Nancy Travis

Last updated

Nancy Travis
Nancy Travis 2012.jpg
Travis in 2012
Born
Nancy Ann Travis

(1961-09-21) September 21, 1961 (age 63) [1]
New York City, U.S.
Education New York University
Alma mater Circle in the Square Theatre School
Occupations
  • Actress
  • producer
Years active1985–present
Known for
Spouse
​
(m. 1994)​
Children2

Nancy Ann Travis (born September 21, 1961) is an American actress. She began her career on Off-Broadway theater, before her first leading screen role in the ABC television miniseries Harem opposite Omar Sharif. Her breakthrough came in 1987, playing Sylvia Bennington in the comedy film Three Men and a Baby . She later starred in its sequel, Three Men and a Little Lady (1990).

Contents

Travis has starred in many films, including Internal Affairs (1990), Air America (1990), Passed Away (1992), Chaplin (1992), So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993), Greedy (1994), and Fluke (1995). On television, Travis went on to star in the CBS sitcom Almost Perfect in 1995, which ran two seasons, and in the short-lived Work with Me (1999). In 2002, she played a leading role in the ABC miniseries Rose Red , and later joined the cast of the CBS sitcom Becker for its final two seasons.

From 2011 to 2021, Travis starred as Vanessa Baxter in the ABC/Fox sitcom Last Man Standing . From 2018 to 2019, she also starred opposite Michael Douglas in the Netflix comedy series The Kominsky Method . In 2023, Travis starred in the Hallmark Channel neo-Western drama series, Ride .

Early life

Travis was born in Queens, the daughter of Theresa, a social worker, and Gordon Travis, a sales executive. [2] Travis was raised in Framingham, Massachusetts, [2] [3] and Baltimore, Maryland. [2] [4] She was raised Catholic. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from New York University. [1]

Career

Travis's first job after graduating from high school was in a play, It's Hard to Be a Jew, at The American Jewish Theatre in NYC. She also acted in commercials, notably for Twinkies and Levi's Jeans. [5] After that, Travis appeared in a stage version of Neil Simon's Brighton Beach Memoirs and was a founding member of the Off-Broadway theater company Naked Angels. She appeared in their Frank Pugliese play Aven U-Boys, as well as in King of Connecticut. She made her Broadway debut in I'm Not Rappaport in 1985. [6] She starred in Athol Fugard's My Children, My Africa. In 1985, Travis made her screen debut playing a supporting role in the made-for-television biographical film Malice in Wonderland starring Elizabeth Taylor. [7] The following year she received a star-billing role in the two-part ABC miniseries, Harem opposite Omar Sharif. [1] She later made guest-starring appearances in television series Spenser: For Hire and Tales from the Darkside .

In 1987, Travis made her big screen debut playing Sylvia Bennington in the comedy film Three Men and a Baby starring Tom Selleck, Steve Guttenberg, and Ted Danson. The film was one of the biggest American box office hits of 1987 grossing $240 million worldwide. [8] She reprised her role in its sequel, Three Men and a Little Lady in 1990. In 1988, Travis had supporting roles in two films: crime comedy Married to the Mob , and the sports drama Eight Men Out . She starred opposite Hal Holbrook and Eva Marie Saint in the made-for-television Christmas drama film I'll Be Home for Christmas later in 1988. In 1990, Travis starred in four films: she starred as the female lead and wife of Andy García's character in the crime thriller Internal Affairs , the action comedy and box-office bomb Loose Cannons , starred alongside Mel Gibson and Robert Downey Jr. in the action comedy Air America and Three Men and a Little Lady. In 1992 she starred opposite Bob Hoskins in the comedy film Passed Away and was featured in the biographical film Chaplin opposite Robert Downey Jr., portraying Joan Barry, the woman who filed a paternity suit against Chaplin. The following year, Travis starred alongside Jeff Bridges and Kiefer Sutherland in the psychological thriller The Vanishing , and starred in the romantic comedy-drama So I Married an Axe Murderer as the bride of Mike Myers' character. [9] Travis also starred with Peter Gallagher and Isabella Rossellini in the Tom Cruise-directed episode of the Showtime neo-noir anthology series Fallen Angels in 1993. Travis starred alongside Michael J. Fox in the comedy film Greedy in 1994. The following year she went to star in the box office bomb fantasy drama film Fluke , [10] the action-comedy Destiny Turns on the Radio with Dylan McDermott, and the HBO crime thriller Body Language opposite Tom Berenger. In 1996, Travis appeared in Whoopi Goldberg's comedy film, Bogus .

