Nancy McKeon

Biography

Nancy McKeon was born in Westbury, New York, to Don and Barbara McKeon. She began her career at just two years old, modeling baby clothes for the Sears catalog. Alongside her brother, Philip McKeon, she appeared in over sixty-five commercials in a span of seven years. Nancy's early acting credits include brief roles in the soap operas "The Secret Storm" (1954) and "Another World" (1964). When Philip landed a role on the TV series "Alice" (1976), the family relocated to Los Angeles to further pursue their acting careers.

Nancy's breakthrough came with her role in the short-lived series "Stone" (1979) and a guest appearance on "Starsky and Hutch" (1975). Her standout audition for the pilot "Dusty" caught the attention of the producers of "The Facts of Life" (1979), leading to her iconic portrayal of Jo Polniaczek on the beloved show. Throughout her career, Nancy starred in various television movies including "High School U.S.A." (1983), "Poison Ivy," "This Child Is Mine" (1985), and "Firefighter" (1986). Additionally, she lent her voice to animated projects such as "ABC Weekend Specials: Puppy's Great Adventure" (1979). McKeon has become a renowned figure in television, celebrated for her talent and versatility.