Found this recent interview with her (November 2014) from People. She seems to be doing well. There is a recent pic of her at a Love Boat reunion. They ask her about a return to acting and she say's " Never Say Never".

http://www.people.com/article/kristy-mcnichol-love-boat-reunion

I thought she'd died when I clicked this.

Glad she's still doing well.

Yeah, dead here as well.

She looks good. She should do a Hallmark Mysteries series movie or something along those lines if she gets the acting bug again. I'd love to see her back on TV.

I'm glad she's doing well (and is living), and would certainly welcome her back on TV.

Ditto to everything above. I'd personally love to see her, Meredith Baxter, and Gary Frank reunited on a morning show or something to talk about Family.

Kirsty hopefully made a lot of money and realized she could walk away from the TV biz and not look back.

I'm sure being gay played a part as she wouldn't have to deal with the 'lesbian actress' label and all that goes with it.

She worked hard and deserves to reap the benefits.

Maybe we should change the thread title to "Kristy McNichol (she's not dead)."

LMAO!

LOL....I should have titled it Kristy McNichol Interview.

Well, thank God she's not...you know.

I'd LOVE to see her back on TV. She suffers from bipolar disorder, so I wouldn't want her to do anything that would compromise her health. But if she could handle Hallmark Channel TV movies, as slick suggested upthread, or even a recurring part on a cable or streaming series -- something with an abbreviated shooting schedule, with time off to relax/travel/whatever -- I would welcome it. "Empty Nest" just wasn't the same without her to act as Dinah Manoff's foil.

Edited March 22, 201510 yr by Khan

I don't think she would ever come back to acting. Not only because of her bipolar disorder, but because of the fact that she had been acting since she was a child and acted pretty steadily, at that. She's probably happy to live a very private life now.

ETA: Read the article after this. I was VERY surprised to see her say "Never say never" to acting. I thought for sure she was done forever. I guess 20 years is a long enough break--she hasn't acted since she returned for Empty Nest's final episode in 1995. (She DID do voiceover work for a short-lived cartoon in the late 90's, though).

Her E! True Hollywood Story from the late 90's was awesome, one of my favorites. Her Pirate Movie co-star, Christopher Atkins, was interviewed for it and was quite enthusiastic in recounting their onscreen kiss . Her brother James was interviewed, too. She declined to be interviewed, though. She apparently briefly trained to be a hairdresser a few years before she got EN.

And I'm not gonna lie, this is my jam:

Her THS included footage of her and Jimmy singing this on the Mike Douglas Show.

Edited March 23, 201510 yr by MissLlanviewPA

I remember seeing her THS. Kari Michaelsen from Gimme A Break is a close friend of hers. I always liked Kristy. She was one of the earliest child stars I remember growing up.

That album was released the year I was born (1978). I really like 'Slow Dance".

She did a great After School Special called " The Pinballs" that I always remember and an excellent TV movie with Linda Lavin called "Like Mom,Like Me". Sadly most people under 30 probably have no idea who she is.

I'm 26, and as a faithful THS viewer in middle school, back when they were glorious trashy gold, you better damn well believe I knew who she was! I actually read The Pinballs when I was about 11 or 12. She did a few after school specials in her day.

I'm 26, and as a faithful THS viewer in middle school, back when they were glorious trashy gold, you better damn well believe I knew who she was! I actually read The Pinballs when I was about 11 or 12. She did a few after school specials in her day.

Good for you. I'm glad some of the younger generation knows who she is and appreciates her talent.