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Quinn Cummings
Quinn Cummings
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Quinn L. Cummings (born August 13, 1967) is an American entrepreneur, author, humorist, inventor and former actress.

Key Information

Cummings came to prominence as a child actor, playing Lucy McFadden in Neil Simon's The Goodbye Girl, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, one of the youngest people to ever be nominated for an Academy Award. She was also known for her recurring role as Annie Cooper on the television series Family. Since quitting acting, Cummings has become an entrepreneur, and has authored several books.

Early life

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Cummings was born in Los Angeles.[1] Her father, Sumner, was a businessman who died when she was still a child. Her mother, Jan, was a bookkeeper.

Career

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Film and television

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Cummings began her career after being discovered by cinematographer James Wong Howe. She soon began landing roles in numerous television commercials, eventually winning the role of Marsha Mason's daughter, Lucy McFadden, in the 1977 film The Goodbye Girl.[2] Cummings' performance was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture.[3]

In 1978, Cummings had a recurring role on the drama series Family. In 1985, Cummings appeared in the short-lived ABC sitcom Hail to the Chief as the daughter of the first female president of the United States, played by Patty Duke.[2] During the late 1980s, Cummings acted occasionally and worked as a casting agent. She attended UCLA for two years and had a stint recruiting writers to publish short stories online.[2] Her last acting role was a 1992 episode of Evening Shade.

Other ventures

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Inspired by the birth of her daughter, Cummings created the HipHugger, a sling-type device for carrying a baby.[2] She was the president of the HipHugger company before selling it in 2006.

In February 2005, Cummings started a blog, The QC Report, which discussed the ironies of modern life from the point of view of a career mother in her 30s.[4]

Books and essays

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Cummings' first book, Notes from the Underwire: Adventures from My Awkward and Lovely Life, was published in July 2009.[5] Her second book, The Year of Learning Dangerously, which explores the current state of home schooling in America, was published by Perigee Books in August 2012.[6] Pet Sounds, a collection of humorous stories relating to animals and pet ownership was released in the summer of 2013.[7] In 2019, she launched a podcast, Quinn Cummings Gives Bad Advice,[8] in which she responds to listener questions on any advice topic, highlighting the fact that she has no particular knowledge or expertise in the subject being raised.

In 2021, Cummings self-published a book, Modest Blessings for Modern Times. The book is a humorous collection of scenarios where the reader might feel "modestly" grateful if such a scenario happened, such as "You shower after a teenage boy, and yet there is still hot water." Cummings has donated a portion of proceeds from the book to various non-profit organizations.[9]

In the wake of the #MeToo scandal, Cummings made several statements and wrote an essay in 2017 about sexual harassment abuse in Hollywood, particularly abuse of children in the industry.[10][11]

Personal life

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In 2000, Cummings gave birth to a daughter, Anneke DiPietro, by her boyfriend Donald DiPietro.[2]

Filmography

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Television

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Bibliography

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Awards and nominations

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Academy Award
Nominated: Best Actress in a Supporting Role, The Goodbye Girl (1978)
Golden Globe
Nominated: Best Motion Picture Actress in a Supporting Role, The Goodbye Girl (1978)
Young Artist Award
Nominated: Best Juvenile Actress in a TV Series or Special, Family (1980)[12]
Won: Best Young Actress in a Television Series, Family (1981)[13]
Nominated: Best Young Actress in a Movie Made for Television, Grandpa, Will You Run with Me? (1984)[14]

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Quinn L. Cummings (born August 13, 1967) is an American former child actress, author, inventor, and entrepreneur best known for her Academy Award-nominated performance as Lucy McFadden in the film (1977). Cummings began her acting career at a young age, appearing in television series such as (1976) and , as well as films including (1980). Her nomination for Best Supporting Actress at age ten marked her as one of the youngest Oscar nominees in history, highlighting her early prominence in Hollywood. After stepping away from acting in her teens, she pursued diverse ventures, including work as a casting agent in the . In her entrepreneurial phase, Cummings invented the HipHugger, a patented baby carrier sling designed for comfortable carrying, inspired by her experiences as a . She has authored several books, including the memoirs Notes from the Underwire: Adventures from My Awkward and Lovely Life (2009), (2013), and The Year of Learning Dangerously: Adventures in (2012), which draw on her with humor and insight. Cummings also contributes essays to publications like The Atlantic and , hosts the podcast Quinn Cummings Gives Bad Advice, and maintains an active presence on for commentary and storytelling.

