Patricia Belcher (born April 7, 1954) is an American film and television actress, best known for her many appearances in films, including The Number 23, Unknown, Jeepers Creepers, Heartbreakers and (500) Days of Summer. She also has made appearances in television series, including Everybody Loves Raymond, Good Luck Charlie, Boston Legal, The Jake Effect, Twins, The Proud Family, Seinfeld, Sister, Sister, In Plain Sight, The Middle, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Still Sitting down, Beverly Hills, 90210, and Bones.
Life and career[]
Patricia Belcher was born in Helena, Montana. Belcher is of African American descent.[1] Prior to becoming an actress, Belcher appeared as a contestant on Jeopardy! losing to then attorney Ron Black in one of his 5 games.[2] She is known for playing judges, doctors/nurses, government officials, and other authority figures, often to comic effect. She has made many appearances in films and television series. She is also one of the most active actors appearing in commercials. Products include GEICO, Staples and Time Warner, as well as for the American Cancer Society.
In 2001, Belcher was cast as Jezelle Gay Hartman, a psychic, in the Horror film Jeepers Creepers. The film received mixed reviews from critics, however received positive awards from audiences.[3][4] The film was a commercial success, opening in 2,944 theaters and took in a domestic gross of $37,904,175; it later made $21,313,614 internationally, making a total of $59,217,789 worldwide.[5] In 2003, Belcher was originally going to appear again as Jezelle Gay Hartman in Jeepers Creepers 2, as the plot was about her character and Gina Philips' character hunting down The Creeper, while a school bus full of teens terrorized by The Creeper was just a subplot. But the more writer and director Victor Salva worked on the script, the more the bus plot became more interesting. So he decides to scrap both her and Philip's plot and concentrate the film on the bus instead.[6]
Since 2006, she has appeared numerous times on Bones as attorney Caroline Julian. Belcher produced her 2008 role in the film Lower Learning as Colette.
In 2009, she played Millie in the romantic comedy (500) Days of Summer. The film received positive reviews from critics upon its release. Based on over 214 professional reviews, it obtained a "Certified Fresh" seal on Rotten Tomatoes with an approval rating of 86% and an average score of 7.6 out of 10. The film was a box office success as well, becoming a "sleeper hit" and earning over $60 million in worldwide returns, far exceeding its $7.5 million budget. Also that year through 2010, Belcher had a recurring role on Better Off Ted as Janet S. Crotum, the head of human resources of Veridian Dynamics. On May 13, 2010, ABC officially canceled the series due to low viewing figures.[7] After the cancellation of Better Off Ted Belcher moved on and began another recurring role on the Disney Channel sitcom Good Luck Charlie, playing the strict and easily annoyed neighbor, Mrs. Estelle Dabney.[8]
Patricia in the 2013 movie "Bad Words."
In 2013, she appeared as Ingrid in Bad Words, and she voiced Chimamanda Lobo in the video game Dead Island: Riptide. After four seasons the show Good Luck Charlie ended on February 16, 2014, with a one-hour finale.[9][10] Later that year Belcher again teamed with Jeepers Creepers writer and director Victor Salva for his horror film Dark House. As well as appearing on The Millers, and Partners. In 2015, she appeared in the GEICO commercial with the band Europe.
