’50s Hollywood Icon Adored by Thousands, Later Left the Spotlight & Lost Her Husband After 47 Years – What Happened to Her?

The veteran star once described being in “every play” and “every musical” as “heaven.” After two marriages — one ending in divorce and the other in loss — she wrote a memoir about her Hollywood life to share with her children.

The actress found fame in the ’50s after being discovered, even though she never aimed to become a movie star. She once admitted she was amazed by how she secured her breakout role in “Sunset Boulevard.”

Though her career took off faster than she ever expected, her life at the time was far from the glitz of Hollywood. At just 20 years old, the future star was a theater arts major at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and a freshly signed ingénue at Paramount when she landed the role of Betty Schaefer in “Sunset Boulevard,” Billy Wilder’s 1950 classic.

Originally from Wisconsin, where her father worked as a doctor, she had transferred to UCLA after her first year at the University of Wisconsin. While pursuing her dreams, she lived with her uncle, a dean at the university, and her aunt in the peaceful neighborhood of Pacific Palisades.

Her days at the institution were filled not just with studies but also with performances that would shape her future. She once shared:

“I was in every play, every musical, it was heaven.”

One evening, while performing in Ferenc Molnar’s “The Play’s the Thing,” a talent scout spotted her in the audience. Impressed by her presence, the scout arranged a screen test that soon led to a contract with Paramount.

That one performance opened doors she never could have imagined. Before the star was cast, Wilder did something unusual. As she made her way through the streets of Paramount toward the commissary, where she often watched people come and go, he would catch up with her and ask questions about her studies and life at UCLA.

“It wasn’t until years later I thought, ‘How did I get into that movie?'” admitted the public figure. She believed that playing Betty — a young woman with dreams of becoming a writer — felt natural to Wilder because of her own background, making her a believable fit for the part.

Although she earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, the celebrity remained a hesitant figure in the spotlight. “Sunset Boulevard” not only introduced her to audiences but also made her one of Paramount’s brightest young talents.

Yet, behind the glamor, the “Canadian Pacific” star felt trapped. “I felt my life was absolutely closed in,” she admitted. Endless hours spent with makeup artists and hairdressers, followed by long stretches of waiting on set, left her longing for the simple freedoms her friends still enjoyed. The actress once confessed:

“I don’t want to be a movie star.”

Craving a different kind of life, she soon found new beginnings away from the film sets. In 1950, she married Alan Jay Lerner and became the third of his eight wives. He was a celebrated lyricist behind musicals like “My Fair Lady,” “Gigi,” and “Brigadoon,” written alongside his partner Frederick Loewe.

Together, they welcomed two daughters, Liza and Jennifer Lerner, with Jennifer later pursuing a career as a theatrical producer. Their marriage lasted seven years before ending in divorce in November 1957.

After the marriage ended, a new chapter unfolded as she settled into life in New York. Single for more than five years, she once described that period as “difficult.” While raising her two young daughters, she still enjoyed a “lavish” lifestyle and remained well provided for.

To stay active, the doting parent performed in three Broadway productions and took on a film role. Yet, beneath the surface, she confessed:

“I was lonely and I was desperate.”

Amid the loneliness the Hollywood star faced, an unexpected connection soon changed everything. A friend introduced her to Alan Livingston, the influential president of Capitol Records, a composer, and the creative mind behind “Bozo the Clown.” He also played key roles in the success of the Beatles and the television show “Bonanza.”

She later described him as a “terrific man,” praising his brilliance, talent, and success, and credited him with turning her life around. They married in November 1962 and, two years later, welcomed a son, Christopher Livingston, who would go on to become a movie director.

Their life together was filled with love and achievement, but it eventually came to a quiet end. In March 2009, Alan passed away at their home in Beverly Hills at the age of 91. His wife, actress Nancy Olson Livingston, later shared that he died after suffering a series of mini-strokes.

The couple had been married for 47 years and she credited him with not only changing her personal life but also leaving a lasting mark on popular culture in another interview.

Alan had a remarkable career, working with music legends like Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, and The Beach Boys. Joining Capitol Records in 1946 when it was still a small company, he helped transform it into one of the industry’s leading labels by 1962.

His vision even led to the creation of the famous circular tower on Vine Street, now a symbol of Hollywood’s golden age. Music history took another turn thanks to his instincts.

One evening, he came home excited after hearing a new song by a band from England. After playing “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” Olson remembered telling him it was “the worst thing” she had ever heard.

Thankfully, he trusted his own judgment. Alan signed the Beatles to Capitol Records, and the song became an instant sensation. While his career soared, Olson found her own balance between family life and occasional work in entertainment.

She kept a connection to acting, appearing on Broadway in “Mary, Mary” and taking roles on television. Her passion for performing never fully disappeared. Although Olson’s last major film before stepping away was 1955’s “Battle Cry,” motherhood soon became her main focus.

That changed when Walt Disney personally reached out while she was in Mallorca visiting her children. At first, she found the call hard to believe, but Disney’s warmth and enthusiasm convinced her.

Without even asking about salary, she agreed to join “Pollyanna,” describing the Disney lot as a place where “everybody knew each other’s names” and where the atmosphere felt like a small town.

The success of “Pollyanna” led to another opportunity. Director David Swift invited her to star alongside Fred MacMurray in “The Absent-Minded Professor,” which Olson later called “perhaps the funniest, wittiest film that you will ever see.” Although MacMurray was much older, their shared Wisconsin roots created an easy bond. Looking back, Olson said in an interview:

“It’s been quite the life.”

Still, the mother of three treasured her life as a wife, mother, and active member of the Los Angeles Music Center’s Blue Ribbon program, where she later served as president.

Although the retired actress had no strong desire to return fully to acting, she made a brief appearance on HBO’s “Big Love” in 2010 and had her final screen role in the 2014 comedy film “Dumbbells.” Even with such rich memories, Olson felt there was more she needed to share. In November 2022, she published her memoir, “A Front Row Seat: An Intimate Look at Broadway, Hollywood, and the Age of Glamour.”

“The Absent-Minded Professor” star explained in an interview that writing the book was her way of preserving her story for her children:

“It was important for me to tell my children about my background, my childhood, their fathers, our lives together and my experience in making motion pictures at a time when being a movie star was entirely different than it is today.”

Although she often paused the project for years at a time, she remained determined to finish it, hoping her children would better understand her journey and what life might hold for them.

Sharing her personal story also gave Olson a chance to reflect on how much Hollywood had changed. She explained that during the Golden Age, the heart of filmmaking was “the revelation of the truth,” and true art came from helping audiences see and understand that truth.

In her view, the industry once built stars as larger-than-life figures — more beautiful, desirable, and magnetic than reality could offer. Olson pointed to Marilyn Monroe as the perfect example, noting that as Monroe aged, Hollywood slowly moved on, leaving behind the fantasy it once created.

Even today, Olson continues to leave a lasting impression. At 96 years old, she stuns admirers with her timeless beauty. Many took to social media to share their admiration, writing remarks like “Love Nancy, great to see her looking beautiful still,” “What a remarkable woman, she looks amazing!” and “She looks incredible.”

Nancy Olson’s journey from a young ingénue at Paramount to a celebrated figure in Hollywood and Broadway reveals a life filled with remarkable achievements, personal growth, and heartfelt devotion to family.

Her story is not only a glimpse into a bygone era of glamor but also a testament to authenticity and perseverance. Through triumphs and hardships, she maintained a spirit that continues to inspire generations. She remains a symbol of grace, talent, and enduring charm.