Early life

Birth and family background

Quinn Cummings was born on August 13, 1967, in , . Her father, Sumner Cummings, served as president of a necktie company and died when she was 10 years old. Her mother, Jan Cummings, worked as a bookkeeper. No public records indicate siblings in her .

Entry into acting

Cummings entered acting as a child after renowned cinematographer James Wong Howe, a family acquaintance, suggested to her mother that she had potential for the profession. Wong Howe, who lived nearby in Hollywood and had won two Academy Awards for his work on films like A Guy Named Joe (1943) and The Old Man and the Sea (1958), recognized her precocity during interactions and encouraged her entry into the industry. At age 7 in 1974, Cummings secured her first role in a commercial for Future Floor Wax, succeeding on her initial audition by performing a scuffing motion across the floor multiple times during filming. This led to additional commercial work and guest appearances on television programs, marking her early professional steps before transitioning to scripted series. By 1975, at age 8, she obtained recurring roles in television, including portraying Ginger Smith in 10 episodes of the ABC sitcom Big Eddie. She followed this with a lead in the 1976 television film Jeremiah of Jacob's Neck, further establishing her presence in episodic and made-for-TV content prior to her feature film debut.

Acting career

Early roles and debut

Cummings began her acting career with uncredited appearances in television commercials before securing her first credited role in the sitcom Big Eddie, which premiered on August 23, 1975. In the series, she portrayed Ginger Smith, the granddaughter of protagonist Eddie Smith (played by ), in all 10 episodes aired through November 7, 1975. The show, centered on a former entertainer managing a sports arena, struggled in ratings and was canceled after its initial run. Following Big Eddie, Cummings appeared in her television film debut with the NBC made-for-TV movie Night Terror (also released as Night Drive), which aired on February 6, 1977. She played Nancy, the young daughter of a family pursued by an escaped killer during a road trip, in this suspense thriller directed by E.W. Swackhamer and starring Victoria Principal and Michael Tolan. The role, though supporting, highlighted her ability to convey vulnerability in tense scenarios. That same year, she took on a more prominent part in the ABC TV movie Intimate Strangers, broadcast on November 11, 1977. As Peggy Halston, the daughter of an abusive husband () and his wife (), Cummings depicted the emotional toll of on a , contributing to the film's focus on spousal battery and family dynamics. Directed by John Llewellyn Moxey, the drama earned praise for its handling of sensitive topics but received mixed reviews overall. These early television credits, spanning and dramatic telefilms, established her presence in the industry at age 8 to 10.

Breakthrough with The Goodbye Girl

Cummings achieved her acting breakthrough at age 10 with the role of , the precocious daughter of a struggling dancer, in the 1977 romantic comedy-drama , directed by and written by . The film, released on December 9, 1977, follows single mother (Marsha Mason) and her daughter as they navigate life after Paula's boyfriend abandons them, only to discover aspiring actor (Richard Dreyfuss) has sublet their apartment. Cummings' portrayal of the wise-beyond-her-years , who interacts skeptically with Garfield, drew praise for capturing the character's verbal wit and vulnerability, aligning with Simon's signature style of sharp, neurotic dialogue. During production, Cummings, then nine turning ten, collaborated closely with Simon, even offering script suggestions or "notes" that the playwright received with patience, highlighting her early on set. Her performance elevated the film's ensemble dynamic, contributing to its commercial success, which grossed over $21 million domestically against a modest budget, and its critical acclaim, including wins for Dreyfuss as at the Oscars. Mason later described Cummings as "one of my favorite actresses to work with," noting her maturity akin to being "nine years old going on twenty-seven," which enhanced scenes blending humor and emotional depth. The role garnered Cummings a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award nomination at the 50th Oscars on April 3, 1978, making her one of the youngest nominees in that category, as well as a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture. These accolades marked her as a standout performer, propelling her visibility in Hollywood despite the competitive field of established stars like Mason and Dreyfuss, and setting the stage for subsequent television roles.

