Abby Hagyard

Abby Hagyard is a Canadian television actress, author, producer, director, playwright, dramatist, voice artist, and comedian, best known for her appearances on the sketch comedy program You Can't Do That on Television.

Born in Edmonton, Alberta and of Norwegian descent, Hagyard's interest in acting began when she was enrolled in a modeling class with her mother. She modeled for two years and then had a secretarial position in the New York offices of Playboy. She returned to Ottawa and studied drama at St. Patrick's College (now Carleton University) for 3 years. She began her work in entertainment as a high fashion model on Miami Beach and actress. In the early 1980s, she toured the eastern seaboard performing in small venues, and then began hosting the CBC television show Scene From Here, while continuing to perform sketch comedy.

Referred to by the Ottawa Citizen as "one of our town's best and busiest actresses", Starring roles in Dinner Theatre productions led to a one-woman show and an invitation to host her own entertainment series on CBC. After that, Roger Price came calling. Hagyard stepped into the role of the mother on You Can't Do That on Television in 1982. Ruth Buzzi had co-starred in the 1979 prime time version of the show entitled Whatever Turns You On, but left when it was cancelled at the end of the '79 season. Production on the show had resumed in 1981. When Hagyard joined Canadian TV Comic Les Lye on the series in '82, she became one of only two adult cast members among the hundreds of children who participated over the series' run, although adult roles were occasionally played also by some of the older children in the cast, particularly hostess Christine McGlade. She remained a regularly featured member until the series came to an end in 1990. Hagyard's other regularly occurring role on YCDTOTV was as a librarian who spoke with a British accent.

Between taping sessions Abby provided character voices for the animated cartoon series For Better or For Worse, The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin, Dennis the Menace and The Care Bears. She also co-hosted a popular morning drive radio show, and produced several award-winning stage plays.

Since 2005, Hagyard has been developing new media projects for entrepreneurs.

As actor

• You Can't Do That on Television (113 episodes, 1982–1990)

As voice artist

• The Care Bears in the Land Without Feelings (1983) – Friend Bear, Love-A-Lot Bear, Wish Bear
• The Care Bears Battle the Freeze Machine (1984) – Friend Bear, Love-A-Lot Bear, Wish Bear
• For Better or for Worse: The Bestest Present (1985)
• The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin (7 episodes, 1987)
• The Care Bears (1 episode, 1988)
• Dennis the Menace (1986) - Additional Voices (Season 2)
• For Better or for Worse: The Last Camping Trip (1992)
• For Better or for Worse: A Christmas Angel (1992)
• For Better or for Worse: A Valentine from the Heart (1993)
• For Better or for Worse: The Good-for-Nothing (1993)
• For Better or for Worse: The Babe Magnet (1994)
• For Better or for Worse: A Storm in April (1997)
• For Better or for Worse (1 episode, 2000)

Awards & nominations

• 1983, ACTRA Award for 'Best Female On-Camera Performance'
• 1983, ACTRA Award for 'Best Voice-Over/Narration'

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