- Nancy McKeon
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Nancy McKeon Born Nancy Justine McKeon
April 4, 1966
Westbury, New York, U.S.Occupation Actress, director, producer Years active 1977–present Spouse Marc Andrus (2003-present) Nancy Justine McKeon (born April 4, 1966) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Jo Polniaczek on the NBC sitcom The Facts of Life.
Contents
Biography
Early life & career
McKeon was born in Westbury, New York. Prior to her breakthrough on The Facts of Life, she and her older brother Philip appeared in numerous commercials. McKeon also appeared on the soap operas The Secret Storm and Another World. The McKeons moved to Los Angeles in 1975, when Philip began appearing on the television series Alice with Linda Lavin.
In 1977, McKeon was discovered by a casting director for The Facts of Life after a performance in a Hallmark greeting cards advertisement. She was cast as tough and independent tomboy Jo Polniaczek, and debuted on the show in the fall of 1980. This is her most famous role and she portrayed the character until the show was canceled in 1988. McKeon also provided the voice for many ABC Weekend Special cartoon characters, including the voice for Scruffy.
McKeon has also been noted for her ability to cry on command. While on The Facts of Life, this ability earned her the nickname "Faucet Face" by her cast mates.
Later career
In 1995 she starred in her own series, Can't Hurry Love, which lasted one season. In 1998, she starred in a sitcom with Jean Smart titled Style & Substance.
McKeon portrayed Inspector Jinny Exstead on the Lifetime police drama The Division from 2001 to 2004, with her pregnancy incorporated into the storyline of the last year of the series. Since 2009, McKeon has appeared in a recurring role in the Disney Channel Original Series Sonny With a Chance, as Connie Munroe, the mother of Demi Lovato's character Sonny Munroe.
McKeon also starred in numerous made-for-TV movies throughout the 1980s and 1990s, including A Cry for Help: The Tracey Thurman Story, in which she portrayed an abuse victim and The Wrong Woman, portraying a woman framed for killing her boss. In 2003, McKeon starred in the film Comfort and Joy.
On June 24, 2011 McKeon was named Cougar of the Week by The Danettes on The Dan Patrick Show.
Personal life
While McKeon was on The Facts of Life, she and her parents, all devout Catholics, were granted a private audience with Pope John Paul II.[1]
During the 1980s she dated the actor Michael J. Fox and former NHL hockey player, left winger Luc Robitaille of the Los Angeles Kings.
McKeon married key grip Marc Andrus in June 2003, and in March 2004 gave birth to their daughter, Aurora. According to her A&E Biography TV special, she welcomed a second daughter, Harlow, in 2006.
Filmography
Film Year Film Role Other notes 1992 Where the Day Takes You Vikki 1994 Teresa's Tattoo Sara 1995 The Wrong Woman Melanie 1997 Just Write Bride Television Year Title Role Notes 1977 Starsky and Hutch Vikki Mayer Episode: The Crying Child 1978 Return to Fantasy Island Ann TV-Pilot/TV-Movie A Question of Love Susan Moreland ABC TV-Movie 1978, 1981 Alice Girl Orphan
KimberlyEpisode: Who Ordered the Hot Turkey?
Episode: Alice's Halloween Surprise1979 Stone Jill Stone ABC TV-Movie Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo Additional Voices Voice role The Love Boat Penny Barrett Episode: The Brotherhood of the Sea... 1979–1983 ABC Weekend Special Dolly
Amelia Matilda Daley
ScruffyVoice role
7 episodes1980–1988 The Facts of Life Joanna 'Jo' Polniaczek 186 episodes 1980 Stone Jill Stone 9 episodes ABC Afterschool Special Lucy Twining Episode: Schoolboy Father 1980, 1981 Thundarr the Barbarian Tai Voice Role
Episode: Harvest of Doom
Episode: Last Train to Doomsday1981 Please Don't Hit Me, Mom Nancy Parks ABC Afterschool Special 1982 The Scooby & Scrappy-Doo/Puppy Hour Dolly Voice Role
13 episodesThe Facts of Life Goes to Paris Joanna 'Jo' Polniaczek NBC TV-Movie 1983 Dusty Slugger TV-Pilot High School U.S.A. Beth Franklin NBC TV-Movie 1985 Poison Ivy Rhonda Malone NBC TV-Movie This Child Is Mine Kimberly Downs NBC TV-Movie 1986 Firefighter Cindy Fralick CBS TV-Movie 1987 The Facts of Life Down Under Joanna 'Jo' Polniaczek NBC TV-Movie Strange Voices Nicole Glover NBC TV-Movie 1989 A Cry for Help: The Tracey Thurman Story Tracey Thurman NBC TV-Movie 1990 The Hitchhiker Episode: New Dawn 1991 Lightning Field Martha USA Network TV-Movie 1992 Baby Snatcher Karen Williams CBS TV-Movie 1993 Love, Honor & Obey: The Last Mafia Marriage Rosalie Profaci Bonann CBS TV-Movie 1995 A Mother's Gift Margaret Deal CBS TV-Movie Can't Hurry Love Annie O'Donnell 19 episodes 1997 In My Sister's Shadow Joan Connor CBS TV-Movie 1998 Style & Substance Jane Sokol 13 episodes 1999 Touched by an Angel Rachel Episode: The Last Day of the Rest of Your Life 2001–2004 The Division Insp. Jinny Exstead 88 episodes 2003 Comfort and Joy Jane TV-Movie 2004 Category 6: Day of Destruction Amy Harkin CBS Miniseries 2006 Wild Hearts Emily TV-Movie 2007 Without a Trace Gail Sweeney Episode: Absalom 2009–2010 Sonny With a Chance Connie Munroe 7 Episodes
Recurring roleAwards and nominations
Marco Island Film Festival
- 2000: Won, "Audience Award for Best Short Drama" - A Wakening
- 2000: Won, "Crystal Palm Award for Best Short Film" - A Wakening
Prism Awards
- 2003: Nominated, "Best Performance in a Drama Series Episode" - The Division
- 2003: Nominated, "Best Performance in a Drama Series" - The Division
- 2004: Nominated, "Best Performance in a Drama Series Multi Episode Storyline" - The Division
- 2007: Nominated, "The 'When Bad Teens Go Good' Award" - The Facts of Life
Young Artist Awards
- 1982: Nominated, "Best Young Comedienne in Motion Picture or Television" - The Facts of Life
- 1983: Won, "Best Young Actress in a Television Special" - Please Don't Hit Me, Mom
- 1983: Won, "Best Young Actress in a Movie Made for Television" - The Facts of Life Goes to Paris
- 1983: Won, "Best Young Actress in a Comedy Series" - The Facts of Life
- 1984: Nominated, "Best Young Actress in a Comedy Series" - The Facts of Life
References
- ^ Intimate Portrait: Nancy McKeon. Lifetime. 2001.
External links
Categories:- 1966 births
- American film actors
- American child actors
- American Roman Catholics
- American television actors
- American television directors
- American television producers
- Female television directors
- Living people
- People from Long Island
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