kids encyclopedia robot

Patrika Darbo facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Patrika Darbo
Patrika Darbo.jpg
Darbo in 2008
Born (1948-04-06) April 6, 1948 (age 76)
Education Georgia Southern University
Occupation Actress
Years active 1983–present
Spouse(s)
Rolf Darbo
(m. 1973)

Patrika Darbo (born April 6, 1948) is an American actress. She made her big screen debut appearing in the 1988 romantic comedy film It Takes Two and later appeared in The 'Burbs (1989), Daddy's Dyin': Who's Got the Will? (1990), Spaced Invaders (1990), Leaving Normal (1992), In the Line of Fire (1993) and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997). Darbo played Roseanne Barr in the 1994 biographical television film Roseanne & Tom: Behind the Scenes.

Darbo is known for her roles as Nancy Wesley and Shirley Spectra in the television soap operas Days of Our Lives and The Bold and the Beautiful, respectively. In 2016, Darbo won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for her role in the online comedy series Acting Dead, becoming the first winner in that category.

Early life

Patrika Darbo was born in Jacksonville, Florida, the daughter of Patricia, a restaurant hostess, and "Chubby," a nightclub manager. At age six her parents divorced; her mother then remarried Donald Davidson when Darbo was 11. She grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. She studied theater at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia, graduating in 1970, and later attended the Atlanta School of Drama. She worked as a credit manager until 1984, when she began a professional acting career.

Career

Patrika Darbo
Darbo in a 1983 episode of The Optimist

Darbo began her career with guest-starring roles in the television shows including The Optimist, Bay City Blues, Riptide and St. Elsewhere. She made her big screen debut, appearing in the comedy film The Night Before and the romantic comedy It Takes Two. The following year, Darbo appeared in the comedy films Troop Beverly Hills and The 'Burbs. In 1990, she appeared in a five feature films and guest-starred on Roseanne as a Roseanne lookalike/Dan's crush. By 1991, Darbo was contracted to the ABC network. In 1991, the Los Angeles Times reported that Darbo was undertaking a personal campaign to seek nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the comedy-drama film Daddy's Dyin': Who's Got the Will?, written by Del Shores.

From 1991 to 1992, Darbo was a regular cast member in the ABC sitcom Step by Step playing the role of Penny Baker, the sister of Suzanne Somers. In 1992, she appeared in the comedy-drama film Leaving Normal playing the character named 66. Later that year she appeared in the horror-comedy The Vagrant directed by Chris Walas. In 1993, she played Pam Magnus, a banking employee killed by John Malkovich's character in the Clint Eastwood action thriller film In the Line of Fire. In 1994, she had a supporting role in the comedy-drama film Corrina, Corrina. On television, Darbo guest-starred on Seinfeld (Darbo was a guest star in two episodes; "The Revenge" (1991) and "The Sniffing Accountant" (1993)), Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and Married... with Children. In 1994, Darbo starred as Roseanne Barr in an NBC biographical television film, Roseanne and Tom: Behind the Scenes. After her first leading role, Darbo returned to playing supporting parts on both film and television. In 1997, she appeared in the action film Speed 2: Cruise Control and the mystery thriller film Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil working again with Clint Eastwood. In 1998, she starred as Miss Spencer in the biographical television film Ruby Bridges.

In 1998, Darbo was cast as Nancy Wesley on the NBC daytime soap opera, Days of Our Lives. In May 1998. The serial's casting director, Fran Bascom told Carol Bidwell of Los Angeles Daily News that their producer, Tom Langan wanted "a real woman, not one of these super-skinny actresses" to join the cast. Bascom said that she immediately thought of accredited actress Darbo. Langan approved Darbo's hiring and decided that she did not need to audition for the role. In 1999, Darbo received Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Female Newcomer. In 2000, she received Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. She left the series in 2005. Darbo returned to the role in 2013, 2016, 2017 and as of 2022 appears on the recurring basic.

Darbo appeared in the horror films Madhouse (2004) and Hatchet (2006). She played Mrs. Claus in the Christmas adventure film The Search for Santa Paws (2010). Later, in 2010, she also guest starred in Showtime's Dexter. In 2009 and 2012, Darbo guest-starred on Desperate Housewives. Between 2010 and 2012, she portrayed the recurring role of Dr Freed in the teen drama web series Miss Behave. She also guest-starred on The Middle, Devious Maids, The Big Bang Theory and 9-1-1: Lone Star. In 2012, Darbo played Grams in the adventure-comedy film, Mickey Matson and the Copperhead Conspiracy.