Later roles and departure from acting

Following her breakthrough in The Goodbye Girl, Cummings took on a recurring role as Annie Cooper, the intelligent daughter of the Lawrence family, on the ABC drama series Family, appearing in multiple episodes from 1978 to 1980. She continued with guest appearances on popular television shows, including an episode of Remington Steele in 1982, where she played a supporting character in the season one installment "Signed, Steeled, and Delivered." Additional TV credits encompassed roles on The Love Boat, Evening Shade as Shirley, and a 1991 episode of Blossom portraying Millie. In film, her later work included The Babysitter (1980), a thriller directed by Donald Wrye, and Listen to Me (1989), a romantic drama in which she played Susan Hooper alongside and . These roles, primarily in supporting capacities, did not achieve the critical or commercial acclaim of her earlier nomination, reflecting a career trajectory that shifted toward episodic television rather than leading features. Cummings effectively departed from professional acting by the early 1990s, with her final credited role in 1991; she has had no subsequent acting appearances. At approximately age 23, she quit the industry, later explaining in interviews that her acting career had faltered and she was uncomfortable with the ongoing public scrutiny of her personal life. This transition allowed her to redirect efforts toward writing, invention, and other entrepreneurial ventures, marking a deliberate pivot away from Hollywood.

Writing and publishing career

Blogging and essays

In February 2005, Cummings launched The QC Report, a that chronicled the ironies of modern life from the perspective of a working mother in her thirties, blending humor with observations on , pets, and everyday absurdities. The blog gained a dedicated readership for its witty, self-deprecating style, often drawing from Cummings' experiences as a former child actress and . Cummings' blogging output formed the basis for her debut book, Notes from the Underwire: Adventures from My Awkward and Lovely Life (Hyperion, ), a compilation of essays excerpted and expanded from posts, covering topics such as celebrity encounters, mishaps, and feline antics. These essays emphasized pithy insights into domestic challenges and cultural quirks, earning praise for their uproarious tone without relying on . Beyond the blog, Cummings contributed essays to established publications, including Good Housekeeping, Los Angeles Magazine, and Newsweek, where she explored themes of family dynamics, career transitions, and personal resilience. Her work later appeared in outlets such as The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, Time, and Huffington Post, maintaining a focus on candid, observational prose rather than advocacy-driven narratives. Over time, The QC Report evolved into shorter-form content, including "Small Stories"—a series of over 600 humorous vignettes shared initially on and later via —reflecting a shift toward concise, uplifting essays on life's vicissitudes. This format preserved the blog's core appeal: unvarnished realism delivered with levity, as seen in collections like (2013), which repurposed blog-inspired essays on pet ownership.

Books and literary output

Quinn Cummings' debut book, Notes from the Underwire: Adventures from My Awkward and Lovely Life, was published in July 2009 by Hyperion Books. The work consists of a series of humorous personal essays drawn from her , The QC Report, covering topics such as challenges, domestic mishaps, and reflections on transitioning from child to adult life. Critics described it as akin to Erma Bombeck's style with an added edge, emphasizing Cummings' witty observations on everyday absurdities. Her second book, The Year of Learning Dangerously: Adventures in , appeared in 2012. This details Cummings' experiences homeschooling her daughter, exploring alternative educational approaches amid skepticism from traditional schooling advocates, and includes anecdotes on experimentation and family dynamics. In 2013, Cummings released Pet Sounds: New and Improved Stories from the QC Report, a collection of essays focused on her interactions with pets, including , and other animals. Published through Quinella Media, the book expands on entries, recounting humorous and chaotic episodes like dealing with territorial cats and pet-related household disruptions. Cummings self-published Modest Blessings for Modern Times in 2021. The volume features perforated pages of short, ironic "blessings"—humorous invocations wishing minor fortunes or averting petty misfortunes, such as avoiding inheritance of a relative's parrot—intended as shareable notes blending wit with everyday optimism. Beyond books, Cummings maintains an active literary output through essays published in outlets including The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, Time, Alta Journal, Good Housekeeping, Los Angeles Magazine, and The Huffington Post. She produces "Small Stories," over 600 brief, often autobiographical vignettes—funny, poignant, or embarrassing—originally threaded on Twitter and now shared thrice weekly via Patreon. These evolved from her early blog, The QC Report, and complement her ongoing production of jokes, aphorisms, and satirical commentary disseminated through social media and newsletters.

