Stockard Channing (born February 13, 1944, New York City) is an American actress whose career spans more than five decades across Broadway, film, and television. She became a cultural icon as Betty Rizzo in Grease (1978) and earned Emmy and SAG Awards for her portrayal of First Lady Abbey Bartlet in The West Wing (1999-2006). On stage she won a Tony Award for A Day in the Death of Joe Egg and received an Oscar nomination for reprising her Broadway role in Six Degrees of Separation (1993).
Stockard Channing's production of Krapp's Last Tape is included in the autumn season of London's Artsdepot theatre (September-December 2026) and continues the global tour 2026/27.
Stockard Channing announced her directorial debut - a production of Beckett's play Krapp's Last Tape at Edinburgh Fringe (5-31 August 2026), starring David Westhead.
A trailer for Practical Magic 2 has been released, in which Channing reprises the role of Aunt Franny Owens alongside Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock; the premiere is scheduled for 11 September 2026.
It has been confirmed that Channing and Dianne Wiest will return to their roles as eccentric aunts in the sequel Practical Magic 2 for Warner Bros.
Channing performed in the London West End production of Elektra alongside Brie Larson at Duke of York's Theatre (January-April 2025).
