Bettye Ackerman

Bettye Ackerman
Bettye Ackerman as Dr. Maggie Graham and Vince Edwards as Ben Casey
Born	Bettye Louise Ackerman February 28, 1924 Cottageville, South Carolina, U.S.
Died	November 1, 2006(2006-11-01) (aged 82) Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
Other names	Bettye Ackerman Jaffe
Occupation	Actress/Artist
Years active	1953–1994
Spouse(s)	Sam Jaffe (1956–1984; his death)

Bettye Louise Ackerman (February 28, 1924 – November 1, 2006) was an American actress primarily known for her work on television.

Ackerman was born in Cottageville, South Carolina, (Another source says she was born in Williston, South Carolina.) the daughter of Clarence Kilgo Ackerman and Mary Baker Ackerman, and grew up in Williston, in Barnwell County in southwestern South Carolina, one of four children. She graduated from Columbia College in South Carolina in 1945 and left for New York City soon after. She studied theater at the graduate level at Columbia University and pursued art studies with Joseph Mugnaini and George DeGroat at Otis Art Institute.

Ackerman played Dr. Maggie Graham on the ABC medical drama, Ben Casey, from 1961 until 1966. She played Anne Frazer on Bracken's World and the original Constance MacKenzie on the daytime program Return to Peyton Place. She appeared in an early episode of prime time soap Falcon Crest portraying the character of Elisabeth Bradbury. She also appeared in two episodes of Perry Mason, starring Raymond Burr: in 1965 she played the role of Amy Reid in the episode, "The Case of the Thermal Thief," and in 1966 she played Laura Brandon in "The Case of the Positive Negative." In 1977, she appeared in "Never Con a Killer," the pilot for the ABC crime drama The Feather and Father Gang.