Michael Learned

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Michael Learned

Born April 9, 1939 (1939-04-09) (age 69)
Washington, D.C.
Spouse(s) William Parker (1979-present)
Glenn Chadwick (1974-1977)
Peter Donat (1956-1972)

Michael Learned (born April 9, 1939) is a four-time Emmy-winning and Golden Globe-nominated American actress known for her role as Olivia Walton on The Waltons.

Contents

[edit] Career

[edit] The Waltons

She was billed as "Miss Michael Learned" on The Waltons because she was relatively unknown at the time, and producers did not want confusion among viewers about her gender. She was nominated for six Emmy Awards and won three for her role of Olivia Walton. In 1979, her contract was not renewed; some sources indicate that she opted not to re-sign with the show. Her seminal character's abrupt disappearance was explained by Olivia's developing tuberculosis and entering a sanitarium. For continuity's sake, she did make occasional guest appearances until the show's cancellation. She was also nominated for four Golden Globe Awards.

[edit] Nurse

She later starred as Nurse Mary Benjamin in the hospital drama Nurse, which ran on CBS during the 1981-82 season. Though the series was well received critically, it was not a ratings success and lasted only two seasons. She was, however, nominated for two Emmy Awards for "Outstanding Lead Actress" and won yet another Emmy for her role in 1982.

[edit] Other television credits

She had a starring role in the unsuccessful 1989 sitcom Living Dolls and reprised her Waltons role for a number of TV movies and reunions in the 1990s.

She played "Judge Helen Turner" on the ABC soap operas All My Children and One Life to Live as part of the "baby switch" storyline on both shows.

She guest-starred in Scrubs as Mrs. Wilk in episodes "My Missed Perception", "My Buddy's Booty", "My Cabbage", and "My Five Stages" from Season 5.

[edit] Theater

In the late 60's, Ms. Learned and her husband (Peter Donat) appeared in various roles with the American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) in San Francisco. She has appeared in many stage productions on Broadway, Off Broadway, and elsewhere, including most recently in the 2006-2007 national touring production of On Golden Pond.

[edit] Personal life

Learned was born in Washington, D.C., but lived on a farm with her five sisters for the first ten years of her life.

She has been married three times. Her first husband was Canadian-American actor Peter Donat, from 1956-1972. She had three children by this marriage (which ended in divorce): Caleb, Christopher and Lucas. Her second marriage, to Glenn Chadwick, lasted from 1975-1977, again ending in divorce. In 1979, she married actor/screenwriter William Parker IV.

[edit] Filmography

[edit] 1960s

[edit] 1970s

[edit] 1980s

[edit] 1990s

[edit] 2000s

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress - Drama Series

Helen Hayes (1952) · Loretta Young (1954) · Loretta Young (1956) · Loretta Young (1959) · Barbara Stanwyck (1961) · Barbara Stanwyck (1966) · Barbara Bain (1967) · Barbara Bain (1968) · Barbara Bain (1969) · Susan Hampshire (1970) · Susan Hampshire (1971) · Glenda Jackson (1972) · Michael Learned (1973) · Michael Learned (1974) · Jean Marsh (1975)
v • d • e
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress - Drama Series

Michael Learned (1976) · Lindsay Wagner (1977) · Sada Thompson (1978) · Mariette Hartley (1979) · Barbara Bel Geddes (1980) · Barbara Babcock (1981) · Michael Learned (1982) · Tyne Daly (1983) · Tyne Daly (1984) · Tyne Daly (1985) · Sharon Gless (1986) · Sharon Gless (1987) · Tyne Daly (1988) · Dana Delany (1989) · Patricia Wettig (1990) · Patricia Wettig (1991) · Dana Delany (1992) · Kathy Baker (1993) · Sela Ward (1994) · Kathy Baker (1995) · Kathy Baker (1996) · Gillian Anderson (1997) · Christine Lahti (1998) · Edie Falco (1999) · Sela Ward (2000)
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