Filmography[]
Film[]
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Flatliners | Edna | |
| 1994 | Clear and Present Danger | INS Officer | |
| 1995 | Species | Hospital Admittance Clerk | |
| 1996 | Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace | Impatient Customer | |
| Eye for an Eye | Quarreling Woman | ||
| 1999 | Message in a Bottle | Annie | |
| Molly | Margaret Duffy | ||
| The Wood | Mrs. Huges | ||
| 2001 | Heartbreakers | Hotel Housekeeping Maid | |
| Jeepers Creepers | Jezelle Gay Hartman | ||
| 2002 | The Board Room | Stephens | |
| 2003 | Spin, Shoot & Run | Abagail | |
| I Love Your Work | Dr. Fein | ||
| 2004 | Cut and Run | Roberta | Short |
| Criminal | Female Bank Executive | ||
| Reflections: A Story of Redemption | Mom | Short | |
| 2005 | Edmond | Woman on Subway | |
| 2006 | The Still Life | Meter Maid | |
| Unknown | Depot Supervisor | ||
| 2007 | The Number 23 | Dr. Alice Mortimer | |
| 2008 | Over Her Dead Body | Helen | |
| El Superstar: The Unlikely Rise of Juan Frances | Sister Agatha | ||
| Lower Learning | Colette Bamboo | ||
| Desertion | Barbara | ||
| 2009 | 500 Days of Summer | Millie | |
| 2010 | 5 Star Day | Patty the Waitress | |
| Cyrus: Mind of a Serial Killer | Maybelle | ||
| 2011 | Shuffle | Psychiatrist | |
| Forever Young at Heart | Mae Belle-Jackson-Jenksins-Dubois | Short | |
| 2012 | Walking the Halls | Principal Jenkins | |
| I Do | Gloria | ||
| Sistaah Friend | Super Shero of Unity | Short | |
| 2013 | Bad Words | Ingrid | |
| 2014 | Dark House | Lee Knox | |
| Sister | Miss Thompson | ||
| 2015 | I'll See You in My Dreams | Shelter Worker | |
| The Tiger Hunter | Sandy - HR Officer | ||
| 2019 | The Way We Weren't | Dr. Dietz |
Television[]
| Year | Show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Beverly Hills, 90210 | Nun | 1 Episode, A Walsh Family Christmas |
| 1992 | Who's the Boss? | Nurse | 1 Episode, Allergic to Love |
| Reasonable Doubts | Vivian Jones | 1 Episode, Mercury in Retrograde | |
| 1993 | Civil Wars | Jury Foreperson | 1 Episode, Alien Aided Affection |
| Sisters | Receptionist | 1 Episode, Different | |
| Homefront | Customer #2 | 1 Episode, The Lacemakers | |
| Black Widow Murders: The Blanche Taylor Moore Story | Nurse Kitty | TV Movie | |
| NYPD Blue | Detective | 1 Episode, Brown Appetit | |
| Doorways | Madge | TV Movie | |
| 1994 | Thea | Mrs. Brown | 1 Episode, Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow |
| Seinfeld | Woman #1 | 1 Episode, The Pie | |
| Dream On | Nurse | 1 Episode, A face Worse than Death | |
| Attack of the 5 Ft. 2 In. Women | Female Judge | TV Movie | |
| 1995 | Cybill | Nurse | 1 Episode, As the World Turns to Crap |
| Martin | Inez | 1 Episode, Wedding Bell Blues | |
| Indictment: The McMartin Trial | Juror #1 | TV Movie | |
| Body Language | Judge May | TV Movie | |
| Coach | Neighbor #1 | 1 Episode, Is It Hot in Here, or Is It Me?: Part 2 | |
| ER | Ward Nurse | 1 Episode, What Life? | |
| Step by Step | Mrs. Sawyer | 1 Episode, Hello, Mister Chips | |
| Favorite Deadly Sins | Modesto Judge | TV Movie | |
| Dad, the Angel & Me | Christine | TV Movie | |
| 1996 | Murder One | Mrs. Harris | 1 Episode, Chapter Eleven |
| Woman Undone | Judge | TV Movie | |
| Touched by an Angel | Miss Raphael | 1 Episode, Dear God | |
| Life's Work | Gloria | 1 Episode, Pilot | |
| Married... with Children | Eunetta | 1 Episode, A Bundy Thanksgiving | |
| Everybody Loves Raymond | Ruth | 1 Episode, Neighbors | |
| 1996-1998 | Sister, Sister | Councilwoman Martha Hicks / Selma | 4 Episodes |
| 1997 | Good News | Lorraine Hudson | 1 Episode, Pilot |
| Brooklyn South | Regina Hopkins | 1 Episode, Pilot | |
| Living Single | Florence Jacobs | 2 Episodes | |
| Chicago Hope | Stephanie Plummer | 1 Episode, White Trash | |
