KRISTY MCNICHOL | 59

Kristy McNichol was a prominent young star in the 1970s and 1980s. But she initially earned her noticeable degree as Letitia Lawrence, called Buddy, on the TV drama Family. The sitcom premiered in 1976 and lasted five seasons. The family depicted middle-class life in America at the time, including complicated issues. McNichol was only 14 when the show premiered, yet she went on to win two Emmys for her performance on it.

McNichol’s career took off after her part in the said series. In 1980, she debuted her feature film Little Darlings, a renowned coming-of-age film. She continued acting for several years, with recurring roles on The Love Boat, Golden Girls, and Empty Nest. Her final role was lending her voice to the animated series Invasion America in 1998. She subsequently opted to leave the industry, which she described as a “really positive decision” in 2014.