In 1995, Travis moved to television with the leading role as a female executive producer of a television cop show, in the CBS sitcom Almost Perfect . [1] The show was canceled after two seasons. She did voice-over work in the animated series Duckman from 1994 to 1997. She starred in an episode of Robert Altman's anthology series, Gun in 1997, and went to star and produce Lifetime romantic drama film, My Last Love (1999). [11] In 1999, Travis also produced and starred and in the short-lived CBS sitcom Work with Me . [12] Due to low ratings, the show was cancelled after four episodes. [13] The following year she returned to cinema playing supporting role in the drama film Auggie Rose . [14] She also starred in the political comedy-drama film Running Mates with Three Men and a Baby co-star Tom Selleck.

In 2002, Travis had the leading role of psychology professor Dr. Joyce Reardon in the four-hour television adaptation of Stephen King's Rose Red . [15] In 2002, Travis joined the cast of the CBS sitcom Becker as Chris Connor. She starred in the show for its final two seasons, replacing the series' original female lead, Terry Farrell. She appeared in the 2005 comedy-drama film The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and the 2007 ensemble romantic drama The Jane Austen Book Club adapted from the 2004 novel of the same name by Karen Joy Fowler. She also appeared in the 2007 made-for-television film The Party Never Stops: Diary of a Binge Drinker . From 2007 to 2009, Travis starred in the TBS sitcom The Bill Engvall Show as Bill's wife Susan. In 2009 she starred in the Hallmark Channel film Safe Harbor , about a happily married couple, Doug (Treat Williams) and Robbie Smith (Travis) about to retire and spend their days cruising the world on their sailboat. [16] In 2010, she starred in the television films The Pregnancy Pact , In My Shoes and was a guest star in two episodes of Desperate Housewives . [17] In 2011, she guest starred in the television series Grey's Anatomy [18] and How I Met Your Mother . [19]

In 2011, Travis was cast in the ABC sitcom Last Man Standing opposite Tim Allen. [20] [21] Travis also was cast in the same time in The CW medical drama series Hart of Dixie as Emmeline "Mrs. H" Hattenbarger, but due to her commitments with the 20th Century Fox-produced Last Man Standing left the show after two episodes. [22] Last Man Standing was canceled in 2017, after six seasons and 130 episodes, but was revived by Fox in the fall of 2018. [23] The show debuted on September 28, 2018, and had its highest rating since season two. [24] The series ended in 2021 after 194 episodes.

From 2017 to 2018, Travis played Brendan Gleeson's ex-wife in the crime thriller series Mr. Mercedes . In 2018, Travis was cast as a female lead opposite Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin in the Netflix comedy series The Kominsky Method , created by Chuck Lorre. [25] In 2022, she returned to film, starring opposite Hilary Swank in the drama Ordinary Angels directed by Jon Gunn. [26] She next was cast in the Hallmark Channel Neo-Western drama series Ride playing the role of Isabel McMurray, the family matriarch. [27] The series was canceled after one season later that year. [28]