| Players | Tante Florence | 1 Episode, Three of a Con | |
| Van Helsing Chronicles | Nurse | TV Movie | |
| 1997-1999 | The Parent 'Hood | Mrs. Griffith / Judge / Principal Bobbit | 3 Episodes |
| 1997-2001 | The Practice | Candace Levy / The Foreperson | 3 Episodes |
| 1998 | You Lucky Dog | Judge Tanner | TV Movie |
| 1998-1999 | Tracey Takes On... | Ida | 5 Episodes |
| 1998-2000 | The Hughleys | Jessie Mae | 7 Episodes |
| 1999 | Maggie Winters | Ruth | 1 Episode, Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut |
| Rude Awakening | Dr. Lloyd | 1 Episode, The Grateful Living | |
| The Drew Carey Show | Judge Holloway | 1 Episode, Drew and the Gang Law | |
| 1999-2001 | Norm | Landlady | 7 Episodes |
| 2000 | The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood | Deacon | TV Movie |
| Battle of the Sitcoms | Renee | 1 Episode | |
| 2000-2001 | The Trouble with Normal | Lila | 6 Episodes |
| 2001 | Sabrina, the Teenage Witch | Professor Hutchins | 1 Episode, Do You See What I See? |
| Follow the Stars Home | Counselor | TV Movie | |
| 2001-2002 | One on One | Dr. Gilkes | 3 Episodes |
| 2002 | Yes, Dear | Bernice | 1 Episode, You're Out... of Dreams |
| Girlfriends | Iva Dent | 1 Episode, Willie or Won't He II: The Last Chapter? | |
| Leap of Faith | Nurse #2 | 1 Episode, The Baby Snugglers | |
| Ally McBeal | Marsha Forrester | 1 Episode, Love Is All Around: Part 2 | |
| 2002-2003 | Andy Richter Controls the Universe | Ms. Machado | 2 Episodes |
| 2002-2004 | Still Standing | Miss Bodin | 3 Episodes |
| 2003-2004 | The Proud Family | Ms. Hightower | 4 Episodes |
| 2004 | Malcolm in the Middle | Dr. Lucille Armstrong | 1 Episode, Reese's Apartment |
| Without a Trace | Georgia Reston | 1 Episode, Upstairs Downstairs | |
| 2004-2007 | Boston Legal | Judge Leslie Bishop | 3 Episodes |
| 2005 | The Proud Family Movie | Ms. Hightower | TV Movie |
| Close to Home | Judge Riker | 2 Episodes | |
| Hot Properties | Nurse Gracie | 1 Episode, Killer Bodies | |
| My Name Is Earl | Receptionist | 1 Episode, Stole P's HD Cart | |
| 2005-2006 | Twins | Dolly | 5 Episodes |
| 2006 | Rodney | Renette | 1 Episode, A Tisket, a Casket |
| The Jake Effect | Vice Principal Curtis | 6 Episodes | |
| How I Met Your Mother | Receptionist | 1 Episode, Atlantic City | |
| The Loop | Pat Swanson | 1 Episode, Stride | |
| 2006-2015 | Bones | Caroline Julian | 50 Episodes |
| 2007 | Weeds | Miriam Walters | 1 Episode, The Brick Dance |
| 2008 | Las Vegas | 1 Episode, Three Weddings and a Funeral: Part 2 | |
| Out of Jimmy's Head | Lunchlady Edna | 1 Episode, Lunch Tables | |
| The Cleaner | Sister Alma | 1 Episode, Rag Dolls | |
| Cold Case | Margaret Trudlow '08 | 1 Episode, True Calling | |
| 2009 | United States of Tara | Gloria | 1 Episode, Snow |
| According to Jim | Mrs. Kretzer | 1 Episode, I Hate the High Road | |
| Community | Cafeteria Lady | 1 Episode, Pilot | |
| The Middle | Mrs. Rettig | 1 Episode, Pilot | |
| It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia | Judge | 1 Episode, The World Series Defense | |
| 2009-2010 | Better Off Ted | Janet | 2 Episodes |
| 2010-2014 | Good Luck Charlie | Mrs. Estelle Dabney/ Virginia | 23 Episodes |
| 2011 | In Plain Sight | Mrs. Anders | 2 Episodes |
| 2012 | Emily Owens M.D. | Dolores | 1 Episode, Emily and... the Question of Faith |
| 2014 | The Millers | Sunni | 1 Episode, Cancellation Fee |
| Partners | Judge Reiss | 1 Episode, Paralegal Activity | |
| 2015 | Mike & Molly | Rose | 1 Episode, Molly's Neverending Story |
| I Didn't Do It | Candy | 1 Episode, The Doctor Is In | |
| 2022-2023 | The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder | Ms. Hightower | 3 Episodes |
Video Games[]
| Year | Game Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Dead Island: Riptide | Chimamanda | Uncredited Voice Role |