Jimmy McNichol

1961–1966: Early life

James Vincent McNichol III was born July 2, 1961^[3] in Los Angeles,^[4] to James and Carolyn McNichol.^[2] He is of Lebanese and Irish descent.^[5] He is the oldest of three siblings, with a sister Kristy (b. 1962)^[6] and brother Tommy (b. 1965).^[7] He grew up with a single mother after his father, a carpenter, abandoned the family shortly after Tommy's birth.^[7] Their mother worked as a RN to support her family.^[7] Tommy grew up separately from Jimmy and Kristy, with their grandparents in Burbank.^[7]

1967–1991: Acting and music career

He began his career at age 7, acting in a Band-Aid commercial. He appeared in about 80 commercials from 1967 to 1973, including spots for Kool-Aid and Crest.^[7] He landed minor roles on shows such as Little House on the Prairie (1974)^[8] and S.W.A.T. (1975).^[9]

His first film appearance was an uncredited role in Sunshine (1973) at the age of 12.^[10] His first regular starring role was as younger brother Jack on the network series The Fitzpatricks. Michele Tobin played his sister, Mo, on the show, and they later worked together on California Fever. McNichol sang the show's theme song and in 1978 recorded an album with his sister, Kristy and Jimmy McNichol, produced by Phil & Mitch Margo.^[11] The album spawned one hit single, a cover of The Chiffons' "He's So Fine",^[11] which charted at #70 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1978.^[12] The siblings also appeared as co-hosts of the fall 1978 ABC All-Star Saturday Preview Special, a youth-oriented sketch comedy show featuring musical guests such as the Bee Gees and Donny Osmond.^[13] McNichol and his sister, however, ceased performing together after Kristy had a manic breakdown while the two were in France; she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.^[14] Afterward, he stepped away from the music industry, later commenting: "I know the outcome—it's a real big high one year, and the next year, nobody knows who you are. All that singing and touring and the guys behind you doing drugs. Eventually it's gonna get to you."^[15]

When California Fever ended, Jimmy McNichol won the role as host of a weekly talk show, Hollywood Teen, as well as the Jimmy McNichol Special, which first aired in April 1980.^[16][17] He starred in the television film Champions: A Love Story (1979), a teen drama about an ex-hockey player and figure skater who fall in love.^[18] He subsequently appeared in several other successful made-for-TV movies, including the thriller Blinded by the Light (1980), in which he starred opposite his sister Kristy as a gay teenager who escapes a religious cult.^[19] He also made several low-budget feature films, including Smokey Bites the Dust (1981)^[15] and the horror film Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker (1982), co-starring with Susan Tyrrell and Bill Paxton.^[20]

In 1984, McNichol accepted the role of Josh Clayton on General Hospital. He performed in a band throughout the 1980s under the name "Jimmy James". His last major acting role was as Jill Ireland's son Valentine McCallum in the 1991 television film Reason for Living, co-starring Jill Clayburgh.^[21] After completing Reason for Living, at 30, McNichol decided to retire from acting.^[22]

1992–present: Post-acting career

McNichol and Renée married in 1997.^[2] Their son, Nash, was born in late 1997, and daughter, Ellis, in late 1998.^[2][22] Jimmy McNichol is an avid environmentalist and in 1998 had a web site called ECOTV.^[23] Since leaving acting, he began a career in residential construction and home renovation.^[2] He also collaborated with Playground Television and Pet Power Kids on Animal Rescue The Rockies (ARTR),^[1] a TV series documenting animal rescues.

In 2006, McNichol and his family moved from Santa Barbara, California, to Durango, Colorado, where as of 2016, he still lives.^[24] In 2010, he discovered he had a third child: daughter Kellee Maize, a rap artist, songwriter, and entrepreneur from Pittsburgh^[25] who had adoptive parents in Pennsylvania.^[22] McNichol's and Kellee's story was featured in 2014 by Oprah Winfrey on her show.^[26]

Film

Television