Nancy Stafford

Nancy Elizabeth Stafford (born June 5, 1954) is an American actress, speaker and author, known for her roles on television. She came to prominence in the 1980s as Michelle Thomas, law partner, on five seasons of Matlock. She later hosted a syndicated TV series called Main Floor (1995–2005), a show about fashion and beauty.

Nancy Stafford
Stafford in 1990
Born
Nancy Elizabeth Stafford

(1954-06-05) June 5, 1954
Wilton Manors, Florida, US
Alma materUniversity of Florida (BA)
OccupationActress
Years active1977–present
Known forMatlock
St. Elsewhere
Miss Florida 1976
Spouse
Larry Myers
​
​
(m. 1989)​
Children1
Websitewww.nancystafford.com

Early life

Nancy Elizabeth Stafford was born in Wilton Manors, Florida, a suburb of Ft. Lauderdale, in 1954, where she was raised as a Southern Baptist. She graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism.[1] She is a practicing Christian.[2]

After graduating from Ft. Lauderdale High School in 1972, she was Miss Florida 1976, competing in the 1977 Miss America Pageant.[3]

Career

Stafford moved to Los Angeles in 1982, where she had her first contract role playing the dual role of Adrienne/Felicia Hunt on the daytime soap opera The Doctors. She had guest starring roles in shows such as Riptide, Remington Steele, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, Who's the Boss?, Hunter, Quantum Leap, and Magnum, P.I.. In 1983, Stafford won her first regular role on the NBC medical drama series St. Elsewhere as Joan Halloran. She played the role for two seasons and came back for one more episode in 1986. She later starred as Patricia Blake in the short-lived ABC series Sidekicks from 1986-87.

Stafford is best known for her role as Ben Matlock's legal partner Michelle Thomas in the legal drama Matlock, from 1987 to 1992, after appearing as a guest in season 1. When the show relocated its filming from the west coast, Stafford opted to leave Matlock.[4] After her departure from Matlock, she began public speaking and hosted Main Floor, a 1990s talk show.

In 2008, she co-hosted the first season of Love, Marriage and Stinkin' Thinkin alongside Mark Gungor. Stafford continued to guest star in many shows, such as ER, Frasier, Babylon 5, Baywatch and The Mentalist.

Stafford is the author of many Christian books, such as: Beauty by the Book: Seeing Yourself as God Sees You, The Wonder of His Love: A Journey into the Heart of God, and her 2006 book, Mothers & Daughters Taking Your Adult Relationship to a Deeper Level.[1]

Personal life

Stafford married Larry Myers, a pastor. She has a step-daughter and grandson. Her older brother, Tracy Stafford,[5] was a two-term Mayor of Wilton Manors, Florida and a five-term member of the Florida House of Representatives.

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1982 Q Eyewitness
1987 U.S. Marshals: Waco & Rhinehart Joyce Television film
1993 Moment of Truth: A Child Too Many Sharon Davis Television film
1995 Deadly Invasion: The Killer Bee Nightmare Karen Ingram Television film
2002 Destiny Counselor
2004 The Proverb Lady in Park Short film
2007 The Wager Annie Steele
2011 Christmas with a Capital C Kristen Reed
2012 Race to the Finish Julie
2012 Christmas Oranges Mrs. Hartley
2013 Foreclosed Terri Boyd Short film
2013 Superheroes Don't Need Capes Jenny
2013 Season of Miracles Nurse Barbara
2013 Assumed Killer Dr. Weston
2013 Christmas for a Dollar Mrs. Rathbone
2014 Heaven Help Us Kat Banks Short film
2016 Heritage Falls Laura Fitzpatrick
2016 I'm Not Ashamed Mrs. Talbot
2017 Heaven Bound Josie
2017 A Mermaid's Tale Thaleia
2019 Faith, Hope & Love Mary Sue
2020 First Lady Kathryn Morales
2023 Far Haven Alma Watkins

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1982 The Doctors Adrienne / Felicia Hunt 1 episode
1983 Lone Star Amanda Talbot Television pilot
1983–1986 St. Elsewhere Joan Halloran Series regular, 30 episodes
1984 Who's the Boss? Trish Baldwin Episode: "Sorority Sister"
1985 Riptide Lt. Peggy Burke Episode: "Prisoner of War"
1985 Hunter Nell Armstrong Episode: "The Avenging Angel"
1985 Magnum, P.I. Amy Griswald Episode: "The Treasure of Kalaniopu'u"
1985 Scarecrow and Mrs. King Colleen Donnelly Episode: "Flight to Freedom"
1985 Remington Steele Jennifer Davenport Episode: "Stronger Than Steele"
1986 You Are the Jury Diane Blake Episode: "The State of Arizona vs. Dr. Evan Blake"
1986 D.C. Cops Molly St. Clair Television pilot
1986–1987 Sidekicks Patricia Blake Series regular, 23 episodes
1986 Matlock Caryn Nelson / Caroline Nathan Episode: "The Seduction"
1987–1992 Matlock Michelle Thomas Series regular, 109 episodes
1990 Quantum Leap Peg Myers Episode: "Miss Deep South - June 7, 1958"
1993 Saved by the Bell: The College Years Judith Trudell Episode: "The Poker Game"
1996 Frasier Claire Barnes Episode: "Moon Dance"
1996 Babylon 5 Dr. Mary Kirkish Episode: "Messages from Earth"
1997 Baywatch Cassie Rose Episode: "Rendezvous"
2003 Judging Amy Judge Bell Episodes: "Motion Sickness", "The Wrong Man"
2008 The Mentalist Rosemary Tennant Episode: "Seeing Red"
2017–2018 Scandal BNC Anchor 4 episodes

References
  1. "Author bio: Nancy Stafford". Christian Book Distributors. Archived from the original on 2018-08-15. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
  2. Wooding, Dan (2011-09-19). "Actress Nancy Stafford, a True Ambassador for Christ in the Entertainment Industry". ASSIST News. Archived from the original on 2014-10-12. Retrieved 2018-08-14.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. "List of title holders". MissFlorida.org. Archived from the original on 2011-07-27. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  4. Jicha, Tom (1992-05-07). "Matlock' Moves To Abc, Stafford Moves On". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  5. Adelson, Suzanne (1987-11-16). "Playing by Ear, Nancy Stafford Finds the Key to TV's Matlock". People. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
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