These talented stars are on the rise. How many do you recognize?

These Stars Are on the Rise

From popular franchises to brand new worlds of exploration, science fiction and fantasy stories are more popular than ever. Check out our list of the best and brightest new and upcoming movies and series.

New and Upcoming Sci-Fi and Fantasy

Discover some of the most anticipated sequels, prequels, and spin-offs coming to theaters and streaming.

New Sequels, Prequels, and Spin-Offs

Hill Street Blues, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, Far and Away, and Space Cowboys

She was married to Jay Sheffield from June 9, 1962 to 1968.

Conrad Stanton Babcock Jr. and Jadwiga Noskowiak

How many award nominations has Barbara Babcock received?

Blue-eyed, red-haired American character actress, often seen as resolute, strong-willed women. Though born in Kansas, Barbara Babcock spent much of her early childhood in Japan, where her father, U.S. Army Major General Conrad Stanton Babcock Jr., was posted (he was also a noted equestrian, who competed at the 1936 Summer Olympics). Her mother was Chilean-born Jadwiga Florence Noskowiak (1903-2000), a former stage actress and singer.

Babcock attended universities in Lausanne and Milan and later graduated from Wellesley College in Massachusetts. She initially interviewed for a job with the State Department, aiming at a diplomatic career. When this fell through, she turned to acting, debuting on screen in 1956. From the early 60s, Babcock made guest appearances in numerous television series. She ultimately became best known for her Emmy Award-winning performance as the over-amorous Grace Gardner in NBC's Hill Street Blues (1981) and as pioneer newspaper editor Dorothy Jennings in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1993) (a regular role, lasting from 1993 to 1998).

Babcock featured several times on Star Trek (1966), though it was more often her voice that was utilized for assorted alien background characters. She also played a member of the 'underground' in episodes of Hogan's Heroes (1965) and Pam Ewing's fashion boss in Dallas (1978). Babcock was one of the leads in Alan Alda's sitcom The Four Seasons (1984), about four middle-aged couples who vacation together four times annually, once per season. In this, she played the orthopedist wife of Allan Arbus (of M*A*S*H (1972) fame). Babcock subsequently starred in her own right as a demure attorney, counterpoint to Jerry Orbach's vociferous, seedy 'old school' gumshoe, in the short-lived CBS mystery drama The Law and Harry McGraw (1987). One might also remember her as one of the (ill-fated) residents of Salem's Lot (1979) and as a repeat guest star on Mannix (1967) and (alternating between murder victim and villainess of the week) in Murder, She Wrote (1984).

Her occasional forays to the big screen tended to be in smaller supporting roles, first up as an Apache kidnap victim in the Glenn Ford western Day of the Evil Gun (1968). More recently in maternal roles, she portrayed an Irish immigrant, the mother of Nicole Kidman's character, in Ron Howard's big budget western Far and Away (1992). Her last motion picture appearance was as the wife of test pilot and would-be-astronaut Frank Corvin (Clint Eastwood) in Space Cowboys (2000).

Barbara Babcock retired from acting in 2004, the year she was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. In her private life, she has had a lifelong interest in travel and exploration and has dabbled in writing. She is known as an avid crusader for animal rights.

Nora Christie

Barbara Corvin

Dorothy Jennings

Jane Seymour, Chad Allen, Joe Lando, and Shawn Toovey in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1993)

Grace Gardner

Sister Chastity

Robert Clohessy, Michael Warren, and Bruce Weitz in Hill Street Blues (1981)

How old is Barbara Babcock?

When was Barbara Babcock born?

Where was Barbara Babcock born?

How tall is Barbara Babcock?

<a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/title/tt0081873/?ref_=nmfaq">Hill Street Blues</a>, <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/title/tt0103405/?ref_=nmfaq">Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman</a>, <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/title/tt0104231/?ref_=nmfaq">Far and Away</a>, and <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/title/tt0186566/?ref_=nmfaq">Space Cowboys</a>

What is Barbara Babcock known for?

She was married to <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/name/nm0790782/?ref_=nmfaq">Jay Sheffield</a> from June 9, 1962 to 1968.

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