Missy Gold

Child actress Missy Gold grew up with fellow actor siblings--sister Tracey played middle child Carol Anne on the hit 1980s sitcom "Growing Pains," and sister Brandy had a recurring role on the ensemble hospital drama "St. Elsewhere." In 1976, Gold started acting in small television roles on the historical mini-series "Captain and the Kings" and the Patrick McGoohan medical drama "Rafferty," then moved on to episodes of the escapist series "Fantasy Island" and the 1979 mini-series "How the West Was Won." Gold's big break came when she was nine years old and was cast on the ABC sitcom "Benson," a spin-off of the spoof comedy "Soap." Gold played the governor's daughter, Katie Gatling. The series lasted seven seasons, and Gold officially quit acting when it ended in 1986. She went to Georgetown University and eventually earned a Ph.D. from the California School of Professional Psychology, and became a practicing psychologist.