Nancy Davis Reagan Anne Frances Robbins
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Film credits
3
Books
6
Awards
In 1951, Nancy Reagan starred in the film ‘Night Into Morning’, one of several acting credits that preceded her role as First Lady. She married Ronald Reagan in 1952 and served as First Lady from 1981 to 1989. After his Alzheimer’s diagnosis, she became a vocal advocate for federal funding of stem-cell research. She died in 2016 at age 94.
Names, aliases, and relatives of Nancy Reagan — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
Nancy Reagan by the numbers — life, work, and family.
Nancy Reagan — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
Edith Luckett, a former vaudeville performer, and Kenneth Robbins, a car salesman, had a daughter, Anne Frances Robbins, on July 6, 1921, in New York City. Her parents divorced, and she took the surname of her stepfather, Dr. Loyal Davis, a neurosurgeon. She attended the Latin School of Chicago and graduated from Smith College in 1942, barely missing being a schoolmate of future First Lady Barbara Bush.
In the 1940s, she appeared in the Broadway chorus of Lute Song starring Mary Martin. Her film debut came in The Next Voice You Hear… 1950, followed by starring roles in Night Into Morning 1951 and Donovan’s Brain 1953. She co-starred with Ronald Reagan in Hellcats of the Navy 1957. Television guest spots included Wagon Train, Climax!, and Dick Powell’s Zane Grey Theatre. She auditioned for Karen Richards in All About Eve 1950, but Celeste Holm got the role.
On March 4, 1952, Nancy Reagan married Ronald Reagan; actor William Holden served as best man. She was three months pregnant. The couple had two children, Patti Davis and Ron Reagan. Nancy was also stepmother to Michael Reagan. During Ronald’s Alzheimer’s disease, she protected him, even choosing not to inform him of daughter Maureen’s death. After his death in 2004, she advocated for stem-cell research, a position that put her at odds with her party. She underwent a mastectomy for breast cancer in the 1980s.
Nancy Reagan’s advocacy for stem-cell research after the White House directly influenced President Barack Obama’s 2009 executive order lifting restrictions on federal funding. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2000. A 2002 interview with Diane Sawyer gave a rare look into her life with Ronald Reagan. She also remains known for consulting astrologer Joan Quigley during the White House years, a fact later revealed in her memoirs. She died in 2016 at age 94, remembered for her determined advocacy and distinctive style.
Browse the complete filmography of Nancy Reagan — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.
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Every award, honor, and recognition received by Nancy Reagan — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
Nancy Reagan's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.
A wall of memorable lines from Nancy Reagan — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
On Reagan: I Knew That Being His Wife Was the Role I Wanted to Play.
Bob Had an Extraordinary Career in Both Movies and Television. Just When It Seemed He Was Ready to Retire, He Always Found a New Project That Kept Him Busy and Filled with Wonderful Stories. in Response to the News About the Death of Friend/actor Robert Stack.
Little-known facts about Nancy Reagan — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
Nancy decided not to tell Ronald about Maureen’s death to avoid further hardship during his Alzheimer’s disease.
When she was seven, she was a guest at the White House Easter Egg roll and met then-First Lady Grace Coolidge.
William Holden served as best man at her wedding to Ronald Reagan.
She celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary with Ronald Reagan on March 4, 2002.
Born to actress Edith Luckett and car salesman Kenneth Robbins, she took the surname of her stepfather, neurosurgeon Dr. Loyal Davis.
She became an outspoken advocate for federal funding of stem-cell research after her husband’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis and death, a position that opposed the Republican party line. President Barack Obama approved funding in 2009.
She underwent a mastectomy for breast cancer; her doctor claimed simple surgery could have removed the growth and that the procedure was unnecessary.
Her stepdaughter Maureen Reagan died of malignant melanoma.
Albert Brooks asked her to play his mother in Mother 1996; she declined because she couldn’t leave her husband who had Alzheimer’s. Debbie Reynolds took the role.
She was stepmother to Michael Reagan.
She was already three months pregnant when she married Ronald Reagan.
She made a rare public appearance at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library to sign books.
She quit smoking in 1967.
She served as honorary president of the Girl Scouts of America.
In 2002, she gave a rare in-depth interview with ABC’s Diane Sawyer about her life with Ronald Reagan and his Alzheimer’s battle.
She was formally adopted by renowned surgeon Loyal Davis.
She was pictured on a USA commemorative stamp issued July 6, 2022, her 101st birthday. The first-day ceremony at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library was delayed a year due to the pandemic.
Her mother was a former vaudeville performer.
She was mother to Patti Davis and Ron Reagan.
She told her daughter Patti that Patti refused to leave her womb and held onto her rib cage, though this is physically impossible.
She graduated from Smith College in 1942; she narrowly missed being a classmate of Barbara Bush.
She was widow of the 40th President and First Lady from 1981 to 1989.
She made a rare public appearance at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on February 28, 2002, greeting fans.
She was an avid reader of Women’s Wear Daily.
She was hospitalized on February 17, 2008, after falling at home.
She was longtime friend of Mike Wallace, though their friendship strained after critical interviews of her husband.
Before Smith, she attended the Chicago Latin School for Girls.
She was considered for the role of Karen Richards in All About Eve 1950 but Celeste Holm was cast.
She had glaucoma.
She attended the funeral of Charlton Heston.
She appeared in the Broadway chorus of Lute Song starring Mary Martin.
In her daughter’s book House of Secrets, it was alleged that Nancy was addicted to diet pills.
During the White House years, she consulted astrologer Joan Quigley and arranged her husband’s schedule accordingly.
She was god-daughter of Alla Nazimova.
She never appeared in a film nominated for Best Picture Oscar.
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Nancy Reagan.
Celebrities similar to Nancy Reagan — same craft, ranked by reach.
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