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Saturday, July 16, 2011

Update on Kristy and Jimmy McNichol




On March 31, 2011, I wrote about Kristy McNichol and why she gave up her acting career .  There continues to be a great deal of reaction to what I wrote over three months ago.  It seems that many people have a keen interest in Kristy and her brother Jimmy.   Several readers commented about how much they enjoyed Kristy's acting and how they hoped she would return to the screen.  Some wished her happiness in whatever she was doing.  Apparently, Kristy evokes fond memories of younger days in the 1970s and and 1980s.  Some readers lamented their lost youth and expressed a desire to turn back the clock. 

As Kristy herself stated, she had to leave acting for her health and well-being.  She has bipolar disorder.  As anyone suffering with this affliction or any mental illness can attest, it is an extremely difficult struggle.  The stress of an acting career was just too overwhelming for her.  Perhaps, she  will return to acting some day.  It's her choice, though,  depending on the state of her mental health.  She'll be 49 years old in September, so she won't be playing any teen roles anymore.

It was pointed out to me that in 2008 Kristy attempted to get on Dancing With the Stars.  She was slated to appear in a segment with Florence Henderson of The Brady Bunch.  The network decided not to go through with it.  I was aware of that, but did not mention it in my posting.

Many are curious as to whether Kristy is married.  The answer to that is NO.  She has never taken the vows of matrimony. 


OVER TO YOU, TV BANTER READERS!  IS JIMMY DIVORCED?

Thank you TV Banter readers for all your feedback.  I really enjoy reading your comments.  Now I'm wondering if you can assist me in setting the record straight.  In my entry of March 31, I also wrote about Kristy's brother, Jimmy McNichol.  I mentioned that he married Renee in 1997 and that he is the father of two children, a son named Nash and a daughter named Ellis.  A reader informed me that Jimmy and his wife are divorced.  I am trying to find out if the reader is correct.  According to the Internet Movie Data Base (IMdb), Jimmy is still married.  So far, I cannot find anything online that says he is divorced.  I don't want to pay for access to the California divorce records.  Unless it was a secret divorce, it should be mentioned on the web.  If any readers can enlighten me, please do so.  I'd be happy to hear from you.  So far, I have not found any evidence that Jimmy McNIchol is divorced.  By the way, Jimmy was born on July 2, 1961.  He recently celebrated his 50th birthday.


Jimmy McNichol


END NOTES

* A reader mentioned that Sada Thompson, the actress who played Kristy's mother on Family, had passed away.  Sada died of lung disease on May 4, 2,011.  She was 83.  My blog entry on  Kristy appeared in March, prior to Sada's death.   


* There is some interest as to why Elayne Heilveil was replaced by Meredith Baxter in the role of Nancy Lawrence Maitland on Family.  Elayne initiated the role in 1976.  Unfortunately, I have not been able to find a specific reason why Elayne left the role or why she was replaced.  I did discover that Cheryl Ladd auditioned for the role of Nancy but lost out to Meredith Baxter-Birney, probably because Meredith had more experience.  The producers of Family, Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg, asked Cheryl if she would take the part of Farrah Fawcett's replacement on another of their shows, Charlie's Angels.  Cheryl accepted and ended up portraying Kris Monroe, the younger sister of Farrah's character, Jill Monroe.  She joined the cast of Charlie's Angels in 1977.

To view a video of a scene with Sada Thompson and Elayne Heilveil, the original Nancy on Family, click on the link below.  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lT0uUObAF_g


Thanks again, readers.  It's great to hear from you.  Keep the banter going strong!


Editor's Update (February 2, 2013):

* Kristy McNichol "came out" as a lesbian on January 6, 2011.  She stated that she had been living with her partner, Martie Allen, for 20 years.



- Joanne

20 comments:

  1. I was a big Kristy and Jimmy fan. Had their album too. Liked the show "Family". Loved Kristy's movies. She was a great actress!

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  2. Why hasn't she been on DWTS? Does te network have a problem with someone with her illness?

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  3. Jimmy is still married to Rene they are living in Bayfield Colorado with son James Nash and daughter Eliis Christina....

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  4. Why is it that people who are or have been in the public eye have kids that look so grumpy, unhappy, basically just downright miserable I have seen photos of Jimmy McNichol,s kids Nash and Ellis and every picture I have seen of them they never had a smile on there face and I have seen lot of pics of them.. Surely these are kids that have everything that they could ever want and then "some" while there are kids who dont even have a home... Jimmy who is supposed to support childrens charities should try to bring happiness to the less fortunate yet cant even seem to have happy kids himself.... This isnt a put down I think he is great his wife should get rid of the hangers on that tell her constanly how great she and her children are yet if she was married to someone who hadnt been famous would they think and say the same things they do now...!! Jimmy maybe good at whatever it is he does these days but at least get your kids to try and look happy and show the world you have a happy life.... If you do have one that is....

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  5. I know the McNichols and I see Ellis and Nash smile all the time- perhaps helping a charity would be a more beneficial use of time than speculating on the emotional state of people you know nothing about.

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    1. I just read a statement that is so riduclous its sad!!! To the person that said to Jade above about doing something with her time and not speculating about the emotional state of people well the thing I have to say is they have the right to say after all these people have put ones like the McNichols where they are today fans have the right to opinions even if momma don't like it.. If you people can't take others being truthful then stay out of the limelight.... .

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  6. And Oh dear dear you are obviously related or a name dropper just to make yourself feel good!!! As the paying customer of the magazines papers and such they wouldn't be where they are today if it wasn't for the fans... However even fans have the right to there opinion oh and by the way I am patron of many charities and an animal rights activist so I my time is put to very good use ok!!!

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  7. Just saw Jimmy McNichol on an episode of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills ...wow what a blast from the past...Also, always loved Kristy....would love to see her on DWTS! Hope that happens!

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  8. Wow. Jimmy looks like he's in his seventies.

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    1. Jimmy looks a lot older than 50 ish. He was one of my favorite actors as a kid. While I don't have any doubts about his happiness or that of his children, I can see why he's no longer acting. There are just too many younger looking guys. Sorry to say. You don't have to be good looking to have worth in this world, but to be an actor....you kinda need to be. I agree with Kristine...he looks far older than his age.

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  9. After the picture taken where lots of people said he look like he had a meth face (cruel comment we all get older and all our looks change) but come on he dosent look like he did in the 70,s still hot though......

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  10. Sometimes we take good pictures, and sometimes we don't, the trick is getting to those bad pictures before they get released to the public!

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  11. If you cannot say something nice...As a young girl of 10-12 I greatly enjoyed both brother and sister, the McNichols.

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  12. loved her on Starsky & Hutch, hope she returns to acting!

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  13. are you confusing jimmy McNichols with Vincent Van Patten on Housewives of Beverly hills

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    1. Thanks for clarifying that. I was wondering if Jimmy had actually been on Real Housewives as I had not heard about that previously.

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  14. While you're talking Kristy McNichol, I've been wondering for years why the TV show "Family" has never been in reruns. In my opinion, that was one of the best TV Family/Dramas ever made. Great stars--Sada Thompson, Michael Broderick, Kristy, Meredith Baxter--Doesn't get any better than that.

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    1. Yes, Family was a good show. There must be some legal or financial reasons why it has not been in reruns. Can anyone shed some light on this?

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  15. Rarely do you see an hour long show in reruns

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  16. It is on this weekend on Decades channel.

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