Beth Alison Broderick (born February 24, 1959 in Falmouth, Kentucky) is an American actress and director best known for Sabrina the Teenage Witch.
She resides in Austin, Texas with her husband Scott Paetty. No relation to Matthew Broderick, something she is frequently asked.
Filmography:
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Film roles
- Stealing Home (1988): Leslie
- The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990): Caroline Heftshank
- Fools Rush In (1997): Tracey Verna (uncredited)
- Psycho Beach Party (2000): Mrs. Ruth Forrest
- Timber Falls (2007): Ida
- Revenge of the Bridesmaids (2010): Olivia McNabb
- Fly Away (2011): Jeanne
- The Madam of Purity Falls (2019): Karen Reed
Television roles
- Tales from the Darkside (1 episode, 1987): Voice on Radio
- Matlock (1 episode, 1988): Jane Barnes
- The Nutt House (1 episode, 1989): Gwen Goode
- Murphy Brown (1 episode, 1990): Rita
- Married... with Children (1 episode, 1990): Miss Penza
- Get a Life (1 episode, 1991): Jackie
- Doctor Doctor (1 episode, 1991): Roxanne Abrams
- Northern Exposure (1 episode, 1992): Linda Angelo
- Hearts Afire (1994–95): Dee Dee Star/Lee Ann Folsom
- Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996–2002): Zelda Spellman
- Teen Angel (1 episode, 1997)
- Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2 episodes, 2020)
- Men in Black: The Series (1 episode, 1997): Aileen
- The Nightmare Room (1 episode, 2002): Real Madame Zora (uncredited)
- CSI: Miami (1 epiosde, 2004): Mona
- Lost (2005–08): Diane Janssen
- Supernatural (1 episode, 2006): Alice Miller
- The Closer (1 episode, 2006): Morgan Bloom
- Bionic Woman (1 episode, 2007): Alexis
- CSI (1 episode, 2007): Belinda/Linda
- ER (1 episode, 2008): Edith Landry
- Cold Case (1 episode, 2009): Libby Traynor
- Leverage (1 episode, 2009): Monica Hunter
- Castle (1 episode, 2010): Barbara Mann
- Under the Dome (5 episodes, 2013): Rose Twitchell
- Melissa & Joey (2 epsiodes, 2014): Doctor Ellen Radler
- Bosch (3 episodes, 2017): Judge Sharon Houghton
- Sharp Objects (5 episodes, 2018): Annie B
- Walker (1 episode, 2021): Mrs. Harlan
- Shrill (1 episode, 2021): Clara
- Love & Death (2023): Bertha Pomeroy
Tropes associated with her work:
- Awesome, Dear Boy: Psycho Beach Party was "an opportunity to spoof myself".
- Actor-Inspired Element: She did her own hair for the film Timber Falls.
- The Cast Show Off: She sings in the TV movie Blending Christmas.
- Contractual Purity: Inverted! She got fame on the family sitcom Sabrina the Teenage Witch, overseen by Archie Comics, who are infamously protective of their wholesome brand (look at the uproar over Melissa Joan Hart doing a photoshoot for Maxim in the fourth season). She had actually begun her career in adult films under the pseudonym Norris O'Neal. Of course in this case, Melissa got in hot water because she'd signed a contract to never play the character naked or in a sexual fashion, and the magazine had advertised 'Sabrina' posing when it was to promote Drive Me Crazy.
- Directed by Cast Member: She directed the Sabrina episodes "Making the Grade", "Cloud Ten" and "Guilty".
- Friendship on the Set: She's described Melissa Joan Hart and Caroline Rhea as "like family to me."
- I Am Not Spock: Despite her extensive resume in television and film, she is best remembered as Aunt Zelda, although she doesn't seem to mind.
- I Want You to Meet an Old Friend of Mine: She guest starred on Melissa & Joey as a nod to Sabrina.
- Magnum Opus Dissonance: In a Reddit AMA, she mentioned being proudest of her work in Fly Away and Echoes of War.
- Old Shame: Subverted! Bonfire of the Vanities was controversial when it was released and badly received, but Beth has stood by it and said she was proud of her work in it."It was devastating when the movie failed to get good reviews, but I am still very proud of my work in it. It was a risky role, and I love taking risks."
- Playing Their Own Twin: Two episodes of Sabrina the Teenage Witch feature Zelda's Evil Twin Jezebelda, so Beth doubled up for the role. The second appearance featured them interacting on screen.
- Romance on the Set: She dated Brian DePalma while making The Bonfire of the Vanities.
- Vacation, Dear Boy: She joked that Lost was an excuse to visit Hawaii.
