- Worked as a New York City go-go dancer in a Mafia-run nightclub from 1964-1967 while breaking in on Broadway. She quit after the owner decided to turn the place into a bikini bar.
- In 1978, a poster of Adrienne Barbeau wearing a tight purple corset was a bestseller. The poster's image later served as a cover photo for her autobiography.
- At age 51, she gave birth to identical twin boys, Walker Steven and William Dalton Van Zandt, on March 17, 1997. Their father is her ex-husband, Billy Van Zandt.
- Nominated for a 1972 Tony Award as Best Supporting or Featured Actress (Musical) for her portrayal of bad-girl Betty Rizzo in the original Broadway production of "Grease".
- Her roles in the horror film The Fog (1980) and Escape from New York (1981) were written specifically with her in mind.
- Made her Broadway debut in "Fiddler on the Roof" (1968), where she met another young, up-and-coming actress named Bette Midler. "I guess I adopted some of her enthusiasm and hopefully her street smarts," said Barbeau.
- Was a Miss Wrestling on Big Time Wrestling. Gorgeous George threw a chair at her.
- The winner of The Cannonball Run (1981), she also won the heart of her co-star, Burt Reynolds, who was then at the height of his popularity.
- In the horror film The Fog (1980), the two leads, Adrienne Barbeau and Jamie Lee Curtis, do not appear in any scenes together.
- Her memoir, "There Are Worse Things I Could Do" (2006), went to #11 on the Los Angeles Times Bestseller list.
- With the passing of Bill Macy on October 17, 2019, she is the last surviving regular cast member of Maude (1972).
- During her USO tour of Southeast Asia in 1963, she was paid $7 per day. Her first professional job.
- Her acting mentor is the late Bea Arthur. Many years before Maude (1972), both Arthur and Barbeau performed in the original Broadway production of "Fiddler on the Roof".
- Her nude scene in Swamp Thing (1982) was intended only for European release but eventually made its way onto an American DVD of the movie -- until a Texas housewife complained of her sons' inadvertently viewing nudity in a PG-rated movie, at which point the DVD was recalled.
- Has one son with John Carpenter: Cody Carpenter (born John Cody Carpenter).
- Returned to the New York stage for first time in 34 years to portray Judy Garland in "The Property Known as Garland" written by her then husband, playwright Billy Van Zandt.
- In her autobiography, Barbeau says that she first caught the show business bug while entertaining troops at army bases throughout Southeast Asia, touring with the San Jose Civic Light Opera.
- Won the prestigious Theater Guild Award for her portrayal of bad-girl Betty Rizzo in the original Broadway production of "Grease".
- According to Bea Arthur, she said in an interview that she would have had Marcia Rodd to play the role of Carol Traynor, rather than Barbeau, herself. Rodd played Carol in the All in the Family (1971) spin-off episode stronger with "more of a mouth", which made their fight scenes more exciting. When Maude (1972) became its own series they hired Barbeau, who played the role "softer" much to Bea's dismay.
- Ex sister-in-law of musician and actor Steven Van Zandt.
- Her role in the horror remake Halloween (2007) was ultimately deleted from the final finished film, but was included on the DVD Special Edition.
- Revealed that she had a wonderful working relationship with Bea Arthur on Maude (1972).
- Has appeared with Tom Atkins in four films: The Fog (1980), Escape from New York (1981), Creepshow (1982) and Two Evil Eyes (1990).
- Has appeared in four films directed by her ex-husband John Carpenter: Someone's Watching Me! (1978), The Fog (1980), Escape from New York (1981) and The Thing (1982).
- Her father was of three quarters German ancestry, with his other roots being French-Canadian and Irish. Her mother was of Armenian ancestry.
- Attended and graduated from Del Mar High School in San Jose, California.
- She was considered for the role of the mythic being Ardra in the fourth season episode Devil's Due (1991), which went to Marta DuBois.
- Was working in a beauty salon when she was discovered by a Board Member of the San Jose Civic Light Opera. This led to her casting in their production of The King & I.
- Attended Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, California.
- Attended the Burlingame Conservatory of Music as a child.
- On account of her busy scheduling, she had to miss the majority of the episodes of [Maude (1972)], for the last two seasons.
- Was born in the same city and in the same year as Randolph Mantooth, and is three months older than him.
- Her hobbies are writing and singing.
- Her favorite movie genre is Horror.
- Her favorite TV role is Carol Traynor in the TV sitcom "Maude" (1972-1978).
- Her favorite author is Harlan Coben.
- Her favorite animals are dogs.
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