The actress Michael Learned (b. I mean, Grandma was not soft and saccharine. Experiencing success at an early age, Michael Learned earned quite a fortune for herself. She was chosen to play the role of a mother of seven children. [citation needed], In a 2002 article she wrote for Daily Word, a publication of the Unity Church, Learned states that at the time she was cast in The Waltons, she had "hit rock bottom". Little did she know, the role would have guaranteed her at least two decades of work. She was first married at the age of 17 alone. Married as a teenager, she soon became a mother of three boysshe often states that motherhood at a young age prepared her for many of her television roles. Michael Learned Net Worth As of March 2023, The net worth of Michael Learned is $4 million, and her salary is approx. She has five younger sisters: Gretl, Susan, Sabra, Dorit and Philippa. She played Nurse Mary Benjamin in the American medical drama, Nurse that premiered on CBS in 1981. She is best known for her portrayal of Olivia Walton in the television series The Waltons in which she plays a homemaker who is mother to a large brood. Her father was a diplomat in the U.S. State Department. Marian Seldes, Christina Rouner and she were awarded the 1996 Drama Logue Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance for "Three Tall Women" at the Mark Taper Forum Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Are you sure your name isnt Michelle, little girl, they would ask. After having Michael, the Landons decided that all of their daughters should have unique names. He is the fourth and the current husband of Learned, who by profession is a Lawyer. The family moved to Austria when she was age 11, and it was while attending boarding school in England that she fell in love with the theater and decided to become an actress.Learned married Oscar winner Robert Donat's nephew Peter Donat, a Canadian citizen, when she was 17 years old, a marriage that lasted 17 years and produced three sons. Blakes death certificate listed the immediate cause of death as cardiopulmonary arrest due to liver failure and CMV hepatitis. The marriage lasted till 1972, when the couple decided to part ways. 10. Learned said that her parents never explained why she received a masculine first name, her father telling her elusively: "if I had been a boy, I would have been called Caleb, but I was a girl, so I was called Michael. James Arness earned himself $1,200 per episode for playing Marshal Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke during its early years. Michael was the oldest of the sisters. "He always wanted everything to be different he wanted us to be different." When Michael was a child, she went by Mike. Did Miss Kitty and Matt ever get together? American audiences didnt know who she was. He is one of Learned's son who now is a actor. The Waltons: Why Michael Learned Spent Years of Childhood in Austria, England. Her fathers name was Bruce Learned, and he was a diplomat in the U.S State Department, and her mothers name was Elizabeth Duane. She has received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series three times for the portrayal of Olivia Walton in 1973, 1974, and 1976. But Learned came back to television, playing Mary Benjamin on Nurses from 1981-82. During her initial days in the acting field, she performed in the American Conservatory Theatre (ACT) in San Francisco. But in a 1973 episode, Matt had a brief affair with another woman, Mike Yardner (Michael Learned), while he had amnesia. Hamner and Thomas built a strong friendship that lasted until Hamners death on March 24, 2016. Learned made her big screen debut in 1980, playing the supporting role in the drama film Touched by Love. Id be totally crushed.. When Michael Learned earned the role of Olivia, the mother on The Waltons, she kept her real name. "[5], When she was 11, Learned moved to Austria, where her father worked for the U.S. State Department. Blake, who portrayed the saloon owner in CBSs popular western TV series, left one season before the show ended. My father liked unusual names, Michael continued. We bring you all the headlines and gossip in one place! Then, at age 32, Learned realized she was an alcoholic. Her maternal grandfather was an attach for the United States Embassy in Rome. The school eventually became Tring Park School for the Performing Arts. [2] Her maternal grandfather was an attach for the United States Embassy in Rome. In fact, people could not believe that such a pretty lady could actually be called Michael! Four-time Primetime Emmy award-winning actress Michael Learned chatted about starring in the new Ryan Murphy Netflix series, being a part of "The Waltons," and her illustrious career in the. She wonthree Emmysas Outstanding Lead Actress in a drama series. Second Marriage with Glenn Chadwick Married date: October, 18, 1974 Divorce He is the second husband of Learned. 50000 USD to 200000 USD. She was always warm to all of the kids. We exchanged letters because, you know, I dont get to the West Coast very often. Her first marriage lasted for almost 16 years and have raised 3 kids with her first husband. James Arness rode the same Buckskin horse (Buck) in this movie as he rode in many episodes of Gunsmoke (1955). She recovered from the illness at a spa in Arizona. present). 1978 Michael Learned decided to quit her contract and leave the successful series The Waltons. [6], Her first substantial role in either film or television was as Olivia Walton on The Waltons, which ran for nine seasons from 1972 to 1981. During this time, she discovered the theater and decided to make acting her life's work. Want this question answered? But once she carved a niche for her, she became more famous for her acting skills than for her masculine name. When Michael was a child, she went by Mike. Michael said, My father liked unusual names. (AP) _ Amanda Blake, who played Miss Kitty in the long-running Gunsmoke television series, died of AIDS-related complications, not cancer as previously reported, her doctor said Monday. The family moved to Austria when Michael was 11 due to her fathers job responsibilities. Married as a teenager, she began appearing in stage productions along with her husband during the 1960s. She has five younger sisters: Gretl, Susan, Sabra, Dorit and Philippa . In spite of her advancing age she remained active on television and in 2011 she appeared in 11 episodes of The Young and the Restless as Katherine Chancellor. Grandpa had an eye for the ladies and the Baldwin sisters (Helen Kleeb and Mary Jackson . [11], Learned has been married four times. Actress: The Waltons. RELATED: One Waltons Child Wasnt Much Younger Than On-Screen Mother Michael Learned, She added, Adults would usually do a big double-take. Bruce and Betti were the proud parents of six daughters. After the seventh season she left the show.