Nancy Davis Reagan Biography

Nancy Davis Reagan

Nancy Reagan was born Anne Frances Robbins in New York City. When she was six, her mother, actress Edith Luckett, married Dr. Loyal Davis, a prominent Chicago neurosurgeon. Davis adopted Nancy, who was raised in Chicago. After majoring in theater at Smith College, Nancy became an actress, performing on Broadway and making several movies. In 1952 she married Ronald Reagan, president of the Screen Actors Guild. After several more films, including Hellcats of the Navy, opposite her husband, Nancy retired. The Reagans had two children, Patricia Ann and Ronald Prescott. A glamorous first lady, Nancy promoted the Foster Grandparent Program and anti-drug programs. She also supervised a renovation of the second and third floors of the White House. She cared for her husband, who had Alzheimer's disease, until his death in 2004, and was active with the Alzheimer's Foundation. She died of congestive heart failure at age 94.