Michael Learned facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Michael Learned
Learned in 2020
Born	(1939-04-09) April 9, 1939 (age 86) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1961–present
Spouse(s)	Peter Donat ​ ​ (m. 1956; div. 1972)​ Glen Chadwick ​ ​ (m. 1974; div. 1977)​ William Parker IV ​ ​ (m. 1979; div. 1988)​ John Doherty ​ ​ (m. 1991)​
Children	3

Michael Learned (born April 9, 1939) is an American actress. She is best known for playing Olivia Walton in the popular TV show The Waltons. This show ran on CBS from 1972 to 1981. Michael has won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series four times. This is a record for most wins, shared with another actress, Tyne Daly. Three of her Emmy wins were for The Waltons (in 1973, 1974, and 1976). Her fourth Emmy was for the show Nurse in 1982.

Early Life and Acting Dreams

Michael Learned was born in Washington, D.C.. She was the oldest daughter of Elizabeth and Bruce Learned. Her father was a diplomat, someone who represents their country in other nations. Her family lived on a farm in Connecticut for her first 10 years. Michael has five younger sisters. She once shared that her parents never explained why she was given a boy's name.

When she was 11, Michael moved to Austria. Her father worked there for the U.S. Department of State. During this time, she went to the Arts Educational School in England. There, she discovered the theater and acting. She decided then that acting would be her life's work.

Michael Learned's Acting Career

Becoming Olivia Walton

Learned in 1973

Michael Learned's first big role was as Olivia Walton. She played the mother and wife in The Waltons. This family drama TV series ran for nine seasons, from 1972 to 1981. For the first five seasons, she was listed as "Miss Michael Learned" in the credits. This was to make sure viewers knew that "Michael" was a woman's name. Later, as the show became very popular, the "Miss" was removed.

She was nominated for six Emmy Awards for her role as Olivia. She won three of these awards. After the sixth season, she agreed to stay for one more season. But she asked not to work the full nine months. She left the show after the seventh season. Her character, Olivia, was said to have moved to Arizona for health reasons. Michael returned for four of the six Waltons TV movies made later. These movies were in the 1980s and 1990s. She was also nominated for four Golden Globe Awards for playing Olivia Walton.

Other TV Shows and Movies

Michael Learned appeared in the 1974 TV movie Hurricane with her Waltons co-star, Will Geer. She made her first big movie appearance in 1980 in the drama film Touched by Love. She also acted in movies like Power (1986) and Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1993).

She starred as Nurse Mary Benjamin in the hospital drama Nurse. This show aired on CBS in 1981 and 1982. Even though the show was liked by critics, it did not get high ratings. It only lasted for two seasons. Still, Michael was nominated for two Emmy Awards for this role. She won another Emmy in 1982 for Nurse.

Later, she had roles in other TV series. In 2005, she played Judge Helen Turner on the soap operas All My Children and One Life to Live. She also guest-starred in Scrubs as Mrs. Wilk. In 2010, she played Shirley Smith on General Hospital. In 2011, she filled in for actress Jeanne Cooper on The Young and the Restless. In 2022, Michael returned to TV in the Netflix series Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. She played Catherine Dahmer, Jeffrey Dahmer's grandmother.

Stage Performances

In the late 1960s, Michael Learned performed in many plays with the American Conservatory Theater. She has acted in many stage productions. These include plays on Broadway in New York City and other places. In 2006–2007, she toured with the play On Golden Pond.

In 2008, she starred in Driving Miss Daisy. She played the main role of Daisy Werthen, a retired school teacher. She played this role again in 2013.

Michael Learned's Family Life

Michael Learned has been married four times. Her first husband was actor Peter Donat. They married in 1956 when she was 17. They had three sons together, including actor Lucas Donat. Their marriage ended in 1972. Her second marriage to Glen Chadwick lasted three years. In 1979, she married actor-screenwriter William Parker. This marriage also ended. In 1991, she married lawyer John Doherty. The couple lived in California. John Doherty passed away in 2025.

In 2002, Michael wrote an article where she shared a personal challenge she faced. She explained that when she was cast in The Waltons in 1971, she decided to make a big change in her life. She has been living a healthy lifestyle since 1977.

Filmography

Movies

Television Movies

Television Series

See also

In Spanish: Michael Learned para niños