Nancy Stafford

American actress, speaker, author (b. 1954)

Nancy Elizabeth Stafford (born June 5, 1954) is an American actress, speaker and author, known for her roles on television. She came to prominence in the 1980s as Michelle Thomas, law partner, on five seasons of Matlock. She later hosted a syndicated TV series called Main Floor (1995–2005), a show about fashion and beauty.

Nancy Elizabeth Stafford was born in Wilton Manors, Florida, a suburb of Ft. Lauderdale, in 1954, where she was raised as a Southern Baptist. She graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism. She is a practicing Christian. After graduating from Ft. Lauderdale High School in 1972, she was Miss Florida 1976, competing in the 1977 Miss America Pageant.

Stafford moved to Los Angeles in 1982, where she had her first contract role playing the dual role of Adrienne/Felicia Hunt on the daytime soap opera The Doctors. She had guest starring roles in shows such as Riptide, Remington Steele, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, Who's the Boss?, Hunter, Quantum Leap, and Magnum, P. I In 1983, Stafford won her first regular role on the NBC medical drama series St. Elsewhere as Joan Halloran. She played the role for two seasons and came back for one more episode in 1986. She later starred as Patricia Blake in the short lived ABC series Sidekicks from 1986 87. Stafford is best known for her role as Ben Matlock's legal partner Michelle Thomas in the legal drama Matlock, from 1987 to 1992, after appearing as a guest in season 1. When the show relocated its filming from the west coast, Stafford opted to leave Matlock. After her departure from Matlock, she began public speaking and hosted Main Floor, a 1990s talk show. In 2008, she co hosted the first season of Love, Marriage and Stinkin' Thinkin alongside Mark Gungor. Stafford continued to guest star in many shows, such as ER, Frasier, Babylon 5, Baywatch and The Mentalist. Stafford is the author of many Christian books, such as: Beauty by the Book: Seeing Yourself as God Sees You, The Wonder of His Love: A Journey into the Heart of God, and her 2006 book, Mothers & Daughters Taking Your Adult Relationship to a Deeper Level. was a two term Mayor of Wilton Manors, Florida and a five term member of the Florida House of Representatives.

Year Title Role Notes1982Q Eyewitness1987U. S. Marshals: Waco & RhinehartJoyceTelevision film1993Moment of Truth: A Child Too ManySharon DavisTelevision film1995Deadly Invasion: The Killer Bee NightmareKaren IngramTelevision film2002DestinyCounselor2004The ProverbLady in ParkShort film2007Annie Steele2011Christmas with a Capital CKristen Reed2012Race to the FinishJulie2012Christmas OrangesMrs. Hartley2013ForeclosedTerri BoydShort film2013Superheroes Don't Need CapesJenny2013Season of MiraclesNurse Barbara2013Assumed KillerDr. Weston2013Christmas for a DollarMrs. Rathbone2014Heaven Help UsKat BanksShort film2016Heritage FallsLaura Fitzpatrick2016I'm Not AshamedMrs. Talbot2017Heaven BoundJosie2017A Mermaid's TaleThaleia2019Faith, Hope & LoveMary Sue2020First LadyKathryn Morales 2023 Far Haven Alma Watkins

Year Title Role Notes1982Adrienne / Felicia Hunt1 episode1983Lone StarAmanda TalbotTelevision pilot1983–1986St. ElsewhereJoan HalloranSeries regular, 30 episodes 1984Who's the Boss?Trish BaldwinEpisode: "Sorority Sister"1985RiptideLt. Peggy BurkeEpisode: "Prisoner of War"1985HunterNell ArmstrongEpisode: "The Avenging Angel"1985Magnum, P. I. Amy GriswaldEpisode: "The Treasure of Kalaniopu'u"1985Scarecrow and Mrs. KingColleen DonnellyEpisode: "Flight to Freedom"1985Remington SteeleJennifer DavenportEpisode: "Stronger Than Steele"1986You Are the JuryDiane BlakeEpisode: "The State of Arizona vs. Dr. Evan Blake"1986D. C. CopsMolly St. ClairTelevision pilot1986–1987SidekicksPatricia BlakeSeries regular, 23 episodes 1986MatlockCaryn Nelson / Caroline NathanEpisode: "The Seduction"1987–1992MatlockMichelle ThomasSeries regular, 109 episodes 1990Quantum LeapPeg MyersEpisode: "Miss Deep South June 7, 1958"1993Saved by the Bell: The College YearsJudith TrudellEpisode: "The Poker Game"1996FrasierClaire BarnesEpisode: "Moon Dance"1996Babylon 5Dr. Mary KirkishEpisode: "Messages from Earth"1997BaywatchCassie RoseEpisode: "Rendezvous"2003Judging AmyJudge BellEpisodes: "Motion Sickness", "The Wrong Man"2008Rosemary TennantEpisode: "Seeing Red"2017–2018ScandalBNC Anchor4 episodes