Betty Thomas Film Award

Betty Thomas first achieved national stardom for her powerful portrayal of Sgt. Lucy Bates in the successful TV series, Hill Street Blues.  She received 6 Emmy nominations for this role, winning an Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in 1985.  From the late 1980s she has concentrated on directing TV projects and feature films.  She later won a Best Director Emmy for episodes of the HBO series, Dream On. 

Thomas made her feature directorial debut in 1992, and she has directed several highly successful Hollywood movies, including The Brady Bunch Movie, Private Parts, and Doctor Doolittle.  She has also served as producer or executive producer for such films as Charlie's Angels, I Spy, Surviving Christmas, and Guess Who.

Ms. Thomas received a BFA from Ohio University's School of Art in 1969.  In 1996 she began funding the Betty Thomas Film Award with annual gifts.  In 2002 she permanently endowed this award as part of Ohio University's Bicentennial Campaign.  A year later she returned to Ohio University and conducted workshops for our Film students.

The specific purpose of this important endowment is to support female MFA students to help underwrite the costs associated with the making of their thesis films.  Recipients of the award are required to submit a copy of the completed thesis project.  This endowment has greatly benefited Film students since it was founded.  Previous winners of this award are: