After a successful career in film and television, Kristy McNichol retired from acting in 2001. Following her retirement, she began teaching at a private school and became actively involved in charitable work. In 2012, McNichol publicly came out as a lesbian, stating that she wanted to support young people who are bullied due to their sexuality and to promote greater acceptance and awareness around LGBTQ+ issues.

Beginnings in Acting

Kristy McNichol began her acting journey alongside her brother Jimmy, with the pair appearing in numerous television commercials. Her official television debut came in 1973 with a guest role as Steffi in an episode of Love, American Style. In 1974, she was cast as Patricia Apple in the family drama Apple’s Way, marking her first recurring role on television.

Breakthrough in "Family"

The turning point in McNichol’s career came in 1976 when she was cast as Letitia “Buddy” Lawrence in the acclaimed television drama Family. The role earned her widespread recognition and critical praise. In 1977, she continued building her television portfolio with appearances in The Love Boat—twice, portraying different characters—and played Carlie Higgins in ABC Afterschool Special in the same year. In 1978, she had a guest role on Starsky and Hutch as Joey Carston.

Major Television Roles

In 1988, McNichol joined the main cast of the sitcom Empty Nest, playing Barbara Weston, one of the daughters of the show’s lead character, Dr. Harry Weston. That same year, she appeared as Jill Morton in an episode of the mystery series Murder, She Wrote. Her last television performance came in the animated series Invasion America (1998), where she voiced the role of Sgt. Angela Romar.