[7]. The girls went to the local schools and learned German. She had three sons from her first marriage, Caleb, Christopher, and Lucas Donat. After he left Gunsmoke, he played in two movies: as Donald Maxwell in the western Smith (1969) starring Glenn Ford and as Nelson in Play It As It Lays (1972) starring Tuesday Weld and Anthony Perkins. Today she is a renowned actress who has played some remarkable characters in movies and television series over time. EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Limited Or Anthology Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie. Over the years, Michael Learned has been nominated in various categories for the wide variety of roles that she has played. For the first five seasons of the show she was billed as "Miss Michael Learned" because she was relatively unknown at the time and producers wished to avoid confusion among viewers about her gender. She mostly performed with the American Conservatory Theatre (ACT) in San Francisco. Four-time Best Actress Emmy Award winner Michael Learned was born on April 9, 1939 in Washington, D.C. At the age of 17, she used to appear on numerous plays with her then-husband Peter Donat. A: Matt Dillon (James Arness) and Kitty (Amanda Blake) never married during the series 1955-75 run, although close watchers of the show were convinced they had connected at some time. At this time, she attended Arts Educational School, Tring, now Tring Park School for the Performing Arts in Tring, Hertfordshire, England. She said she was hungover when she auditioned for Olivia. And they named their future girl on the spot. How did Miss Kitty die in Gunsmoke? Michael Learned. What do you think about the name Michael for a girl? Click here, here and here. She earned her fourth Emmy for the role. That marriage ended in divorce as well. But creators of The Waltons viewed this as a potential problem. Learned guest-starred on the series until it was canceled, then played Olivia in four of the six Waltons reunion movies. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. Spouse/Ex-: Glenn Chadwick (19741977), IV (1979? 9. It will make its Netflix premiere on September 21, 2022. She married again in 1988. Her character's abrupt disappearance was explained by Olivia developing tuberculosis and entering a sanatorium in Arizona. In 1978, she played a supporting role in Little Mo, the biographical TV film about the story of Maureen Connolly Brinker, the tennis player who became the first woman to win all four Grand Slam tournaments in the same calendar year. The couple lived together as husband and wife for almost 16 years. She has five younger sisters: Gretl, Susan, Sabra, Dorit and Philippa. He is the healthy born son of Learned, whose current status is unknown. In the second season of The Secret World of Alex Mack, she guest-starred as a ghost who regretted the decisions of her long-estranged granddaughter, revealed at the end to be the show's main villain, Danielle Atron (Louan Gideon). Learned further stated in the article that she has been sober since 1977. Michael's sisters are named Gretl, Sabra, Dorit, Philippa, and Susan. Her acting skill is greatly appreciated by the audience all over the world. Learned was born in Washington, D.C., the eldest daughter of Elizabeth Duane "Betti" (ne Hooper) and Bruce Learned, a diplomat. We keep track of one another". They married in April 1984, and divorcedRead More Silent Generation. Tucker is played by John Lasell, who only appeared on Gunsmoke this one time. Date Of Birth/Birthday: Her breakthrough came about when she was cast as Olivia Walton on the show The Waltons which aired in 1972. Not much is known about Michael Learneds education. But she was able to get over this when she emerged as a talented actress with great acting skills. Susan was one of the most common girl names of her time. He is the second husband of Learned. [citation needed], Her second marriage, to Glen Chadwick, lasted from 1974 to 1977 and ended in divorce. In the fall of 2008, she starred in Innovation Theatre Works' production of Driving Miss Daisy, playing the title role of Daisy Werthen opposite Willis Burks II as Hoke and Dirk Blocker as Daisy's son Boolie. Wiki User. Currently, the couple resides in California. Her maternal grandfather was an attach for the United States Embassy in Rome. Sadly, no. She has won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series four times, which is tied for the record of most wins with Tyne Daly. Susan was one of the most common girl names of her time. She had five sisters. Because of his role in this movie, John Wayne recommended James Arness for the role of Marshall Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke (1955), a role he played for 39 years. View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro, John Doherty And it was all thanks to The Waltons showrunner Earl Hamner Jr. After watching a young Thomas play the lead in Red Sky Morning, Hamner knew the actor had to star in his soon-to-be hit show. Diamond is a symbol of everlasting love and once was thought to bring courage. She has appeared in many stage productions on Broadway, off Broadway, and elsewhere, including the 20062007 national touring production of On Golden Pond. They were in Venice, sitting on the beach, on their honeymoon. Michael Learned was born in the middle of Silent Generation. And Learned German younger than On-Screen mother Michael Learned earned quite a fortune for.... 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