Kristy McNichol Net Worth (Money & Salary)

Kristy McNichol’s Net Worth: What Is It?

An American actress, singer, and producer, Kristy McNichol holds a net worth of $4 million. She made her television acting debut in a 1973 episode of “Love, American Style,” subsequently featuring in over 35 films and television productions. McNichol earned an Emmy for her role as Letitia “Buddy” Lawrence in the ABC series “Family” (1976–1980), portrayed Patricia Apple in the CBS drama “Apple’s Way” (1974–1975), and played Barbara Weston on NBC’s “Empty Nest” (1988–1995). Having retired from acting in 2001, Kristy also starred in films like “Little Darlings” (1980), “Only When I Laugh” (1981), and “Dream Lover” (1986), while voicing Sgt. Angela “Angie” Romar in the WB animated series “Invasion America” (1998). Additionally, she worked as an associate producer on the 1989 short film “Dirty Tennis” and served as a co-executive producer for the 1993 TV movie “Mother of the Bride.”

Early Life

Born Christina Ann McNichol on September 11, 1962, in Los Angeles, California, Kristy is the daughter of James, a carpenter, and Carolyn, who held various jobs including cosmetics salesperson and secretary; they divorced when Kristy was just three years old. She has an older brother, Jimmy McNichol, who is also an actor and singer. In 1978, the siblings released the album “Kristy and Jimmy McNichol,” co-hosted the “ABC All-Star Saturday Preview Special,” and appeared on the special “The Carpenters: A Christmas Portrait.” Kristy has a younger brother named Tommy as well.

Career

Before launching their independent careers, Kristy and Jimmy featured together in commercials. McNichol guest-starred on “Love, American Style” in 1973 and “Run, Joe, Run” in 1974. She landed the role of Patricia Apple on “Apple’s Way” from 1974 to 1975 and appeared on “ABC Afterschool Specials” during 1975, 1976, and 1977. Among her guest appearances, Kristy was seen on “Starsky & Hutch” (1976 and 1978), “The Bionic Woman” (1976), and “The Love Boat” (1977). McNichol portrayed Letitia “Buddy” Lawrence on “Family” from 1976 to 1980, which featured 86 episodes across five seasons and earned her two Emmy Awards. While her first feature film was “Black Sunday” in 1977, her scenes were ultimately cut, and she didn’t hit the big screen until 1978’s “The End.” Kristy starred in TV movies such as “Like Mom, Like Me” (1978), “Summer of My German Soldier” (1978), “My Old Man” (1979), and “Blinded by the Light” (1980), ultimately taking on a lead role in “Little Darlings” (1980) with Tatum O’Neal. She continued appearing in films, including “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia” (1981), “White Dog” (1982), “The Pirate Movie” (1982), and “Just the Way You Are” (1984), and received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance in “Only When I Laugh” (1981).

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While filming “Just the Way You Are” in France, McNichol experienced an emotional breakdown, leading to a year-long hiatus from filming as she focused on her recovery. She shared with “People” magazine, “I couldn’t eat, and during the entire month in France, I hardly slept. When I did manage to sleep, my dreams were strange. I was crying all the time, and my weight plummeted to around 96 lbs. Nonstop crying. Nonstop anxiety. I was perpetually trembling and felt confused and overwhelmed.”

“It was incredibly difficult for me to get through that film. I was very ill and completely unaware of what was happening.” Kristy was featured in the television films “Love, Mary” (1985) and “Women of Valor” (1986), taking on the lead character Kathy Gardner in the 1986 thriller “Dream Lover.” In 1988, she joined the cast of the “Golden Girls” spin-off “Empty Nest” as Barbara Weston. After her bipolar disorder diagnosis in 1992, she exited the series, though she made a return for the finale in 1995 and reprised her role in two “Golden Girls” episodes.

During her tenure on “Empty Nest,” Kristy appeared in films such as “You Can’t Hurry Love” (1988), “Two Moon Junction” (1988), and “The Forgotten One” (1989), as well as TV movies “Children of the Bride” (1990) and “Baby of the Bride” (1991). She produced and starred in the TV movie “Mother of the Bride” in 1993, later lending her voice to “Extreme Ghostbusters” in 1997 and “Invasion America” in 1998. In mid-2001, McNichol announced her retirement from acting, expressing, “After 24 years, I felt it was time to focus on my most important role – myself! It turned out to be the best decision I ever made.” Following her retirement, Kristy taught acting at a private school in Los Angeles. In 2013, she collaborated with her brother Jimmy to co-host the documentary “Planet View,” which he wrote, directed, and produced.

(Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)

Personal Life

In a public revelation in 2012, Kristy shared that she is a lesbian, posting a picture with her partner of 20 years, Martie Allen. Her publicist noted her motivation for coming out was her concern over bullying among children, stating that “She hopes her coming out can assist kids needing support. She wants to aid those who feel different.”

Awards and Nominations

Kristy received four Primetime Emmy nominations for her role in “Family,” winning Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 1977 and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 1979. She garnered Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama for “Family” (1976) and Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Motion Picture for “Only When I Laugh” (1982), in addition to winning a People’s Choice Award for Favorite Young Motion Picture Actress in 1980. She was nominated for four Young Artist Awards, winning Best Young Motion Picture Actress for “Only When I Laugh” in 1982; her other nominations included Best Juvenile Actress in a TV Series or Special for “Family” (1980), Best Young Actress in a Major Motion Picture for “Little Darlings” (1981), and Best Young Actress – TV Special for “My Old Man” (1981). Additionally, she won a Bravo Otto award for Best Actress in 1980, was nominated for Best Female TV Star in 1979, and received a Jupiter Award nomination for Best International Actress for “Little Darlings” in 1980.