Nancy McKeon Movies

Of all of the ways humankind can destroy the planet, none can hold a candle to the awe-inspiring and earth-shattering power of Mother Nature. As chief meteorologist for the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center, Andy Goodman (Brian Dennehy) has seen his share of storms. Now, just days shy of his eagerly anticipated retirement, Goodman is disturbed to discover three separate storm fronts approaching Chicago: a cluster of tornados from the west, a warm storm front from the south, and an Arctic system from the north. As Goodman enlists the aid of his longtime storm-chasing friend "Tornado Tommy" (Randy Quaid) in tracking the storms, ambitious Chicago television reporter Amy Harkin (Nancy McKeon) is busy researching the mysterious drought and record heat wave that has plagued the city for nearly six weeks. Though the citizens of Chicago are warned to reduce their energy consumption by secretary of energy Shirley Abbott (Dianne Wiest) the Windy City is thrust into darkness when severe thunderstorms destroy the city's main power-generating plant. With no means to warn the outside world of the dangers fast approaching, Harkin and Midwest Electric chief of operations Mitch Benson (Thomas Gibson) must race against time to get the word out to citizens and emergency workers before the snowballing blackout causes a complete collapse of the entire North American power grid. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

A workaholic advertising executive discovers that there may just be more to life than the daily grind in this warmhearted Christmas comedy from director Maggie Greenwald. Jane (Nancy McKeon) is a type-A go-getter who has little time to think about such things as family and the holiday spirit, but when a minor traffic mishap sends her reeling into a strange parallel universe, Jane's hectic schedule is turned inside out. Awakening from the accident to discover that she is suddenly a stay-at-home mother of two and happily married to kindly charity worker Sam (Steven Eckholdt), Jane desperately attempts to sort out her disorienting dilemma while simultaneously preparing Christmas dinner for the family. Could it be that Jane has finally discovered what has been missing from her life for all these years? ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Monica (Roma Downey) is the leader of a support group consisting of five terminally ill people: Corey (David Kaufman, Stasi (Lisa Jane Persky), Dolores (Eileen Brennan), Larry (Lenny Clarke), and Rachel (Nancy McKeon). It is Monica's task to help each group member realize the one big goal that must be achieved before his or her death. All are willing to take on the challenge (though Rachel is at first strangely resistant), but the journey towards that goal is fraught with surprises--not least of which is the fact that the five main characters have always shared a common bond. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

An honest temporary employee (Nancy McKeon) finds herself accused of murder when the president of the real estate company to which she has been assigned is suddenly murdered before she can tell him that she discovered one of his regular workers has been robbing him blind. That she was having an affair with the slain man only complicates matters. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Made for television, the two-part, four-hour Love, Honor and Obey: The Last Mafia Marriage is the true story of "mob wife" Rosalie Profaci Bonanno, here played by Nancy McKeon. Inasmuch as the teleplay is based on Ms. Bonanno's memoirs, it is perhaps understandable that she casts herself as an innocent bystander in the ongoing saga of Mafia activity in the United States, totally ignorant (at least at first) as to how her father Joe Profaci (Tomas Milian) and his chief mob rival Joseph Bonanno (Ben Gazzara) support themselves and their families. It is further suggested that Rosalie is completely in the dark concerning the mob connections of her husband Bill (Eric Roberts), Joe Bonanno's son; after all, how could anything be amiss when the Pope Himself calls to congratulate the bride and groom? Ultimately Rosalie sees the light when her husband enters a war against opposing mob families, and is subsequently thrown in prison. The rest of the story chronicles how Rosalie struggles to escape the onus of "Mafia princess", seeking out honest, mainstream work to take care of herself and her children. Love, Honor and Obey: The Last Mafia Marriage originally aired Mary 23 and 25, 1993 on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Veronica Hamel, who'd previously played a detective on the trail of a kidnapped baby, turns kidnapper herself in the made-for-TV The Baby Snatcher. After suffering a miscarriage, Hamel becomes convinced that she will lose her husband's love. Faking a new pregnancy, Hamel allows nine months to pass, then sneaks into the hospital maternity ward and steals another woman's infant. It takes the tireless efforts of Nancy McKeon, the baby's natural mother, to track down the clever but unhinged Hamel. Amazingly based on a true story, Baby Snatcher debuted on May 3, 1992. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Tracey Thurman was a real-life Connecticut housewife who, throughout her marriage, suffered horrendous abuse at the hands of her husband. The beatings culminate in a single bloody night when Buck Thurman stabs his estranged wife 13 times. She survives--barely--and Buck is arrested. Having failed to get proper protection from the local police force, Tracey successfully sued the officers in 1989. The long-range result was the Thurman Law, which called for mandatory arrests in wife-beating cases in Connecticut and several other states. Nancy McKeon, who plays Tracey Thurman in A Cry for Help, starred in the film in the hope that it would prevent Buck Thurman's early release from prison. A Cry For Help: The Tracy Thurman Story first aired on October 2, 1989; Thurman was scheduled for release in 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

College girl Nancy McKeon, up until recently the picture of normality, suddenly displays signs of schizophrenia. She hears voices, commits sudden acts of violence, and switches moods without warning. McKeon's parents Valerie Harper and Stephen Macht are at a loss to contend with the sudden change of personality. With the help of psychological experts (and scene after scene of dry statistics), Harper and Macht are able to reclaim their daughter. Made for television, Strange Voices merely tiptoes through territory more successfully mapped out by such TV earlier films as Promise (86). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Greater Alarm is the syndication title of the made-for-TV Firefighter. Based on a true story, the film stars Nancy McKeon as Cindy Fralick, the first female member of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Recruited in 1982, Cindy faces prejudice and hostility from her male co-workers as she strives to complete the grueling training program. Nonetheless, she perseveres, and in so doing wins the respect of her one-time tormentors. Adapted by Kathryn Montgomery from Fralick's autobiography, the film was partially designed as a visual adjunct to CBS television's "Read More About It" program. Under its original title, The Greater Alarm first aired on September 23, 1986. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this family drama, adoptive parents engage in a legal battle with the biological mother of their child. The mother had been a teenager when she gave up her baby. Now she wants her back. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

A very young Sean Astin co-stars with his mother, Patty Duke, in this powerful drama about child abuse. Unlike most of his friends, who are cheerful and outgoing, eight-year-old Brian Reynolds (Astin) is shy, morose, and withdrawn. Curious as to why Brian behaves the way he does, teenager Nancy Parks (Nancy McKeon) stumbles upon a terrible secret: Brian's divorced, stressed-out mother, Barbara (Patty Duke), takes out her frustrations by savagely beating Brian on a regular basis. So now Nancy knows the reason for Brian's sadness -- but should she tell the authorities or simply mind her own business? Originally produced for the ABC Afterschool Special series, Please Don't Hit Me, Mom made its debut in prime time as one of three ABC Theater for Young Americans presentations; the film finally aired as part of ABC's afternoon schedule on January 19, 1983. ~ All Movie Guide

Hoping for a romantic rendezvous with her new boyfriend Mitch (Philip R. Allen), Alice (Linda Lavin) is instead saddled with the responsibility of escorting Mitch's four kids as they go trick-or-treating on Halloween. The situation turns out to be more trick than treat when one of the youngsters disappears. Featured amongst the supporting cast is child actor Billy Jacoby, who under the name of Billy Jayne later appeared as Mikey Randall on Parker Lewis Can't Lose. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide