Who else is heartbroken that Last Man Standing is ending soon?
Obviously we'll miss Tim Allen as Mike Baxter, but we can't forget about the amazing Nancy Travis as his loyal and loving wife, Vanessa Baxter. Since the very first episode of Last Man Standing, the Baxter family matriarch has proved herself to be a perfect foil for her husband's politically incorrect humor and antics. Plus, she's a devoted mother to the couple's three daughters, Kristin, Mandy, and Eve. Did we mention she's also an accomplished geologist? Is there anything Vanessa can't do?
While you soak up every last moment of Last Man Standing before the final episode airs sometime in May, get to know the actress who plays Mike Baxter's wife by reading these fun facts about Nancy Travis.
Nancy has been married for more than 25 years.
Since 1994, Nancy has been married to Robert N. Fried, a film producer and studio executive who has produced movies such as Rudy and Hoosiers. That's more than 25 years of wedded bliss, which is definitely hard to come by as far as Hollywood marriages go.
In the early years of her acting career, Nancy recalls that her "game plan, basically, was to systematically be Meryl Streep.”
“What I didn’t include in my original game plan were the compromises that I would make along the way to basically have everything, if that makes any sense," she said in an interview with The Columbus Dispatch. "I knew I wanted to have a family. I knew I wanted to have a marriage and hopefully have it be the only marriage.”
While Nancy admits she may not be Meryl Streep (there can only be one, after all), she's definitely achieved her goal of having a happy marriage and family!
She’s a mom of two kids.
Nancy and Robert have two children together, sons Benjamin (born in 1998) and Jeremy (born in 2001).
When it comes to family life, Nancy is a lot like her character on Last Man Standing.
“I’m basically a traditionalist,” Nancy told The Columbus Dispatch. “I like to cook dinner; I like to be with my kids." So sweet!
Nancy’s been in a lot of other popular movies and shows.
Nancy is one of those timeless actresses who's been in many movies and shows. For starters, the 1987 hit comedy Three Men and Baby is one of her most popular films and also where she got her big break in Hollywood. In the movie, Nancy played Sylvia Bennington, Ted Danson's former flame and the mother of the titular baby. (Side note: Imagine kicking off your career alongside not only a young Ted Danson but a young Tom Selleck, too. We're not swooning, you're swooning!)
Anyways, you may also recognize Nancy from her roles in the sequel Three Men and a Little Lady, So I Married an Axe Murderer, and Air America. She's also starred in the CBS sitcoms Almost Perfect and Becker (with Ted Danson again!), as well as the Netflix comedy series The Kominsky Method.
Speaking of, Nancy might not be coming back to Netflix's "The Kominsky Method"
Unfortunately it sounds like Nancy won't be returning to The Kominsky Method for the final season. Per TVLine, Nancy was reportedly "unable to reprise her role as divorcée/acting student Lisa, due to scheduling conflicts with Last Man Standing's own farewell run." On the show, which follows Michael Douglas as revered Hollywood acting coach Sandy Kominsky, Nancy played a recent divorcée who took lessons from Sandy and went on to become his love interest. Nancy was great on this show, too, but we're glad she's sticking with Last Man Standing 'til the end.
No, Nancy Travis isn't related to Randy Travis.
Since Nancy and country singer-songwriter Randy Travis share the same last name, fans have often wondered if the two stars are married or related. But we did some digging and it turns out there's no connection—other than the fact that they're both super talented!
There you have it, folks. That's everything you need to know about Nancy Travis. So, are you going to miss her as Vanessa Baxter? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Tierney McAfee is a freelance writer and Country Living and The Pioneer Woman contributor who covers entertainment, holiday & entertaining, food & drinks, design ideas, DIY, and more.
