Beth Fowler

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Elizabeth Fowler
Fowler at the Drama League Benefit Gala Honoring Angela Lansbury, February 8, 2010
Born
Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
Alma materCaldwell University
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
Years active1970–present
SpouseJack Witham

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.

Life and career

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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]

Personal

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Since 2000, Fowler has been a resident of New Milford, New Jersey, having previously resided in Rutherford, Teaneck, Hawthorne, and Glen Rock.[8][9]

Fowler married Jack Witham in 1976.[3][9]

Filmography

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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)

Stage credits

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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

Awards and nominations

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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]

References

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  1. ^ a b League, The Broadway. "Beth Fowler – Broadway Cast & Staff - IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  2. ^ "'Orange Is the New Black' star talks about Jersey City roots in podcast". 8 August 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  3. ^ a b Delhauer, Patricia. "Meet Beth Fowler" omagdigital.com, September 5, 2018
  4. ^ "Actress Beth Fowler Visits Her Alma Mater Caldwell University" caldwell.edu, March 24, 2015
  5. ^ "From parish to prison, N.J. actress Beth Fowler can't escape the convent". 27 July 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  6. ^ "The Boy From Oz | IBDB: The official source for Broadway Information". www.ibdb.com. Archived from the original on 2009-11-07.
  7. ^ Michelle McCue (26 January 2015). "BIRDMAN, DOWNTON ABBEY Big Winners At 21st Screen Actors Guild Awards". We Are Movie Geeks. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  8. ^ Beckerman, Jim. "Fowler draws on salon ties for role" Archived June 14, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, The Record (Bergen County), March 12, 2008. Accessed March 12, 2008. "Born in Jersey City, raised in Rutherford (she cut her acting teeth with the Bergen County Players in Oradell), she lived in Teaneck, Hawthorne and Glen Rock before settling, eight years ago, in New Milford."
  9. ^ a b Klein, Alvin. "Theater; A Musical Powerhouse Returns to the Stage" The New York Times, November 26, 2000
  10. ^ "Beth Fowler – Performer". Playbill. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
  11. ^ "SAG Award Winners 2015: Screen Actors Guild Awards Winner List". TVLine. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
  12. ^ "SAG Awards 2016 Highlights & Winners". Variety. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
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