Patrika Darbo

Patrika Darbo is an American actress. She made her big screen debut appearing in the 1988 romantic comedy film It Takes Two and later appeared in The 'Burbs, Daddy's Dyin': Who's Got the Will? (1990), Spaced Invaders (1990), Leaving Normal (1992), In the Line of Fire (1993) and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997). Darbo played Roseanne Barr in the 1994 biographical television film Roseanne & Tom: Behind the Scenes.

Darbo is known for her roles as Nancy Wesley and Shirley Spectra in the television soap operas Days of Our Lives and The Bold and the Beautiful, respectively. In 2016, Darbo won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for her role in the online comedy series Acting Dead, becoming the first winner in that category.

Early life and education Darbo was born in Jacksonville, Florida, the daughter of Patricia, a restaurant hostess, and "Chubby," a nightclub manager. At age six her parents divorced; her mother then married Donald Davidson when Darbo was 11. She grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. She studied theater at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia, graduating in 1970, and later attended the Atlanta School of Drama.

Career

Darbo began her career with guest-starring roles in the television shows including The Optimist, Bay City Blues, Riptide, Diff'rent Strokes, Growing Pains, St. Elsewhere, Punky Brewster and Mama's Family. She made her big screen debut, appearing in the comedy film The Night Before and the romantic comedy It Takes Two. The following year, Darbo appeared in the comedy films Troop Beverly Hills and The 'Burbs. In 1990, she appeared in a five feature films and guest-starred on Roseanne as a Roseanne lookalike/Dan's crush. By 1991, Darbo was contracted to the ABC network. Later that year she appeared in the horror-comedy The Vagrant directed by Chris Walas. In 1993, she played Pam Magnus, a banking employee killed by John Malkovich's character in the Clint Eastwood action thriller film In the Line of Fire. In 1994, she had a supporting role in the comedy-drama film Corrina, Corrina. On television, Darbo guest-starred on Seinfeld (Darbo was a guest star in two episodes; "The Revenge" (1991) and "The Sniffing Accountant" (1993)), Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and Married... with Children. In 1994, Darbo starred as Roseanne Barr in an NBC biographical television film, Roseanne and Tom: Behind the Scenes. After her first leading role, Darbo returned to playing supporting parts on both film and television. In 1997, she appeared in the action film Speed 2: Cruise Control and the mystery thriller film Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil working again with Clint Eastwood. In 1998, she starred as Miss Spencer in the biographical television film Ruby Bridges.

In 1998, Darbo was cast as Nancy Wesley on the NBC daytime soap opera, Days of Our Lives. In May 1998. The serial's casting director, Fran Bascom told Carol Bidwell of Los Angeles Daily News that their producer, Tom Langan wanted "a real woman, not one of these super-skinny actresses" to join the cast. Bascom said that she immediately thought of accredited actress Darbo. Langan approved Darbo's hiring and decided that she did not need to audition for the role. In 1999, Darbo received Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Female Newcomer. In 2000, she received Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.

Darbo appeared in the horror films Madhouse (2004) and Hatchet (2006). She played Mrs. Claus in the Christmas adventure film The Search for Santa Paws (2010). Later, in 2010, she also guest starred in Showtime's Dexter. In 2009 and 2012, Darbo guest-starred on Desperate Housewives. Between 2010 and 2012, she portrayed the recurring role of Dr Freed in the teen drama web series Miss Behave. She also guest-starred on The Middle, Devious Maids, The Big Bang Theory and 9-1-1: Lone Star. In 2012, Darbo played Grams in the adventure-comedy film, Mickey Matson and the Copperhead Conspiracy.

In 2016, Darbo won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for her work in the series Acting Dead. She is the first winner of this category. From February 2017 to March 2018, Darbo starred as Shirley Spectra, the sister of Sally Spectra (Darlene Conley) on the CBS soap opera, The Bold and the Beautiful. She briefly returned in November 2018.

In 2017, Darbo appeared in the comedy-drama film, The Hero. In 2018, Darbo played Rosie in the Christian drama film God Bless The Broken Road. In 2023, she appeared in the Christmas comedy film Ladies of the '80s: A Divas Christmas. In 2024, Patrika Darbo has announced that she would be returning to Days Of Our Lives to reprise her role of Nancy Miller.

Personal life Darbo married director Rolf Peter Darbo in 1973.

Filmography Film

Television YearTitleRoleNotes1983The OptimistThe MotherEpisode: "Kid's Stuff"1983Bay City BluesCheryl SandersEpisode: "Zircons Are Forever" 1984 Riptide Mildred Stubowitz Episode: “Pilot” 1985 Diff'rent Strokes Mother Episode: “Arnold Saves the Squirrel” 1987-1990 Growing Pains Various Characters 5 episodes 1988 St. Elsewhere Kathy Goderegius Episode: “Final Cut” 1988 Punky Brewster Nancy Episode: “Wimped Out” 1989 Mama's Family Florence Episode: “Reading The Riot Act” 1990 Roseanne Marge Dolman Episode: "Dream Lover" 1991 Seinfeld Glenda Episode: "The Revenge" 1991–1992 Step by Step Penny Baker 22 episodes 1993 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Helene Morris Episode: "I'm Looking Through You" 1993 Married... with Children Ethel Episode: "Take My Wife, Please" 1994 Roseanne and Tom: Behind the Scenes Roseanne Arnold Television film 1998 Ruby Bridges Miss Spencer Television movie 1998–20052013, 2016–20172022–2024 Days of Our Lives Nancy Wesley 458 episodes 2002 Gilmore Girls Waitress 1 episode 2005 Rodney Irene Episode: "Charity Ball" 2009, 2012 Desperate Housewives Jean Episodes: "Mama Spent the Money When She Had None" and "Finishing the Hat" 2010–2012 Miss Behave Dr Freed 5 episodes 2011 The Middle Ms. Jacobs Episode: "Back to Summer" 2015 The Big Bang Theory Grace Episode: "The Perspiration Implementation" 2016 Lab Rats: Elite Force Mrs. Ramsey Episode: "Power Play" 2017–2018 The Bold and the Beautiful Shirley Spectra 74 episodes 2019–2020 Days of our Lives' Last Blast Reunion Nancy Wesley 3 episodesTelevision miniseries 2020 9-1-1: Lone Star Ellen Episode: "Yee-Haw" 2021 The Young and the Restless Shirley Spectra 5 episodes (April 6, 2021; May 14, 2021; May 26, 2021; May 31, 2021; June 4, 2021) 2023Ladies of the '80s: A Divas Christmas JulieTelevision film

Awards and nominations Year Award Work Result Ref 1999 Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Female NewcomerDays of Our Lives 2000 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series 2016 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama SeriesActing Dead 2020 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Digital Drama SeriesStudio City