Personal life

In 1994, Travis married Robert N. Fried, the former president and CEO of Savoy Pictures and Founder and former CEO of Hallmark Movies Now (formerly known as SpiritClips and FeeIn). They have two sons: Benjamin E., and Jeremy. She starred in the 2007 short film Sally, featuring Benjamin and written by her husband. [29]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1987 Three Men and a Baby Sylvia Bennington
1988 Married to the Mob Karen Lutnick
1988 Eight Men Out Lyria Williams
1988 I'll Be Home for Christmas Leah Bundy
1989How Much Is Really True?Short film
1990 Loose Cannons Riva
1990 Internal Affairs Kathleen "Kathy" Avilla
1990 Air America Corinne Landreaux
1990 Three Men and a Little Lady Sylvia Bennington
1992 Passed Away Cassie Slocombe
1992 Chaplin Joan Barry
1993 The Vanishing Rita Baker
1993 So I Married an Axe Murderer Harriet Michaels
1994 Greedy Robin
1995 Fluke Carol Johnson
1995 Lieberman in Love KateShort film
1995 Destiny Turns on the Radio Lucille
1995Body LanguageAtty. Theresa Janice 'T.J.' Harlow
1996 Bogus Lorraine Franklin
1999 My Last Love Susan MortonAlso producer
2000 Beyond Suspicion Carol
2005 The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Lydia Rodman
2007 The Jane Austen Book Club Cat Harris
2007SallySallyShort film
2014 Squatters Carol
2014 Dissonance BobbiShort film
2015 The Submarine Kid Mrs. Koll
2017 Bernard and Huey Mona
2018Married YoungRachel
2021 Night of the Animated Dead Helen CooperVoice
2024 Ordinary Angels Barbara Schmitt
TBA Sovereign Patty BouchartPost-production

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1985 Malice in Wonderland AnnTelevision film
1986HaremJessica GrayTelevision film
1986 Spenser: For Hire Maggie EllisEpisode: "The Hopes and Fears"
1993 Fallen Angels Bette AllisonEpisode: "The Frightening Frammis"
1994–1997 Duckman Bernice / Beverly / Beatrice / Grandma-maVoice, main role (67 episodes)
1995–1997 Almost Perfect Kim CooperSeries regular, 34 episodes
1996 The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest SpencerVoice, episode: "Rage's Burning Wheel"
1998 Superman: The Animated Series Darci MasonVoice, episode: "Obsession" [30]
1999 Work with Me Julie BetterSeries regular, 9 episodes, also producer
2000 Running Mates Jennifer "Jenny" PryceTelevision film
2000 The Wild Thornberrys CatVoice, episode: "Queen of Denial" [30]
2002 Stephen King's Rose Red Prof. Joyce Reardon Miniseries
2002–2004 Becker Christine "Chris" Connor Series regular, 39 episodes
2007–2009 The Bill Engvall Show Susan Pearson Series regular, 30 episodes
2007 The Party Never Stops: Diary of a Binge Drinker April BrennerTelevision film
2008 Medium Laura SwensonEpisode: "Do You Hear What I Hear?"
2009 Numb3rs Dr. Jane KarellenEpisode: "First Law"
2009 Safe Harbor RobbieTelevision film
2010 The Pregnancy Pact Lorraine DouganTelevision film
2010A Walk In My ShoesCindy/TrishTelevision film
2010 Desperate Housewives Dr. Mary Wagner 2 episodes
2011 Grey's Anatomy AlisonEpisode: "Not Responsible"
2011 How I Met Your Mother Cheryl WhittakerEpisode: "Legendaddy"
2011 Hart of Dixie Emmeline Hattenbarger (Mrs. H)2 episodes
2011–2021 Last Man Standing Vanessa BaxterSeries regular, 194 episodes
2017–2018 Mr. Mercedes Donna Hodges7 episodes
2018 The Ranch KarenEpisode: "Telling Me Lies"
2018–2019 The Kominsky Method LisaSeries regular, 16 episodes
2023 Ride Isabelle "Mama" McMurraySeries regular [31]
2023 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Winifred “Winnie” HumphreysEpisode: "King of the Moon"