Other professional endeavors

Inventions and entrepreneurship

Following the birth of her daughter in the early 2000s, Cummings co-invented the HipHugger, a fabric sling-style carrier designed to securely hold infants or small pets against an adult's hip, torso, or side in a seated or reclined position, with adjustable drawstrings or straps for customized support and stability. The device addressed needs for hands-free carrying that was both ergonomic and easy to adjust without buckles or rigid frames, distinguishing it from bulkier alternatives. Cummings collaborated with co-inventor Amy M. Turner on the design, filing a on May 25, 2001, which was granted as U.S. 6,595,396 on July 22, 2003, titled " or carrier." The patent describes a wide, over-the-shoulder fabric sling with a supportive pouch that conforms to the child's body, secured by tension-adjustable elements to prevent slippage during movement. Related applications, such as 20020185505 (filed 2001, published December 12, 2002), further detailed variations for enhanced versatility in carrying positions. As an entrepreneur, Cummings served as president and co-owner of HipHugger, Inc., launching the product commercially around to market it directly to parents seeking portable, intuitive baby-wearing solutions. The venture capitalized on the growing demand for lightweight carriers, with Cummings drawing from personal experience to emphasize safety features like to reduce adult strain. While specific sales figures remain undisclosed, the HipHugger gained niche recognition in parenting circles before Cummings shifted focus to writing and other pursuits by the late . No additional patents or major entrepreneurial projects beyond this invention have been publicly documented.

Public commentary and advice-giving

Quinn Cummings has engaged in public commentary through essays, books, and podcasts, often blending personal anecdotes with advice on topics such as , , and modern life. In her 2009 book Notes from the Underwire: Adventures from My Awkward and Lovely Life, Cummings offers humorous essays reflecting on her experiences as a former , mother, and entrepreneur, providing insights into balancing family demands with personal ambitions, such as inventing baby products while navigating motherhood. The book, described by reviewers as akin to Erma Bombeck's style with an edge, critiques societal expectations of women and shares practical observations on child-rearing without prescriptive dogma. Her 2012 memoir The Year of Learning Dangerously: Adventures in details her decision to homeschool her daughter, experimenting with various educational philosophies including and classical methods, and offers commentary on the limitations of conventional schooling systems. Cummings recounts specific challenges, such as adapting curricula for a single child and measuring progress without standardized tests, advising parents to prioritize individualized learning over institutional conformity based on her trial-and-error approach. Cummings hosts the Quinn Cummings Gives Bad Advice, launched around 2019, where she humorously dispenses guidance on listener-submitted problems ranging from relationships to career dilemmas, acknowledging her lack of expertise while drawing from life experiences. Episodes feature her analyzing queries with self-deprecating wit, such as advising on handling difficult in-laws or professional setbacks, positioning the show as entertainment rather than authoritative counsel. Through her newsletter Reading To Connect, started in the early , and the associated The Reading To Connect Show, Cummings provides advice on fostering parent-child bonds via shared reading, emphasizing techniques like the ENGAGE Method to encourage dialogue and emotional connection during book sessions. She shares practical tips, such as prompting children with open-ended questions to deepen comprehension, and interviews authors to highlight that address real-life issues like family dynamics or personal growth. This platform extends her commentary to promoting as a tool for relational development, with posts dated as recently as March 2025 detailing real-time family reading scenarios. In interviews, Cummings has offered targeted advice to parents of aspiring child actors, cautioning against unchecked ambition in Hollywood while urging practical steps like securing financial safeguards and monitoring industry influences, informed by her own career trajectory. She stresses the importance of parental oversight to mitigate risks, drawing from observations of peers' experiences rather than endorsing entry into the field lightly.

