• Christina Ann McNichol (Kristy McNichol) is a former American actress born on September 11, 1962 in Los Angeles, California.
• She is known for playing the lead character Mabel Stanley in the 1982 musical adventure comedy “The Pirate Movie”.
• She has won nine of her 18 award nominations, including two Primetime Emmys in 1977 and 1979.
• She revealed in 2012 that she is a lesbian, living with her girlfriend Martie Allen since 199•
• She has an estimated net worth of over $4 million as of December 2022.
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Who is Kristy McNichol?
American former actress Christina Ann McNichol was born in Los Angeles, California USA, on 11 September 1962, meaning that her zodiac sign’s Virgo. She had appeared in 38 movies and TV series prior to her official retirement in 2001, and is perhaps still best known for playing the lead character Mabel Stanley in the 1982 musical adventure comedy “The Pirate Movie”, directed by Ken Annakin, and which also starred Christopher Atkins and Ted Hamilton. It follows a seaman who has to save his girlfriend from pirates; the movie won three of its 12 award nominations.
Since she retired, Kristy’s been teaching acting at a number of private schools around Los Angeles, and has also been involved with many charity organizations.
Education and early life
Kristy was raised alongside her siblings Jimmy, Jennifer and Thomas in Los Angeles, by their mother Carolyn who was a secretary, movie extra and cosmetics salesperson, and father James McNichol who was a carpenter; Carolyn was of Lebanese descent, while Thomas has British ancestry.
Kristy fell in love with acting at a quite an early age, and was 10 when she made her debut TV series appearance, playing Steffi in the 1973 episode “Love and the Clinical Problem” of the romantic comedy “Love, American Style”. She then acted throughout her entire education; Kristy attended both an elementary and then high school in Los Angeles, and upon matriculating in 1981, chose not to pursue a college degree.
Roles in TV series
Kristy played Judy Barnes in the 1974 episode “Homecoming” of the family adventure “Run, Joe, Run”, and was in the same year cast to play Patricia Apple in 16 episodes of the family drama “Apple’s Way”, created by Earl Hamner Jr, and which starred Ronny Cox, Frances Lee McCain and Malcolm Atterbury; it follows the lives of members of the Apple family from Iowa.
Between 1976 and 1980, Kristy starred as Buddy Lawrence in the popular drama “Family”, which Jay Presson Allen created, and which starred Gary Frank, James Broderick and Sada Thompson. It follows the Lawrence family from Pasadena, and the series won 13 of its 38 award nominations, including four Primetime Emmy wins.
I have the highest of hopes for this episode of Murder,She Wrote and am really hoping JB Fletcher stays at the Bessborough pic.twitter.com/KOGTCC9aDb
— Alan Neal (@alannealottawa) November 5, 2021
Kristy had only two TV series roles in the ‘80s, playing Jill Morton in the episode “Showdown in Saskatchewan” of the crime mystery “Murder, She Wrote”. Then from 1988 to 1995, she starred as Barbara Weston in the family comedy “Empty Nest”, which Susan Harris created, and which also starred David Leisure and Richard Mulligan. It follows the lives of pediatrician Harry and his daughters Barbara and Carol; the series won 10 of its 27 award nominations.
Kristy had roles in only two other TV series prior to her retirement: the 1997 episode “Dry Spell” of the animated action adventure “Extreme Ghostbusters” (voice role), and 13 episodes of the 1998 short animated action “Invasion America” (voice role).
Roles in movies
Kristy’s debut film role was her playing of Linda Morley in the 1977 romantic comedy “The Love Boat II”, and she could then in the same year could have been seen appearing in the crime adventure “Black Sunday”. In 1978, she appeared in the comedy “The End”, and the drama “Like Mom, Like Me”.
She gained recognition in 1980, with her portrayal of Angel in the comedy “Little Darlings”, directed by Ron Maxwell, and in which Kristy starred alongside Tatum O’Neal and Armand Assante. It follows two 15-year-old girls who are competing to lose their virginity first – the film was nominated for three awards. Some of Kristy’s following roles were in the 1981 comedy “Only When I Laugh”, the 1982 horror “White Dog”, and the 1984 romantic musical comedy “Just the Way You Are”.
The year 1988 saw her play Patti Jean in the romantic drama “Two Moon Junction”, which Zalman King wrote and directed, and which starred Louise Fletcher, Richard Tyson and Sherilyn Fenn. It follows a woman who’s about to marry, but has now begun having an affair; the film won Kristy a Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actress.
She had only three other film roles prior to her retirement, playing supporting characters in the 1990 drama “Children of the Bride”, the 1991 drama “Baby of the Bride”, and the 1993 drama “Mother of the Bride”.
Other credits
Kristy worked as a presenter for The 54th Annual Academy Awards and The 55th Annual Academy Awards, in 1982 and 1983, respectively.
She co-produced the 1989 short sports comedy movie “Dirty Tennis”, and the 1993 drama film “Mother of the Bride”.
Kristy’s appeared in many talk-shows, most recently in “Biography”, “Planet View”, and “Entertainment Tonight”.
Awards and nominations
She’s won nine of her 18 award nominations, including two Primetime Emmys in 1977 and 1979, for Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Drama Series and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, both for her performance in “Family”.
She also won a 1977 Photoplay Gold Medal for Favorite Child Star, a 1980 Bravo Otto Germany Award for Best Actress and a 1980 People’s Choice Award for Favorite Young Motion Picture Actress.
Love life and relationships
Kristy kept the details of her love life away from the media’s attention while she was still active in the film industry, and it was only in 2012 that she revealed that she’s lesbian, while giving an interview to the “People Magazine”.
She spoke about having lived with her girlfriend Martie Allen since 1991, and that the two avoided spending time together in public places in Los Angeles, so that people wouldn’t realize that she was lesbian. Some of Kristy’s fans believe that she and Martie have since exchanged vows, while others claim that they’ve perhaps split; Kristy hasn’t addressed these rumors.
As a reason for her coming out, Kristy explained that she hopes this act would help all those who are bullied for their sexuality.
She hasn’t mentioned other women whom she’s dated, and Kristy seems to be in a long-term relationship with Martie Allen as of December 2022, hasn’t married and doesn’t have children.
Interesting facts and hobbies
Kristy’s older brother Jimmy’s today a famous actor, screenwriter and director, perhaps still best known for playing Harry Baker in the hit romantic family series “Little House on the Prairie”, which aired from 1974 to 1983.
VH1 once ranked Kristy #49 on their list of 100 greatest kid stars.
One of Kristy’s best friends, Canadian actress Elisabeth Brooks Luyties, died from cancer on 7 September 1997.
She isn’t a fan of social media networks, and thus isn’t active on any.
Amongst Kristy’s favorite hobbies is travelling; she’s been all around the world, and her favorite city to visit is Venice, Italy.
Kristy’s favorite actresses are Meryl Streep and Scarlett Johansson, and some of her favorite movies are “The Bridges of Madison County”, “Lost in Translation”, and “The Devil Wears Prada”.
Height, eyes and wealth
Kristy’s age is 60. Her eyes are brown and she has short brown hair, she’s 5ft 4ins (1.63m) tall and her weight is about 135lbs (61kgs).
Kristy’s net worth’s been estimated at over $4 million, as of December 2022.