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Nancy Travis | Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos". AllMovie.
  2. 1 2 3 "Becker's Nancy Travis Rekindles Her Baby Love with Ted Danson". People Magazine . January 13, 2003. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
  3. ↑ Amatangelo, Amy (July 10, 2007). "Travis gives high praise to Framingham drama coach". The Boston Herald . Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Nancy Travis- Biography". Yahoo! Movies . July 7, 2013. Archived from the original on May 2, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Nancy Travis". TVGuide.com.
  6. ↑ "Nancy Travis – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". www.ibdb.com.
  7. ↑ "Malice in Wonderland". www.tcm.com.
  8. ↑ "Domestic Box Office For 1987". Box Office Mojo.
  9. ↑ "So I Married an Axe Murderer - Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. July 30, 1993.
  10. ↑ Fluke (1995), Box Office Mojo
  11. ↑ "My Last Love - Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. February 7, 2020.
  12. ↑ ""Work with Me" (1999)". Internet Movie Database . Retrieved December 11, 2011.
  13. ↑ Pursell, Chris (October 25, 1999). "CBS pink slips 'Work With Me'". Variety . Retrieved July 3, 2009.
  14. ↑ "Auggie Rose - Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. July 24, 2001.
  15. ↑ Wilkes, Neil (July 18, 2001). "ABC Fall miniseries: Full details". Digital Spy . Retrieved December 11, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Christian Therapeutic Boarding School – Safe Harbor Boys Home". Safe Harbor.
  17. ↑ Ausiello, Michael (September 16, 2010). "'Desperate Housewives' Exclusive: Nancy Travis is B.A.G.'s mom!". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved December 11, 2011.
  18. ↑ Wightman, Catriona (January 27, 2011). "Nancy Travis lands 'Grey's Anatomy' role". Digital Spy . Retrieved December 11, 2011.
  19. ↑ Jeffery, Morgan (February 2, 2011). "Nancy Travis signs for 'HIMYM' role". Digital Spy . Retrieved December 11, 2011.
  20. ↑ Becky Kirsch. "ABC 2011 Pilots Including Good Christian Belles, Charlie's Angels, Once Upon a Time, Pan Am, Last Man Standing, Scandal, Revenge". POPSUGAR Entertainment. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  21. ↑ Jeffery, Morgan (March 30, 2011). "Nancy Travis joins ABC Tim Allen pilot". Digital Spy. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  22. ↑ "Coming This Fall to The CW..." TV Fanatic. March 12, 2011. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
  23. ↑ "Fox picked up 'Last Man Standing' after being 'emboldened' by response to 'Roseanne'". Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 14, 2018. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  24. ↑ Otterson, Joe (September 29, 2018). "TV Ratings: 'Last Man Standing' Surges in Fox Debut" . Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  25. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (January 11, 2018). "'The Kominsky Method': Nancy Travis To Co-Star In Netflix Comedy Series".
  26. ↑ Grobar, Matt (April 18, 2022). "Kingdom Story Company's 'Ordinary Angels' Adds Nancy Travis, Tamala Jones & More".
  27. ↑ Rice, Lynette (August 4, 2022). "Nancy Travis & Tiera Skovbye Join Cast Of Hallmark Channel's 'Ride'; Beau Mirchoff & Tyler Jacob Moore Also Star".
  28. ↑ Rice, Lynette (November 17, 2023). "'Ride' Canceled By Hallmark After One Season".
  29. ↑ "Nancy Travis on the View". YouTube . December 7, 2011. Retrieved December 11, 2011.[ dead YouTube link ]
  30. 1 2 "Nancy Travis (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved September 3, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  31. ↑ Vlada Gelman (August 4, 2022). "Tiera Skovbye, Beau Mirchoff Cast in 'Ride' Hallmark Rodeo Series". TVLine. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
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