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Kristy McNichol

Kristy McNichol

Highest Rated: 94% White Dog (1982)

Lowest Rated: 0% Two Moon Junction (1988)

Birthday: Sep 11, 1962

Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA

The most popular and acclaimed teen actor of her era, Kristy McNichol achieved stardom as "Buddy" Lawrence on Aaron Spelling's "Family" (ABC, 1976-1980). Revolutionary for its resolutely unglamorous focus on average American home life, the series showcased McNichol's natural charisma and considerable acting chops. She won two Best Supporting Actress Emmys and became a household name, racking up TV guest spots, merchandising deals and an album with her teen idol brother, Jimmy McNichol. After impressing in "Summer of My German Soldier" (NBC, 1978), she made the leap to film with the summer camp-set cult classic "Little Darlings" (1980) opposite Tatum O'Neal. McNichol scored again onscreen with "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" (1981) and "Only When I Laugh" (1981), earning a Golden Globe nomination for the latter. Reports of her erratic behavior and high-profile flops like "The Pirate Movie" (1982) and "Just the Way You Are" (1984) helped end her film career, but she regained footing as Richard Mulligan's tough cop daughter on "Empty Nest" (NBC, 1988-1995), a spin-off of "The Golden Girls" (NBC, 1985-1992). Diagnosed with bipolar disorder, she left the show in 1992 to retire from acting and the public eye in order to focus on charity work, teaching and her health. Moved by multiple instances of LGBT suicide due to bullying, McNichol resurfaced in 2012 to come out as a lesbian. Although many critics and fans wished she would return to acting, Kristy McNichol seemed content to let her impressive professional legacy speak for itself.

Highest rated movies

94% 73% White Dog
67% 74% Little Darlings
63% 75% Only When I Laugh
9% 77% The Pirate Movie
0% 49% Two Moon Junction

Filmography

Movies

Credit
No Score Yet No Score Yet Mother of the Bride Mary (Character) - 1993
No Score Yet 57% Baby of the Bride Mary (Character) - 1991
No Score Yet 50% Children of the Bride Mary (Character) - 1990
No Score Yet 71% The Forgotten One Barbara Stupple (Character) - 1990
No Score Yet 38% You Can't Hurry Love Rhonda (Character) $223.6K 1988
0% 49% Two Moon Junction Patti Jean (Character) $1.5M 1988
No Score Yet 58% Women of Valor T.J. Nolan (Character) - 1986
No Score Yet 15% Dream Lover Kathy Gardner (Character) $210.7K 1986
No Score Yet No Score Yet Love, Mary Mary Groda-Lewis (Character) - 1985
No Score Yet 58% Just the Way You Are Susan Berlanger (Character) $355.0K 1984
No Score Yet No Score Yet Aladdin & the Magic Lamp The Princess (Voice) - 1983
No Score Yet No Score Yet Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp Unknown (Voice) - 1983
9% 77% The Pirate Movie Mabel (Character) - 1982
94% 73% White Dog Julie Sawyer (Character) - 1982
63% 75% Only When I Laugh Polly (Character) - 1981
No Score Yet 75% The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia Amanda Child (Character) - 1981
67% 74% Little Darlings Angel (Character) - 1980
No Score Yet No Score Yet Blinded by the Light Janet Bowers (Character) - 1980
No Score Yet No Score Yet My Old Man Jo Butler (Character) - 1979
No Score Yet 90% Summer of My German Soldier Patty Bergen (Character) - 1978
No Score Yet No Score Yet Like Mom, Like Me Jennifer Gruen (Character) - 1978
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Love Boat II Linda Morley (Character) - 1977

TV

Credit
40% No Score Yet Invasion America Unknown (Voice) 1998
No Score Yet No Score Yet Empty Nest Barbara Weston (Character) 1988-1995
No Score Yet 94% The Golden Girls Barbara Weston (Guest Star) 1991-1992
No Score Yet 89% Murder, She Wrote Jill Morton (Guest Star) 1988
No Score Yet No Score Yet Family Letitia "Buddy" Lawrence (Character) 1976-1980
No Score Yet No Score Yet Starsky and Hutch Unknown (Guest Star) 1976 1978
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Love Boat Unknown (Guest Star) 1977
No Score Yet No Score Yet Bionic Woman Amanda Cory (Guest Star) 1976
No Score Yet No Score Yet Apple's Way Patricia Apple (Character) 1974-1975