Nancy Walker
Biography
Nancy Walker was an American actress and occasional director who worked in vaudeville, radio, Broadway, film and television. Born in Philadelphia in 1922, she began performing as an infant and later appeared on NBC radio programs in 1937 under the name Nan Barto. Her Broadway debut came in 1941 in Best Foot Forward, and she repeated that role in the 1943 film version, for which Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer signed her; she also appeared in Girl Crazy (1943). On stage she created roles in On the Town, Barefoot Boy with Cheek and Look, Ma, I'm Dancin'!, and she earned Tony nominations for Phoenix '55 and Do Re Mi. Her long television roles included Mildred on McMillan & Wife and Ida Morgenstern on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Rhoda, which brought seven Emmy nominations. Later credits included Murder by Death (1976), The Golden Girls and True Colors, and she directed sitcom episodes and the 1980 film Can't Stop the Music.
69years old at death
- Born Philadelphia
- Died Studio City
- Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20
Movie Career
- Films
- 5
- Career span
- 33 years1943 to 1976
Every film, newest first
- 1976Murder by DeathIMDb rating 7.2
- 197340 CaratsIMDb rating 6.4
- 1973The World's Greatest AthleteIMDb rating 5.7
- 1943Best Foot ForwardIMDb rating 6.4
- 1943Girl CrazyIMDb rating 6.8
Genres
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Behind the camera
Walker made her feature-film directing debut in 1980 with Can't Stop the Music, a pseudo-biographical musical starring the Village People and Caitlyn Jenner. It flopped and remained her only feature directing credit.
First role
Walker first appeared on Broadway in 1941 in Best Foot Forward. That part brought her to film, signing with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for the 1943 movie version, which starred Lucille Ball.
Beyond film
Walker originated the role of Hildy Eszterhazy in the 1944 Broadway musical On the Town, performing the song "I Can Cook, Too!".
Nancy Walker movies on Netflix
Worked with
Nancy Walker shares two films with Henry O'Neill, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Henry O'Neill's page
June Allyson's page
James Cromwell's page
Mickey Rooney's page
Morris Ankrum's page
Maggie Smith's page
All films by Robert Moore
Norman TaurogDirector, 1 film, 1943
All films by Norman Taurog
Robert ScheererDirector, 1 film, 1973
All films by Robert Scheerer
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.