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; September 27, 1933) is an American actress. She also served as the president of the Screen Actors Guild. From 1957 to 1962, she was known for playing Kate McCoy in the TV show The Real McCoys.

Early Life and First Roles

Kathleen Nolan was born in St. Louis, Missouri. She started acting very young, at just 13 months old. Her first stage was on a showboat called Goldenrod. She performed on this showboat for 12 years. Her family also had their own acting group called the Circle Stock Company. After high school, she sang on a radio station in St. Louis.

Broadway Stage Career

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

On Broadway, Kathleen Nolan played Wendy in the first ever musical version of Peter Pan. This was in 1954 and 1955. She acted alongside famous stars like Mary Martin and Cyril Ritchard. She even played Wendy again in live TV broadcasts of Peter Pan in 1955 and 1956.

A fun fact about her role in Peter Pan: Kathleen was working as an usher at the Palace Theatre. The famous singer Judy Garland was performing there. Judy heard that Kathleen could perfectly copy her entire show. Judy had never seen her own performance, so she invited Kathleen to perform it for her. Judy then recommended Kathleen to the creators of Peter Pan.

Television and Film Appearances

Kathleen Nolan spent most of her acting career on television. She first appeared in a TV show called The Philco Television Playhouse. She also had a regular role as teen cousin Liz in the sitcom Jamie from 1953 to 1954.

Her most famous TV role was as Kate, the wife of Luke McCoy, in the popular sitcom The Real McCoys. While filming in 1961, she was hurt after falling from a horse. She had to miss four months of work. Kathleen left The Real McCoys before its last season. Her character was written out of the show as having passed away.

Nolan also appeared in many other popular TV shows. These include Gunsmoke, The Incredible Hulk, Murder, She Wrote, Magnum, P.I., The Love Boat, and Charlie's Angels. She even had her own TV show called Broadside. This show was a spin-off from McHale's Navy.

In movies, she played Claudia, the love interest of Burt Reynolds, in the 2017 film The Last Movie Star.

Awards and Achievements

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 through their excellent work.

She was also nominated for an Emmy Award in 1959. This was for her role as Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for The Real McCoys.

Other Important Work

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

In 1978, President Jimmy Carter appointed Nolan to the board of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. This organization helps fund public television and radio.

Personal Life

Kathleen Nolan married Richard Heckenkamp in 1962. He was a manager for celebrities. They divorced in 1965. They have a son named Spencer Garrett.

Filmography

Television Roles