In 2016, Darbo won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for her work in the series Acting Dead. She is the first winner of this category. From February 2017 to March 2018, Darbo starred as Shirley Spectra, the sister of Sally Spectra (Darlene Conley) on the CBS soap opera, The Bold and the Beautiful. She briefly returned in November 2018.

In 2017, Darbo appeared in the comedy-drama film, The Hero. In 2018, Darbo played Rosie in the Christian drama film God Bless The Broken Road. In 2023, she appeared in the Christmas comedy film Ladies of the '80s: A Divas Christmas.

Personal life

Darbo has been married to director Rolf Peter Darbo since 1973.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1988 The Night Before
1988 It Takes Two Dee Dee
1989 Troop Beverly Hills Marvista
1989 The 'Burbs Suzette Weingartner
1990 Daddy's Dyin': Who's Got the Will? Marlene Turnover
1990 Spaced Invaders Mrs Vanderspool
1990 Gremlins 2: The New Batch Yogurt Customer
1990 Ghost Dad Nurse
1990 The Willies Mrs. Walters
1991 Dutch Greasy Spoon Waitress
1992 Leaving Normal 66
1992 The Vagrant Doattie
1993 In the Line of Fire Pam Magnus
1994 Corrina, Corrina Wilma
1995 Babe Sheep Voice
1996 Fast Money Teebou
1996 House Arrest Cafeteria Cashier
1997 Speed 2: Cruise Control Ruby Fisher
1997 Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Sara Warren
1999 Durango Kids Mrs. Grey
2004 Madhouse Betty
2005 Mr. & Mrs. Smith 50's Woman
2005 Carpool Guy Patty
2006 Hatchet Shannon Permatteo
2007 Moving McAllister Debbie
2007 Charlie Wilson's War Auctioneer
2010 The Search for Santa Paws Mrs. Claus
2011 Rango Delilah and Maybelle Voices
2011 Life at the Resort Penny
2012 Mickey Matson and the Copperhead Conspiracy Grams
2014 My Trip Back to the Dark Side Nosey Nelly
2014 Pirate's Code: The Adventures of Mickey Matson Grams
2016 The Remake Eileen OConnor
2016 Boonville Redemption Thelma
2017 The Hero Diane
2018 Spinning Man Kelly
2018 God Bless the Broken Road Rosie
2019 Emmett Dot
2022 Kimi Southern Woman Voice
2023 Loulou Sister Beatrice Also producer

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1983 The Optimist The Mother Episode: "Kid's Stuff"
1990 Roseanne Marge Dolman Episode: "Dream Lover"
1991 Seinfeld Glenda Episode: "The Revenge"
1991–1992 Step by Step Penny Baker 22 episodes
1993 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Helene Morris Episode: "I'm Looking Through You"
1998 Ruby Bridges Miss Spencer Television movie
1998–2005
2013, 2016–2017
2022–
Days of Our Lives Nancy Wesley 458 episodes
2002 Gilmore Girls Waitress 1 episode
2005 Rodney Irene Episode: "Charity Ball"
2009, 2012 Desperate Housewives Jean Episodes: "Mama Spent the Money When She Had None" and "Finishing the Hat"
2010–2012 Miss Behave Dr Freed 5 episodes
2011 The Middle Ms. Jacobs Episode: "Back to Summer"
2015 The Big Bang Theory Grace Episode: "The Perspiration Implementation"
2016 Lab Rats: Elite Force Mrs. Ramsey Episode: "Power Play"
2017–2018 The Bold and the Beautiful Shirley Spectra 74 episodes
2019–2020 Days of our Lives' Last Blast Reunion Nancy Wesley 3 episodes
Television miniseries
2020 9-1-1: Lone Star Ellen Episode: "Yee-Haw"
2021 The Young and the Restless Shirley Spectra 5 episodes (April 6, 2021; May 14, 2021; May 26, 2021; May 31, 2021; June 4, 2021)
2023 Ladies of the '80s: A Divas Christmas Julie Television film

Awards and nominations

Year Award Work Result Ref
1999 Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Female Newcomer Days of Our Lives Won
2000 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Nominated
2016 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series Acting Dead Won
2020 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Digital Drama Series Studio City Nominated
kids search engine
Patrika Darbo Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.