Critiques of Hollywood and industry practices

Child acting experiences

Quinn Cummings began her acting career at age seven in 1974, securing her first role through a successful audition for a floor-wax commercial where she scuffed her shoes across the floor to demonstrate the product's durability. Her mother, Jan Cummings, managed her career, emphasizing a approach that treated Quinn as a "working child" rather than a star, which allowed her to balance on-set work with schooling at Carpenter Avenue School in Hollywood. Early experiences included positive interactions with industry figures, such as co-stars who were described as "nice" and supportive, contributing to an initial perception of the business as benign. On sets, Cummings encountered structured environments with tutors and guardians, but also subtle warnings about potential risks; for instance, an advised her never to leave her alone with a show's star, highlighting parental vigilance as a key safeguard. She observed a "whisper network" among adults discussing predatory behaviors, including rumors about figures like and lingering touches by well-known actors that blurred lines of propriety. As a teenager, her introduced her to a children's named "David," who housed adolescent boys and prominently displayed shirtless photos of them, prompting questions about boundaries that were ultimately dismissed due to personal rapport. Cummings later reflected on these incidents as indicative of Hollywood's normalized culture of sexual predation during the , where children were exposed to adult misconduct without direct involvement but through pervasive undercurrents that fostered unease. She noted overt acts, such as a director masturbating in view of crew members, as part of an environment where accountability was rare and silence was incentivized. Despite personal protection from her mother, Cummings described the industry's gray areas—subtle harassments and unaddressed whispers—as systemic, contributing to a landscape where child actors navigated adult-oriented risks indirectly.

Revelations on sexual harassment and cultural issues

In October 2017, amid the Harvey Weinstein scandal, Cummings published an article in Esquire detailing her observations of Hollywood's longstanding culture of sexual predation, particularly affecting child actors, based on her experiences from the late 1970s onward. She described "whispers" about industry figures engaging in inappropriate behavior with minors, such as a talent manager who hosted parties for teenage boys aged 12 to 16 and displayed shirtless portraits of them, which raised suspicions among parents and peers though no formal actions were taken. Cummings recounted an assistant director advising her mother not to leave her alone with a television star during her elementary school years, illustrating the informal warnings that substituted for systemic safeguards. Cummings emphasized that while she personally avoided direct victimization—attributing this to her mother's vigilance—the environment normalized predation, with incidents like a director masturbating in front of a crew member leading only to a quiet studio settlement, after which the director continued working without repercussions. She noted "gray-area" harassment, such as subtle advances from well-regarded actors, often went unaddressed due to power imbalances and career risks, particularly for women and children reliant on industry goodwill. In a subsequent interview on November 4, 2017, Cummings reiterated that these patterns predated recent scandals, describing a pervasive "culture of sexual predation" where rumors about figures like Weinstein circulated privately but rarely prompted intervention. Broader cultural critiques from Cummings highlighted Hollywood's tolerance for of young talent, including practices that prioritized appearance over safety and a "" mentality embedded in industry lore. As an adult working in commercial , she observed producers making lewd comments about actresses ranging from 13 to 39 years old, pressuring her to remain silent to preserve professional relationships. Cummings argued that whisper networks served as inadequate substitutes for accountability, enabling predators while discouraging victims—especially minors—from speaking out, and predicted that without structural reforms, such issues would persist beyond high-profile exposures.

Personal life

Family and relationships

Cummings was born on August 13, 1967, in , , to a bookkeeper mother named Jan, with limited public details available about her father or siblings. In 1996, Cummings met Donald DiPietro, an software executive, at a business meeting; the two have maintained a long-term without marrying. The couple welcomed a , Anneke DiPietro, in June 2000. No additional children or prior relationships are documented in available sources.

