Babz Chula (born as Barbara Ellen Zuckerman; March 22, 1947 – May 7, 2010) was an American-born Canadian actress and musician.
Early life, education and career Barbara Ellen Zuckerman was born in Springfield, Massachusetts but spent her early childhood in the working-class neighbourhood of Jamaica, Queens County, New York City. Her widowed mother, Abby Zuckerman, a booking agent for Leonard Bernstein, moved her with two young children, first to Hawaii and then to California, to pursue work in the entertainment field after Chula's father, Larry Zuckerman, an auto mechanic and stock-car racer, was killed in a car race.Babz Chula biography, Northernstars.ca. Accessed March 28, 2020.
Growing up in Los Angeles, she won a scholarship to the California Institute of the Arts and returned to New York after graduation to perform as a folk singer. In 1971, she and her first husband, Phillip Ciulla, relocated to Slocan Valley in British Columbia before moving to Vancouver, where she resumed her acting and singing career as Babz Chula, under the respelled phonetic pronunciation of Ciulla.Vancouver Sun, May 25, 2010. Accessed March 28, 2020. Her first major supporting role was in Sandy Wilson's award-winning film My American Cousin.
Personal life and death Chula was married to Larry Lynn.
The 2013 National Film Board of Canada documentary ChiChi (2013 film) follows Chula to Kerala, India in 2010, where she travels in an effort to treat her 6-year battle with cancer. Directed by Anne Wheeler, the documentary follows Chula's battle with cancer until the end, detailing Chula and her family members' struggle to come to terms with her death, while celebrating her life and accomplishments.
Selected filmography Year Title Role Director 1984 Runaway Construction Foreperson (as Babs Chulla) Michael Crichton 1985 My American Cousin Dolly Walker Sandy Wilson 1988 The Accused Woman Lawyer Jonathan Kaplan 1989 In Search of the Last Good Man Unknown Peg Campbell American Boyfriends Dolly, Butch's Mother Sandy Wilson Immediate Family Birthday Girl's Mom Jonathan Kaplan Cousins Mrs. Davidow Joel Schumacher 1991 Run Poker Player (as Babs Chula) Geoff Burrowes 1992 The Date Carmen's mother Niko TheodosakisNorth of Pittsburgh Linda Richard Martin 1994 Valentine's Day Barb Mike Hoolboom Kanada Charlie Mike Hoolboom 1995 Live Bait Helen MacIntosh Bruce Sweeney The Love Charm Unknown Robert Rondau Power of Attorney Angela Howard Himelstein A Pyromaniac's Love Story Ass pincher's wife Josh Brand 1997 Silent Cradle Cye Block Paul Ziller Barbeque...A Love Story Unknown Stacey Kirk The Ex Dr. Lillian Jonas Mark Leste 1998 Dirty Angie Bruce Sweeney 1999 Double Jeopardy Ruby Bruce Beresford 2000 No More Monkeys Jumpin' on the Bed Rick's Mother Ross Weber 2001 Last Wedding Bobbie Bruce Sweeney 2002 Cheats Mrs. Rosengarden Andrew Gurland Bitten Mother Clauida Morgado 2003 Little Brother of War Police Lieutenant Damon Vignale Moving Malcolm Gisha Benjamin Ratner 2004 Kathleen's Closet Kathleen Sheila Jordon Gang of Love Unknown Rick Dobran Seven Times Lucky Eddie Gary Yates Croon Unknown Hillary Jones-Farrow 2006 Home by Christmas Rita Gail Harvey The French Guy Elizabeth Murray Ann Marie Fleming The Saddest Boy in the World Dr. Judith D'Angelo Jamie Travis The Secret Psychiatrist Vincent Perez Criminal Intent Ruth George Erchbamer 2007 American Venus Peggy Bruce Sweeney 2008 The X-Files: I Want to Believe Surgeon Chris Carter 2009 Mothers & Daughters Micki Carl Bessai 2013 Kids in Jail Herself (posthumous) Larry Lynn 2013 Chi Herself (posthumous) Anne Wheeler
Selected minor films 2002: Croon as Liz 2000: Becoming Dick as Waitress 2000: Wednesday Woman as Andrea Glissner 1999: Sweetwater as Rita 1997: Jitters as Mrs. Hoffman 1997: Intensity as Mrs. John Q. (Citizen) 1997: Seduction in a Small Town as Jesse Pence 1997: Echo as Caseworker 1996: For Hope as Doctor 1994: Roommates as Norma 1994: My Name is Kate as Nora 1993: Without a Kiss Goodbye as Unknown 1993: Double, Double, Toil and Trouble as Madame Lulu 1993: When a Stranger Calls Back as Agent 1986: Mrs. Delafield Wants to Marry as Frieda
Selected television appearances 1991: The Commish – 6 episodes 1993–1996: Madison – 8 episodes 1998: Police Academy – 1 episode 2000–2003: Cold Squad – 1 episode 1999–2001 These Arms of Mine – 5 episodes 2002: Bliss – 1 episode 2002: John Doe – 1 episode 2004: The L Word – 1 episode 2004: The Days – 3 episodes 2007: Final 24 – 1 episode
Voice work
Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog Captain N: The Game Master Madeline Captain Zed and the Zee Zone Legend of the Hawaiian Slammers G.I. Joe Bucky O'Hare and the Toad Wars Yvon of the Yukon Camp Candy Toon of the Month Little Witch Action Man Christopher the Christmas Tree Littlest Pet Shop Funky Fables Super Trolls
Recognition 2009: Leo Award Best Lead Performance by a Female in a Feature Length Drama 2008: Sam Payne Award 2006: Leo Award for Individual Outstanding Achievement 2002: Best supporting Actress New York Independent Film Festival (Bitten) 2001: Gemini Award for Best Actress in a Dramatic Series 1999/2002: Leo Awards Nomination "Best Performance by a Female/Picture" 1996: Leo Award Winner "Best Actress" 1996: Woman of the Year by Woman in Film and Video 1995–1996: Jessie Award Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role 1992–1993: Jessie Award Outstanding Ensemble Cast
References
External links
Women in Film Canada