Kristy McNichol Biography

Kristy McNichol is an actress best known for roles in television such as "Family" as well as "Empty Nest". Kristy McNichol was born Christina Ann McNichol on September 11, 1962 in Los Angeles, California to Jim and Carolyn McNichol. McNichol has one sibling by the name of Jimmy who would go on to act. In 1969, McNichol began appearing in commercials for Kraft, McDonald's and Hostess.

In 1973, McNichol appeared on television in "Love, American Style". Her next role came a year later as the character of "Patricia Apple" in the television series, "Apple's Way". McNichol would star in sixteen episodes. In 1976, McNichol would win the role of "Letitia 'Buddy' Lawrence" on the television series, "Family" and four years later would take home an Emmy for "Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series". McNichol would stay with the series until it's end after five seasons and would continue to take on other roles while on the show. Several television appearances followed such as, "Sara", "The Bionic Woman", "The Love Boat" and "Starsky and Hutch". McNichol's film debut was entitled, "The End" in 1978 with Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise and Sally Field. This same year, she starred in the television movies, "Like Mom, Like Me" and "Summer of My German Soldier". McNichol also released an album with her brother entitled "Kristy & Jimmy McNichol".

In 1980, McNichol starred with Tatum O'Neal and Matt Dillon in the film "Little Darlings". In 1981, McNichol starred in the film, "Only When I Laugh" where she would be nominated for a Golden Globe. The next year, McNichol starred in two films, "The Pirate Movie" and took on the lead role in "Just the Way You Are". Next up was the television movies, "Love, Mary" and "Women of Valor" with Susan Sarandon. In 1986, McNichol starred in the film thriller "Dream Lover". Two years later brought about the films, "You Can't Hurry Love" with Bridget Fonda and "Two Moon Junction" with Sherilyn Fenn. This same year, McNichol won the role of "Barbara Weston" in the comedy television series, "Empty Nest". The series would last for seven years. During "Empty Nest", McNichol filmed the television movies, "Children of the Bride", "Baby of the Bride" and "Mother of the Bride". McNichol's last known acting role was playing the voice of "Angie Romar" in the animated series, "Invasion America". The most current information to date on Kristy McNichol is that she teaches acting in Los Angeles, California as of 2001.