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Entertainment • Actress

Candice Bergen

Candice Patricia Bergen is an American actress, writer, and former model best known for playing the title character on the sitcom Murphy Brown.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Candice Patricia Bergen is an American actress, writer, and former model best known for portraying the title character on the CBS sitcom Murphy Brown. She has won five Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards for that role, and also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for Starting Over (1979). Her work, including Murphy Brown and Boston Legal, has been widely broadcast and discussed in Canada.

Early life and background

Candice Bergen was born on May 9, 1946, in Beverly Hills, California, to entertainer Edgar Bergen and model-actress Frances Bergen. She began her career as a model before moving into acting.

Television career

Bergen is best known for playing the lead role of Murphy Brown on the CBS sitcom Murphy Brown, which originally aired from 1988 to 1998 and was revived in 2018. Her performance earned her five Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. She is also known for portraying Shirley Schmidt on Boston Legal from 2005 to 2008.

Film career

Bergen's film work includes an Academy Award-nominated supporting performance in Starting Over (1979) and a BAFTA-nominated role in Gandhi (1982). She has appeared in a range of films across several decades, further establishing her as a versatile actress.

Other work and public profile

Beyond acting, Bergen has been described as a writer and photojournalist. Her career has moved between modelling, film, television, and writing. Her widely distributed American productions, including Murphy Brown and Boston Legal, have been broadcast and discussed in Canada.

Key facts

  • Born Candice Patricia Bergen on May 9, 1946, in Beverly Hills, California.
  • Best known for starring as Murphy Brown on the CBS sitcom Murphy Brown (1988–1998, 2018).
  • Won five Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards for Murphy Brown.
  • Received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for Starting Over (1979).
  • Also known for playing Shirley Schmidt on Boston Legal (2005–2008).
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Canadian context

Candice Bergen has appeared in widely distributed American film and television productions that have been broadcast and discussed in Canada, including Murphy Brown and Boston Legal.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Candice Bergen?
Candice Bergen is an American actress best known for starring as Murphy Brown in the sitcom Murphy Brown.
When was Candice Bergen born?
She was born on May 9, 1946.
What awards has Candice Bergen won?
She won five Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards for Murphy Brown.
Was Candice Bergen nominated for an Oscar?
Yes. She received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for Starting Over (1979).
What other TV role is Candice Bergen known for?
She played Shirley Schmidt on Boston Legal from 2005 to 2008.

References

  1. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candice_Bergen
    Supports: Birth date, birthplace, Murphy Brown, awards, Starting Over nomination, Boston Legal role
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannicahttps://www.britannica.com/biography/Candice-Bergen
    Supports: Birth date and place, occupation, Murphy Brown identification
  3. Biography.comhttps://www.biography.com/actors/a45861994/candice-bergen
    Supports: Birth place, early modeling career, Starting Over nomination, Murphy Brown, Boston Legal
  4. TV Guidehttps://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/candice-bergen/bio/3030418451/
    Supports: Hall of Fame note, first female Saturday Night Live guest host, modeling background, French fluency
  5. IMDbhttps://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000298/bio/
    Supports: Birth name, height, family background, modeling and acting background