Betty Thomas

Betty Thomas (born Betty Lucille Nienhauser; July 27, 1947) is an American actress, director, and producer. She gained recognition for her Emmy Award-winning role as Sergeant Lucy Bates on the television series Hill Street Blues. With multiple films on the list of highest-US-grossing female-directed films, Thomas has established herself as a successful director. Born as Betty Lucille Nienhauser in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1947, she graduated from Willoughby South High School and Ohio University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Prior to her acting career, Thomas worked as an artist and high school teacher before joining The Second City, a renowned improvisational theater in Chicago.