Abby Hagyard is a Canadian-born writer-performer who stepped into the role of the mother on You Can't Do That on Television in 1982 when Ruth Buzzi left the show. Hagyard was a regularly featured cast member until the series came to an end.

Between taping sessions Abby provided character voices in the animated cartoon series For Better Or For Worse, The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin and The Care Bears. She co-hosted a popular morning drive radio show and produced several award-winning stage plays as well.

After twenty years in television, radio, stage and film, Abby moved out of the spotlight to work in a behind-the-scenes capacity as a writer-for-hire and creative consultant.