Lifestyle and interests

Cummings resides in , , where she has pursued a family-oriented lifestyle centered on her , born in 2000, whose arrival inspired practical inventions like the HipHugger baby carrier. Her domestic life emphasizes bonding activities, including shared reading of to foster meaningful family connections, as reflected in her personal advocacy for intentional practices. Among her personal interests, Cummings enjoys , honing recipes as a that gained prominence during the 2020 when she hosted virtual sessions to raise funds for a local shelter, blending creativity with . She maintains a strong affinity for animals, particularly cats, supporting efforts and incorporating pet care into her daily routine, which underscores a compassionate, home-based approach to leisure. Cummings has also expressed enthusiasm for in her off-duty time, citing childhood favorites and a preference for that informs her reflective writing habits outside professional commitments. This extends to an aversion for routine domestic tasks like extensive cooking, favoring instead low-maintenance appliances and spontaneous creative outlets.

Filmography

Film roles

Cummings made her feature film debut in 1977's The Goodbye Girl, directed by Herbert Ross and adapted from Neil Simon's play, portraying Lucy McFadden, the intelligent and sassy 10-year-old daughter of a single mother (Marsha Mason) navigating romantic complications with a new roommate (Richard Dreyfuss). Her naturalistic performance, delivered at age 9 during filming, was praised for its maturity and contributed to the film's commercial success, grossing over $21.6 million domestically against a $4 million budget. For this role, Cummings received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress—the youngest nominee at the time, though the award went to Vanessa Redgrave for Julia—as well as a Golden Globe nomination and a BAFTA nomination. After primarily working in television during the , Cummings returned to feature films with a supporting role in 1989's Listen to Me, a romantic drama directed by , where she played Susan Hooper, a friend involved in a storyline about students defending a local pregnancy crisis center amid pro-life advocacy. The film, starring and , received mixed reviews and underperformed at the , earning $4.9 million domestically. Cummings' appearance marked one of her final acting credits before shifting focus to other pursuits.
YearTitleRoleDirector
1977The Goodbye GirlLucy McFaddenHerbert Ross
1989Listen to MeSusan HooperDouglas Day Stewart

Television appearances

Cummings portrayed the recurring character Annie Cooper, an orphaned girl integrated into the Lawrence family, on the ABC drama series Family across multiple episodes from 1978 to 1980. This role, which drew on her own experience of losing her father at age 10, showcased her as a precocious and emotionally resilient child performer. In 1980, she starred as Tara Benedict in the ABC television movie The Babysitter, a thriller about a family terrorized by a disturbed . Cummings made a as "Minor" Descoine in the Remington Steele episode "Elegy in Steele," which aired on February 21, 1984, involving a plot of and mistaken identities. She appeared as Lucy Mansfield in the short-lived ABC sitcom Hail to the Chief in 1985, playing the daughter of the first female U.S. president. Later guest roles included Anny on The Love Boat in 1986, Millie on Blossom in 1991, and Shirley on Evening Shade.
YearTitleRoleNotes
1978–1980FamilyAnnie CooperRecurring, multiple episodes
1980The BabysitterTara BenedictTV movie
1984Remington Steele"Minor" DescoineGuest, episode "Elegy in Steele"
1985Hail to the ChiefLucy MansfieldSeries regular
1986The Love BoatAnnyGuest
1991BlossomMillieGuest
1991Evening ShadeShirleyGuest

Bibliography

[Bibliography - no content]

Awards and nominations

Cummings was nominated for the in a Supporting Role for her performance as Lucy McFadden in (1977) at the ceremony held on April 3, 1978. She received a nomination for the – Motion Picture for the same role at the 35th Golden Globe Awards on January 28, 1978. For her recurring role as Annie Cooper on the television series Family (1976–1980), Cummings won the Young Artist Award for Best Young Actress in a Television Series in 1981. She was nominated for the Young Artist Award for Best Young Actress in a Movie Made for Television for Grandpa, Will You Run with Me? (1983) at the 6th Youth in Film Awards in 1984.
YearAwardCategoryResultNominated work
1978Academy AwardBest Actress in a Supporting RoleNominatedThe Goodbye Girl
1978Golden Globe AwardBest Supporting Actress – Motion PictureNominatedThe Goodbye Girl
1981Young Artist AwardBest Young Actress in a Television SeriesWonFamily
1984Young Artist AwardBest Young Actress in a Movie Made for TelevisionNominatedGrandpa, Will You Run with Me?

References

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