Carol Potter (actress)
Carol Potter | |
|---|---|
 Potter in 2008 | |
| Born | May 21, 1948 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Radcliffe College |
| Years active | 1968–present |
| Spouses | Spencer Eastman
(m. 1985–1988)Jeffrey Josephson (m. 1990) |
| Children | 1 |
Carol Potter (born May 21, 1948) is an American actress best known for playing Cindy Walsh on Beverly Hills, 90210.[1]
Early life and education
Potter was born in New York City, New York, and attended high school in Tenafly, New Jersey,[2] and went on to attend Radcliffe College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in social relations.[3][4]
Career
In 1977, she made her Broadway theatre debut in Albert Innaurato's play Gemini, which went on to become the fifth-longest running non-musical play in Broadway history.[5]
After moving to Los Angeles, Potter performed in several dramatic roles in the theater, including Thin Walls at the Back Alley Theatre in 1984,[6] Wendy Wasserstein's Isn't It Romantic at the L.A. Stage Company West in 1985,[7] and the lead role of Alma Winemiller in Tennessee Williams' Summer and Smoke at the Ahmanson Theatre in 1988.[8]
Potter had her first role as a regular in a prime time television series in 1981, playing Maggie Clinton on Today's F.B.I. She was a regular on Beverly Hills, 90210 from 1990 to 1995. In 1997, she was cast in NBC's Sunset Beach as Joan Cummings.[9] She has also guest starred on many shows including NYPD Blue, JAG, Crossing Jordan and Providence. In 2019, Potter returned to the 90210 franchise in the spin off BH90210, where she played a version of herself as a therapist for the cast.
She also appeared on a special "TV Moms" episode of the Anne Robinson version of The Weakest Link, in which she won $124,000 for her charity, beating June Lockhart.
In 1997, Potter graduated with a master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Phillips Graduate Institute.[10] She is licensed by the state of California as a Marital and Family Therapist and has a private practice as an MFT.[11]
Personal life
In 1985, she married screenwriter Spencer Eastman, and their son Christopher was born in 1987.[2] Three months later, Eastman was diagnosed with lung cancer, and he died in 1988.[12] Potter married for a second time to actor Jeffrey Josephson in October 1990, the same month Beverly Hills 90210 made its television debut.[13]
Potter is active in the Episcopal Church.[14][13][15]
Publications
- Sileo, Frank J.; Potter, Carol S. (2021). When Your Child Has a Chronic Medical Illness: A Guide for the Parenting Journey. American Psychological Association.[16]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | The Doctors | Betsy Match Manero | |
| 1978 | Annie Flynn | C.C. | |
| 1979 | One Life to Live | Beverly Wilkes | |
| 1982 | The Neighborhood | Sue Bernhardt | |
| 1981-1982 | Today's F.B.I. | Maggie Clinton | 17 episodes |
| 1984 | Her Life as a Man | Elaine | |
| 1986 | L.A. Law | Mrs. Simmons | Episode: "The Princess and the Wiener King" |
| 1987 | Dutch Treat | Betsy Winters | |
| Highway to Heaven | Janet Markham | Episode: "Wally" | |
| 1994-1995 | Mighty Morphin Power Rangers | Mrs. Hart | Episodes: "Return of an Old Friend, Parts 1 & 2" & "A Brush With Destiny" |
| 1995 | Burke's Law | Emily Simmons | Episode: "Who Killed the Movie Mogul?" |
| 1990-1995 & 1998 | Beverly Hills, 90210 | Cindy Walsh | Main role; seasons 1-5, guest; seasons 6 & 8 |
| 1996 | Tiger Heart | Cynthia | |
| 1997 | The Burning Zone | Mrs. Mason | Episode: "The Last Five Pounds Are the Hardest" |
| 1997-1999 | Sunset Beach | Joan Cummings | 134 episodes |
| 2001 | Providence | Karen Ashworth | Episode: "Rocky Road" |
| NYPD Blue | Christine Beck | Episode: "Mom's Away" | |
| 2003 | Crossing Jordan | Leslie Winton | Episode: "Cruel & Unusual" |
| 2004 | JAG | Hearing officer | Episode: "Retrial" |
| 2009 | Silent Sam | Uniform Cop on Overpass | |
| Greek | Paula Baker | Episode: "See You Next Time, Sisters!" | |
| 2019 | BH90210 | ”Herself” | |
References
- ↑ "Carol Potter biography". The Biography Channel. Archived from the original on June 12, 2013. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
- 1 2 Carter, Claire (April 5, 1992). "The actress Carol Potter had met the man of her dreams and was on top of the world. Then ... 'In One Second, Everything Changed'". The Houston Chronicle. p. 4.
- ↑ Elias, Thomas D. (July 11, 1991). "Actress Has Had Share of Hard Luck". St. Petersburg Times. pp. 9D.
- ↑ Carol Potter | LinkedIn
- ↑ "Helen Hayes Theatre (Broadway)". Playbill: Theatre information. Playbill, Inc. Archived from the original on October 23, 2006. Retrieved November 8, 2006.
- ↑ Sullivan, Dan (November 7, 1984). "'Thin Walls' on Thin Ice; 'Slab Boys' Dye to Succeed: Twin Bill". Los Angeles Times. pp. 2-H1 – via ProQuest.
- ↑ Sullivan, Dan (June 5, 1985). "Stage Review: New Janie Gives Lift to 'Romantic'". Los Angeles Times. pp. 1-OC_E2 – via ProQuest.
- ↑ Sullivan, Dan (March 9, 1988). "Eastman Keeps 'Smoke' Burning". Los Angeles Times. pp. H7 – via ProQuest.
- ↑ Itzkoff, Dave (August 29, 2008). "Carol Potter, Cindy Walsh, 'Beverly Hills 90210'". The New York Times.
- ↑ "About the Contributors". Progress: Family Systems Research and Therapy. Summer 1998. Archived from the original on October 6, 1999.
- ↑ "Carol Potter, MFT". Retrieved March 16, 2026.
- ↑ "Obituary: Eastman, Spencer L." Los Angeles Times. April 22, 1988. pp. SD24 – via ProQuest.
- 1 2 "Carol Potter". Toronto Star. October 26, 1991. pp. S98.
- ↑ Jervis, Rick (April 8, 2010). "Volunteers Still Helping with Katrina Recovery". Gannett News Service.
- ↑ Grossman, Cathy L. (December 15, 1992). "Keeping the Faith: The Search for a Haven of the Spirit". USA Today. pp. 01D.
- ↑ "Review of When Your Child Has a Chronic Medical Illness: A Guide for the Parenting Journey". Publishers Weekly. 268 (1): 48. January 4, 2021.