Famous ’80s icon Kristy McNichol made a rare appearance this week in a new photo with Carnie Wilson — 25 years after leaving Hollywood.
On July 20, the 58-year-old Wilson Philips singer shared a selfie on Facebook in which she was seen with the 63-year-old retired actress and gushed over her encounter with one of her childhood idols.
“Totally fangirling!!!” Wilson wrote in the caption. “Kris (Kristy McNichol) was a part of my youth. I adored her in her movies… Especially Little Darlings and The End.”
Wilson went on to say that she told McNichol “how meaningful” her movies were to her and her close friend Tiffany Miller. The five-time Grammy Award nominee said she also shared that she and Miller were “JUST TALKING” about McNichol and “how special she is.”
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“What a gracious sweetie,” Wilson added with a string of red heart emojis. “She sure is loved.”
In the photo, McNichol was seen wearing a navy blue and red fleece jacket over a white T-shirt along with gold earrings. Wilson was clad in a black top with a brightly colored leaf pattern and a black beanie. The pair beamed as they stood close together and posed for the camera.
McNichol launched her career as a child actor, starring in commercials and making guest appearances in hit sitcoms including “Starsky & Hutch,” “CHiPs” and “The Love Boat.”
The actress landed her first role as a series regular when she starred as Patricia Apple in the CBS drama series “Apple’s Way” for two seasons from 1974 to 1975.
McNichol made her breakthrough in 1976 at age 14, when she was tapped to play Letitia “Buddy” Lawrence in the ABC drama series “Family.” The role earned her two Primetime Emmy Awards and launched her as one of television’s biggest teen stars.
In 1977, McNichol began acting in movies and starred in the 1978 black comedy “The End” with Burt Reynolds and Sally Field. She won critical acclaim when she starred as Angel Bright in the hit 1980 teen comedy-drama “Little Darlings” alongside Tatum O’Neal, Matt Dillon and Armand Assante.
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McNichol went on to star in the hit movies “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia” (1980) and “Only When I Laugh” (1981), the latter of which earned her a Golden Globe nomination for best supporting actress.
She also played leading roles in “The Pirate Movie” (1982), “Dream Lover” (1986) and “You Can’t Hurry Love” (1988).
In 1986, she returned to TV full-time with a starring role on the sitcom “Empty Nest,” which was a spin-off of the iconic sitcom “The Golden Girls.” McNichol made her last on-screen appearance in the 1995 season finale of “Empty Nest” after stepping away from the show in 1992.
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In 2001, McNichol announced that she was retiring from acting. “A lot of people have wondered what I’ve been up to,” she said in a statement. “I retired from my career after 24 years.”
“My feeling was that it was time to play my biggest part – myself!” McNichol continued. “I must say that it has been the best thing that ever happened to me. So many fans are disappointed that I’m not currently acting; however, some may not realize that the process I’m in at this time is necessary and vital for my personal happiness and well-being.”
Since leaving the entertainment industry, McNichol has largely stayed out of the public eye. During a rare interview with People magazine in 2014, McNichol explained that she left Hollywood to “see what else was out there.”
“I was on the big stage between ages 8 and 30,” McNichol said. “I left show business for a variety of reasons, but a big one was my interest in learning what else there is in life.”
“This phase of my life is so good,” she shared. “My home life is happy and serene. I love singing. I also enjoy traveling and seeing the world. One of my favorite stops is Hawaii. I like everything about it and may eventually move there part-time.”
While speaking with the outlet, McNichol did not rule out eventually making an acting comeback.
“Never say never,” she said.
