepfather, Joseph Besch, was a US Army captain and worked in radio. Bibi had two sisters, Drea and Christina, and a brother, Andrew. She grew up in the affluent suburb of Chappaqua, New York, before moving to New York City.

Early Career

Bibi Besch began her acting career in soap operas, including 'The Edge of Night,' 'The Secret Storm,' 'Love is a Many Splendored Thing,' and 'Somerset.' In addition to her dramatic acting career, Besch started appearing in prime-time projects, such as the mini-series 'Backstairs at the White House' in 1979, where she played Marguerite 'Missy' LeHand.

Notable Roles

Bibi Besch is perhaps best known for her role as Dr. Carol Marcus, the mother of Captain James T. Kirk's son, in the science fiction action film 'Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.' She also had a small role as Belle Marmillion in the hit melodrama 'Steel Magnolias' in 1989.

Besch continued her string of film appearances with the television science fiction drama 'The Day After,' which brought recognition to director Nicholas Meyer. She also appeared in the comedy 'Mrs. Delafield Wants to Marry' alongside Katharine Hepburn, the action film 'Victory at Entebbe,' and the TV biopic 'Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story.'

In the popular comedy-horror film 'Tremors' in 1989, about giant subterranean creatures called graboids, Bibi Besch played the role of Megan.

Recognition and Later Career

In 1992, Bibi Besch received her first acting nomination for her role as Lisa Carter in the television drama 'Doing Time on Maple Drive' alongside Jim Carrey. The following year, she earned her second Emmy nomination for her role as Jane O'Connell, the neurotic mother of Janine Turner's character in an episode of 'Northern Exposure.'

Until her death, Bibi Besch continued to work in film and television, appearing in series such as 'ER,' 'Melrose Place,' and 'Ned and Stacey.' Sadly, she passed away at the age of 56 on September 7, 1996, after a long battle with breast cancer.