Kathleen Nolan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kathleen Nolan
Nolan in 2007
Born	Joycelyn Schrum (1933-09-27) September 27, 1933 (age 91) St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, president of the Screen Actors Guild
Years active	1953–present
Spouse(s)	Richard Steven Heckenkamp ​ ​ (m. 1962; div. 1965)​
Children	Spencer Garrett
President of the Screen Actors Guild
In office 1975–1979
Preceded by	Dennis Weaver
Succeeded by	William Schallert

Kathleen Nolan (born Joycelyn Schrum on September 27, 1933) is an American actress. She also served as a former president of the Screen Actors Guild. From 1957 to 1962, she was well-known for playing Kate McCoy. This character was a housewife on the TV show The Real McCoys.

Early Life and First Roles

Kathleen Nolan was born in St. Louis, Missouri. She started acting very early, at just 13 months old. Her first stage appearance was on a showboat called Goldenrod. She performed on this showboat for 12 years.

Her family also loved acting. They had their own acting group called the Circle Stock Company. After finishing high school in St. Louis, Kathleen also sang on a local radio station.

Stage Performances

Nolan as Wendy in the original Broadway cast of Peter Pan (1954)

On Broadway, Kathleen Nolan played Wendy in the first production of Peter Pan. This musical ran from 1954 to 1955. She starred alongside famous actors Mary Martin and Cyril Ritchard.

She played Wendy again in live TV broadcasts of Peter Pan in 1955 and 1956. These shows were part of Producers' Showcase. Later, a 1960 TV version was made, but Nolan was not in it. She was considered too old for the role by then.

Interestingly, Kathleen Nolan once worked as an usher at the Palace Theatre. She was watching Judy Garland's show there. Word got to Judy Garland that an usher, Kathleen, could perform her entire show. Judy Garland had never seen her own performance, so she invited Kathleen to perform for her. Judy Garland later recommended Kathleen to the creators of Peter Pan.

Kathleen also played Amy in the play Love in E-Flat in 1967. Besides Broadway, she performed in many other theater productions.

Television and Film Career

Kathleen Nolan spent most of her acting career on television. She first appeared in an episode of The Philco Television Playhouse. She had a regular role as a teenager named Liz in the 1953–1954 sitcom Jamie.

Over the years, Nolan appeared in many popular TV series. These include Gunsmoke, The Lloyd Bridges Show, and The Millionaire. She also appeared in The Untouchables, Ally McBeal, and Murder, She Wrote. Other shows she was in were Magnum, P.I., The Incredible Hulk, and The Love Boat.

Her most famous TV role was Kate, the wife of Luke McCoy (Richard Crenna). This was on the popular sitcom The Real McCoys. In 1961, she had an accident while filming an episode. She was thrown from a horse and was injured. She missed four months of work and was in and out of the hospital. She returned to the series later that year.

Kathleen Nolan left The Real McCoys before its last season (1962-1963). The show also moved from ABC to CBS. In the new story for the series, her character, Kate, was said to have passed away.

Nolan also appeared on McHale's Navy. This led to her own spin-off series called Broadside. She led a cast that included Edward Andrews and Dick Sargent. Even though Broadside had good ratings, Universal Studios ended the series after just one season.

Beyond television, she appeared in the 2017 film The Last Movie Star. In this movie, she played Claudia, who was Burt Reynolds's love interest.

Awards and Recognition

In 1980, Kathleen Nolan received the Women in Film Crystal Award. This award honors women who have helped expand the role of women in the entertainment industry. They are recognized for their lasting work and excellence.

In 1959, she was nominated for an Emmy Award. This was for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in The Real McCoys.

Other Important Activities

Kathleen Nolan made history as the first female president of the Screen Actors Guild. She served two terms, from 1975 to 1979. She was also on SAG's board of directors for 12 years.

Nolan is a lifelong member of the Actors Studio. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter appointed her to the board of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. This organization helps fund public television and radio.

Personal Life

Kathleen Nolan married Richard Heckenkamp on November 4, 1962. He was a personal manager for celebrities. They divorced on May 19, 1965. They had one son together, Spencer Garrett.

Television Appearances