Nancy Walker facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nancy Walker
Born	Anna Myrtle Swoyer (1922-05-10)May 10, 1922 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	March 25, 1992(1992-03-25) (aged 69) Studio City, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other names	Nan Barto
Occupation	Actress, director
Years active	1937–1992
Spouse(s)	Gar Moore ​ ​ (m. 1948; div. 1949)​ David Craig ​ (m. 1951)​
Children	1
Parent(s)	Dewey Barto (father)

Nancy Walker (born Anna Myrtle Swoyer; May 10, 1922 – March 25, 1992) was a famous American actress and comedian. She worked in theater, movies, and television for over 50 years. Nancy was also a film and television director. You might remember her best as Mildred on McMillan & Wife. She also played Ida Morgenstern on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spin-off show Rhoda.

Early life and beginnings

Nancy Walker was born in 1922 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her father, Dewey Barto, was a vaudeville performer, and her mother was a dancer. Nancy and her father were both 4 feet 11 inches tall. She had a younger sister named Betty Lou.

In 1937, Nancy started her career on radio shows. She used the name "Nan Barto" back then.

Becoming a star: Acting career

Nancy Walker, Sebastian Cabot, and Brian Keith on Family Affair (1970)

Nancy made her first appearance on Broadway in 1941 in a musical called Best Foot Forward. This role led to her first movie part in the 1943 film version of the musical. She also appeared with stars like Lucille Ball, Mickey Rooney, and Judy Garland.

Nancy was known for her funny, dry way of speaking. This helped her get many acting jobs through the 1940s and 1950s. She starred in several Broadway musicals, including On the Town (1944). She was even nominated for a Tony Award twice for her work on stage.

Television success

Nancy made many guest appearances on TV shows. Her career lasted for five decades. She appeared in comedies, dramas, and variety shows like The Carol Burnett Show.

In 1970, she joined the TV series Family Affair as Emily, the housekeeper. She also made her first appearance as Ida Morgenstern on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. This role was perfect for her. Fans loved her character so much that she became a regular on the spin-off show Rhoda in 1974.

Walker's first appearance as Ida Morgenstern on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, 1970

From 1971 to 1976, Nancy was also a regular on the detective series McMillan & Wife. She played Mildred, the McMillans' housekeeper. She worked on both Rhoda and McMillan & Wife at the same time! These two roles earned her seven Emmy Award nominations.

In 1976, Nancy got her own TV show called The Nancy Walker Show. She played a talent agent named Nancy Kittredge. However, the show didn't last long. Soon after, she starred in another show called Blansky's Beauties, which also ended quickly. Despite this, Nancy returned to Rhoda and continued to act.

Later roles and famous commercials

One of Nancy's last big movie roles was in the 1976 comedy Murder by Death. She also became famous for playing Rosie, a diner waitress, in commercials for Bounty paper towels. She did these commercials from 1970 to 1990. Her line, "the quicker picker-upper," became a very popular catchphrase. Nancy said these commercials helped her get the role of Ida Morgenstern.

Walker as Rosie in a 1977 magazine ad with Vito Scotti

Later in her career, she had a recurring role as Aunt Angela on The Golden Girls. She was even nominated for another Emmy Award for this role. In 1990, Nancy starred in the sitcom True Colors. She played Sara Bower, a mother who moves in with her daughter and her daughter's husband.

Directing career

Besides acting, Nancy Walker also directed TV shows. She directed episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Rhoda, and Alice.

In 1980, she directed her first and only feature film, Can't Stop the Music. It starred the disco group The Village People. The movie was not a success, but Nancy continued to direct for television and stage.

Personal life

Nancy Walker was married twice. Her first marriage to Gar Moore lasted less than a year. She then married David Craig in 1951. They had one daughter named Miranda. David Craig passed away in 1998.

Nancy was also a close friend of actor Montgomery Clift. She was known for being a very supportive friend.

Death

Nancy Walker passed away in 1992 at the age of 69. She died from lung cancer in Studio City, California.

Filmography

Stage and musical theatre work

• Best Foot Forward (1941)
• On the Town (1944–1946)
• Look Ma, I'm Dancin'! (1948)
• Pal Joey (1952)
• Phoenix '55 (1955)
• Do Re Mi (1960–1962)
• A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1971)

See also

In Spanish: Nancy Walker para niños