Babcock began working in TV-movies and, less often, in feature films, in the 70s. Perhaps her best known role was the team owner who slyly suggested a homosexual liaison between Michael Moriarty and Robert De Niro in "Bang the Drum Slowly" (1973). She also appeared in "The Black Marble" (1980), "The Lords of Discipline' (1983), Emilio Estevez's "That Was Then ... This Is Now" (1985) and Ron Howard's "Far and Away" as Nicole Kidman's mother.
With her regular role as Liz Craig on "Dallas" (CBS, 1978-82), Babcock became steadily employed. But it was as Grace Gardner--originally a one-shot guest appearance--on "Hill Street Blues" that Babcock earned a berth on top casting lists in Hollywood. Armed with an Emmy, she attempted a find a more permanent series slot, but both "The Four Seasons" (CBS, 1984) and "Mr. Sunshine" (ABC, 1986) were short-lived. A later effort as Jerry Orbach's charmingly unpleasant nemesis on "The Law and Harry McGraw" (CBS, 1987-88) lasted only half a season. Babcock portrayed sympathetic mothers in TV TV-movies such as "Salem's Lot" (CBS, 1979) and "Quarterback Princess" (CBS, 1983) and she made occasional guest appearances on series such as "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" and "The Golden Girls". With her air of refinement tempered by a steel spine, Babcock was well cast as the pioneer newswoman opposite Jane Seymour's "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman" (CBS, 1993-98).