Patrika Darbo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Patrika Darbo
Darbo in 2008
Born	Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Education	Georgia Southern University
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1983–present
Spouse(s)	Rolf Darbo ​ (m. 1973)​

Patrika Darbo is an American actress. She has been in many movies and TV shows. She first appeared in the movie It Takes Two in 1988. She also acted in The 'Burbs (1989) and In the Line of Fire (1993).

Patrika Darbo is well-known for her roles in TV soap operas. She played Nancy Wesley in Days of Our Lives. She also played Shirley Spectra in The Bold and the Beautiful. In 2016, Patrika Darbo won an Emmy Award. She won for her role in the online comedy series Acting Dead. She was the first person to win in that category.

About Patrika Darbo's Early Life

Patrika Darbo was born in Jacksonville, Florida. Her mother, Patricia, worked at a restaurant. Her father, "Chubby," managed a nightclub. When Patrika was six, her parents divorced. Her mother later married Donald Davidson when Patrika was 11.

Patrika grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. She studied theater at Georgia Southern University. She graduated in 1970. She also went to the Atlanta School of Drama. Before becoming an actress, she worked as a credit manager until 1984.

Patrika Darbo's Acting Career

Darbo in a 1983 episode of The Optimist

Patrika Darbo started her acting career with small roles on TV. She appeared in shows like The Optimist and St. Elsewhere. Her first movie roles were in The Night Before and It Takes Two in 1988. The next year, she was in Troop Beverly Hills and The 'Burbs.

In 1990, Patrika Darbo was in five movies. She also appeared on the TV show Roseanne. From 1991 to 1992, she was a regular on the ABC sitcom Step by Step. She played Penny Baker, the sister of Suzanne Somers' character. In 1993, she played Pam Magnus in the action movie In the Line of Fire. She also had a role in the movie Corrina, Corrina in 1994.

On TV, she guest-starred on Seinfeld and Married... with Children. In 1994, Patrika Darbo played Roseanne Barr in a TV movie. After this, she continued to play supporting roles in movies and TV. In 1997, she was in Speed 2: Cruise Control and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. In 1998, she played Miss Spencer in the TV movie Ruby Bridges.

Playing Nancy Wesley in Days of Our Lives

In 1998, Patrika Darbo joined the TV show Days of Our Lives. She played the character Nancy Wesley. The show's casting director wanted a "real woman" for the role. They thought of Patrika Darbo right away. She did not even need to audition. In 1999, she won a Soap Opera Digest Award for Best New Female Actress. She was also nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award in 2000. She left the show in 2005. However, she returned to play Nancy Wesley in 2013, 2016, 2017, and has been appearing on and off since 2022.

Later Roles and Emmy Win

Patrika Darbo appeared in the horror movies Madhouse (2004) and Hatchet (2006). She played Mrs. Claus in the Christmas movie The Search for Santa Paws (2010). She also guest-starred on TV shows like Dexter and Desperate Housewives. From 2010 to 2012, she played Dr. Freed in the web series Miss Behave. She also appeared on The Middle and The Big Bang Theory.

In 2016, Patrika Darbo won a Primetime Emmy Award. This was for her role in the series Acting Dead. She was the first person to win in this new category. From 2017 to 2018, Darbo starred as Shirley Spectra on the CBS soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful. She returned briefly in November 2018.

In 2017, Patrika Darbo was in the movie The Hero. In 2018, she played Rosie in the movie God Bless The Broken Road. In 2023, she appeared in the Christmas comedy movie Ladies of the '80s: A Divas Christmas. Patrika Darbo has continued to act in various projects.

Patrika Darbo's Personal Life

Patrika Darbo married Rolf Peter Darbo in 1973. He is a director.

Awards and Recognitions

Patrika Darbo has received several awards and nominations for her acting.