Bridget Hanley was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Doris (née Nihlroos) and Lee Hanley. At the age of four, she moved with her parents and older sister Mary-Jo to Edmonds, Washington, where her younger sister Molly was later born. Best known for her starring roles as Candy Pruitt in
Here Come the Brides (1968) and Wanda Reilly Taylor in
Harper Valley P.T.A. (1981), Bridget made appearances in numerous classic television series including
Gidget (1965),
I Dream of Jeannie (1965),
The Flying Nun (1967),
Welcome Back, Kotter (1975) and
Murder, She Wrote (1984).
After graduating from Edmonds High School in 1959, Bridget studied drama at the San Francisco College for Women (now the University of San Francisco's Lone Mountain Campus) for two years, before transferring to the University of Washington, where she appeared in 17 stage productions, and graduated with honors and a B.A. in drama. Hanley remained active in theater throughout her career, as a regular performer at Theatre West in Hollywood, California, and notably as the star of the award-winning one-woman play "May Day Sermon," based on the poem by James Dickey.
She and director/producer
E.W. Swackhamer were married from April 1969 until his death in December 1994.
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues(1993)as Jennifer Campbell
The New Lassie(1989)as Gloria Hoff
The New Adam-12(1990)as Constance Mann
Columbo: Columbo Goes to College(1990)as Mrs. Rusk
Murder, She Wrote(1984)as Gloria Franzen
The Bob Braun Show(1967)as Self - Actress
The John Davidson Show(1980)as Self - Guest
Allen Ludden's Gallery(1969)as Self
