Who Is Michael Learned? Age, Biography and Wiki
Born on April 9, 1939, Michael Learned is an esteemed American actress, renowned for her unforgettable role as Olivia Walton on the iconic television series The Waltons. With a vibrant career spanning over six decades, she has earned accolades and admiration from fans around the globe. As of 2025, she is 85 years old, continuing to inspire newer generations with her talent and grace.
| Occupation | Soap Opera Actress |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | April 9, 1939 |
| Age | 86 Years |
| Birth Place | Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Horoscope | Aries |
| Country | U.S |
Popularity
Michael Learned's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Michael Learned possesses a timeless elegance. Although her exact height and weight may not be publicly disclosed, she is known for her slender frame and classic poise. Her body measurements are celebrated for reflecting her dedication to maintaining a healthy lifestyle throughout her storied career.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Michael Learned has seen various relationships throughout her life. She was married to actor William Sayle in 1956, but the couple divorced a year later. She also had a notable marriage to actor and director, Peter Donat, with whom she shared a family. As of 2025, she is enjoying her independence and has not publicly disclosed any current boyfriend or partner, valuing her personal space and privacy.
Her maternal grandfather also worked for the United States Foreign Service (of the U.S. State Department), and was an attaché for the United States Embassy in Rome (Italy). She has five younger sisters: Gretl, Susan, Sabra, Dorit and Philippa. She lived on a Connecticut farm for the first 10 years of her life.
Learned said that her parents never explained why she received a masculine first name, once saying of her father: "All he told me was that if I had been a boy, I would have been named Caleb, but I was a girl, so I was called Michael." When she was 11, Learned moved to Austria, where her father worked for the U.S. Department of State.
At this time, she attended Arts Educational School, Tring, (now the Tring Park School for the Performing Arts in Tring, Hertfordshire, England, (United Kingdom). During this time, she discovered the theater and acting, and decided to make acting her life's work.
Net Worth and Salary
Michael Learned's net worth is estimated to be around $8 million, a testament to her successful career in acting and numerous television and film appearances. Her salary in recent projects reflects her esteemed status in the entertainment industry, but specific figures are often kept under wraps.
Career, Business and Investments
With a rich resume that includes stage performances, television shows, and films, Michael Learned has carved out a distinguished place in Hollywood. She won three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her portrayal of Olivia Walton. Additionally, she has appeared in various other series, such as Nurse and The Bold and the Beautiful. In recent years, she has taken on roles in independent films and has made guest appearances, showcasing her versatility and commitment to the craft.
Her investments, while not publicly documented, likely include real estate and possibly arts and charities aligned with her passions, focusing on nurturing young talent in the performing arts.
In the fall of 2008, she starred in the Innovation Theatre Works' production of Driving Miss Daisy, playing the title role of retired Atlanta, Georgia school teacher Daisy Werthen, opposite Willis Burks II as Hoke and Dirk Blocker as Daisy's son Boolie. She reprised the role opposite Lance E. Nichols as Hoke at the Judson Theatre Company in March 2013.
Social Network
Michael Learned may not be the most active celebrity on social media. However, she maintains a presence on platforms like Instagram and Twitter, where she engages with fans and shares insights into her life and career. Following her accounts provides a glimpse into her artistic endeavors and personal reflections as she gracefully navigates her golden years.
Learned made her big screen debut in 1980, playing the supporting role in the drama film Touched by Love. She later appeared in Power (1986) and Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1993), and well as number of made-for-television movies.
Learned starred as Nurse Mary Benjamin in the hospital drama Nurse, which ran on the CBS-TV network for six episodes in the spring 1981 and then for the following 1981–1982 seasons. Though the series was well received critically, it was not a big ratings success and lasted only two partial seasons.
Nevertheless, Learned was nominated for two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress and won yet another Emmy for this role in 1982. She later had starring roles in the unsuccessful 1988 series drama Hothouse and the 1989 sitcom Living Dolls and reprised her Waltons role for a number of television movies and reunions in the 1990s.
In 2005, Learned played Judge Helen Turner on the ABC-TV network's daytime soap operas All My Children and One Life to Live as part of the "baby switch" storyline on both shows.
In the second season of The Secret World of Alex Mack, she guest-starred as a ghost who regretted the decisions of her long-estranged granddaughter, revealed at the end to be the show's main villain, Danielle Atron (Louan Gideon). She guest-starred in Scrubs as Mrs. Wilk in five episodes from the show's fifth season.
She played Shirley Smith on ABC's other long-running soap operaGeneral Hospital in 2010. In late 2011, Learned played Katherine Chancellor on the CBS daytime soap opera, The Young and the Restless, filling in for longtime actress Jeanne Cooper, who was on extended medical leave from the series.
Several decades later in 2022, Learned made her return to television with starring role in the Netflix limited series, Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story playing Catherine Dahmer, Jeffrey Dahmer's grandmother.
Education
Michael Learned pursued her education in drama and performing arts at several institutions, honing her skills that would eventually set her apart in the acting landscape. Her dedication to continuous learning and improvement has been a cornerstone of her long-lasting career, demonstrating her passion for the performing arts.
* Image of Robert L. Jacks, Michael Learned, Richard Thomas and Lee Rich with their Emmys for "The Waltons," Los Angeles, California, 1973. Los Angeles Times Photographic Archive (Collection 1429). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
