Patricia Wettig is an American actress and playwright, born on December 4, 1951, in Milford, Ohio, and raised in Grove City, Pennsylvania.
Best known for her role as Nancy Weston in the television series Thirtysomething (1987–1991), she has built a distinguished career in television, film, and theater.
Wettig’s nuanced performances, marked by emotional depth and authenticity, have earned her critical acclaim and a lasting presence in the entertainment industry.
Beyond acting, she has explored playwriting, earning a Master of Fine Arts in playwriting from Smith College in 2001.
Siblings
Patricia grew up in a family of four daughters, born to Florence Morlock and Clifford Neal Wettig, a high school basketball coach.
Her three sisters are Pam Wettig, Phyllis Wettig, and Peggy Wettig.
While Patricia’s career in acting and playwriting has placed her in the public eye, little is known about her sisters’ personal or professional lives.
Career
Wettig’s career began on the stage, where she honed her craft as a member of the Circle Repertory Company in New York, performing in productions like The Wool Gatherer and A Tale Told.
Early in her career, she worked as a personal dresser for Shirley MacLaine, gaining insight into the industry before transitioning to screen roles.
Her television debut came in 1982 with the TV film Parole, followed by guest appearances on shows like Remington Steele, Hill Street Blues, and Stingray.
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In 1986, she landed a recurring role as Joanne McFadden on St. Elsewhere, which marked a significant step in her career.
Her breakout role came in 1987 as Nancy Weston on Thirtysomething, a drama exploring the lives of baby boomers.
Her portrayal of Nancy, particularly during the character’s cancer storyline, resonated deeply with audiences and critics alike.
Following Thirtysomething, Wettig made her big-screen debut in 1991’s Guilty by Suspicion alongside Robert De Niro and Annette Bening.
That same year, she played Billy Crystal’s wife in the comedy City Slickers, reprising the role in the 1994 sequel City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly’s Gold.
She also appeared in TV movies like Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story (1992) and Stephen King’s The Langoliers (1995).
In 1995, she starred as a judge in the short-lived CBS series Courthouse, leaving due to creative differences.
Wettig continued to take on diverse roles, including recurring parts in Alias (2002–2004) as Dr. Judy Barnett, Prison Break (2005–2007) as Vice President Caroline Reynolds, and Brothers & Sisters (2006–2011) as Holly Harper, the Walker family patriarch’s mistress.
Her stage work continued with performances in productions like The Normal Heart in 2012, and she appeared in the 2019 Netflix anthology series Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings.
Wettig has also written plays, including My Andy, about Andy Warhol’s relationship with his mother, reflecting her shift toward writing later in her career.
Accolades
Wettig won three Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 1988, and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1990 and 1991.
In 1991, she also received a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series Drama for the same role.
Her performance, particularly in depicting Nancy’s cancer struggle, was praised for its emotional intensity and realism, cementing her reputation as a formidable actress.
Beyond Thirtysomething, Wettig has been nominated for additional awards throughout her career, including recognition for her stage performances.
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