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A photo of Nancy Davis Reagan

Nancy Davis Reagan 1921 - 2016

Nancy Davis (Robbins) Reagan of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California United States was born on July 6, 1921 in Midtown Manhattan, New York County, NY. She was married to Ronald Wilson Reagan on March 4, 1952 in San Fernando, Los Angeles County, CA, and they were together until Ronald's death on June 5, 2004 at Bel Air in Los Angeles. She had children Patricia Ann Davis and Ronald Prescott Reagan. Nancy Reagan died at age 94 years old on March 6, 2016 at Bel Air in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA, and was buried on March 11, 2016 at Ronald Reagan Presidential Library 40 Presidential Dr, in Simi Valley, Ventura County.
Nancy Davis (Robbins) Reagan
Anne Frances Robbins
Bel Air in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California United States
July 6, 1921
Midtown Manhattan, New York County, New York, United States
March 6, 2016
Bel Air in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States
Female
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Nancy Davis (Robbins) Reagan's History: 1921 - 2016

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  • Introduction

    Nancy Davis Reagan was an American actress and the wife of the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan. She was born on July 6, 1921, in New York City and grew up in Maryland. Reagan began her career as an actress in the 1940s and appeared in a number of films and television shows throughout the following decades. She married Ronald Reagan in 1952, and the two remained devoted to each other until his death in 2004. During her time as First Lady of the United States, Reagan was known for her advocacy work on behalf of Alzheimer's disease research and drug prevention. Her grace, style, and unwavering support for her husband made her one of the most beloved First Ladies in American history.
  • 07/6
    1921

    Birthday

    July 6, 1921
    Birthdate
    Midtown Manhattan, New York County, New York United States
    Birthplace
  • Ethnicity & Family History

    Nancy Reagan, born Anne Frances Robbins, was of English, Scottish, and Irish descent. Her mother, Edith Luckett Robbins, was an actress, and her father, Kenneth Robbins, was a car salesman. Nancy Reagan's family history was marked by tragedy and instability. Her parents divorced when she was young, and her mother remarried several times. Nancy struggled with feelings of abandonment and insecurity throughout her childhood. In 1929, when Nancy was eight years old, her mother married Loyal Davis, a prominent neurosurgeon. Davis adopted Nancy, and she took his last name. Davis became a father figure to Nancy, and she remained close to him throughout her life. Despite the difficulties she faced in her family life, Nancy was able to develop a strong sense of resilience and determination. She attended the private girls' school, Smith College, where she majored in drama and began to pursue a career in acting.
  • Nationality & Locations

    She was born in New York City and spent the early years of her childhood there before her family moved to Maryland. During her college years, Nancy lived in Massachusetts while attending Smith College. After marrying Ronald Reagan in 1952, Nancy moved to California, where her husband pursued his acting career. They lived in a number of different homes throughout the state, including a house in Pacific Palisades and a ranch in Santa Barbara. When Ronald Reagan became Governor of California in 1967, the couple moved into the Governor's Mansion in Sacramento. They continued to live in California after Ronald Reagan's tenure as Governor ended in 1975, and they purchased a home in the Bel-Air neighborhood of Los Angeles. After Ronald Reagan's presidency ended in 1989, the couple moved to a new home in Bel-Air, which they called the "Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum." The library was opened to the public in 1991 and has since become a popular tourist attraction. See The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.
  • Early Life & Education

    Nancy attended a number of schools during her childhood, as her family moved frequently due to her father's job as a car salesman. She attended private schools in New York City and Bethesda, Maryland, before attending Smith College in Massachusetts. At Smith College, Nancy studied drama and participated in several theater productions. She graduated in 1943 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Drama.
  • Military Service

    As First Lady, Nancy was a strong supporter of the military and worked tirelessly to improve the lives of military families. One of her most notable initiatives was the creation of the "Just Say No" campaign, which aimed to combat drug use and addiction among young people, including those in military families. Nancy was also actively involved in the efforts to support military personnel and their families during her husband's presidency. She worked closely with the Department of Defense to improve the quality of life for military families, particularly those dealing with the challenges of deployment and separation. Additionally, Nancy Reagan was known for her support of veterans and her advocacy for programs that provided assistance to those who had served in the military. She often visited military hospitals and spoke out about the importance of supporting and caring for those who had served their country.
  • Professional Career

    Nancy Reagan had a successful career as an actress before becoming First Lady of the United States. After college, Nancy worked briefly as a sales clerk and then as an actress in New York City, where she changed her name to Nancy Davis to avoid confusion with another actress with a similar name. She appeared in several stage productions and landed small roles in a few films. She appeared in more than a dozen films, including "The Next Voice You Hear..." (1950), "Donovan's Brain" (1953), and "Hellcats of the Navy" (1957), which co-starred her future husband, Ronald Reagan. After marrying Ronald Reagan in 1952, Nancy put her acting career on hold to focus on her family and her husband's political aspirations. However, she continued to appear in television shows and made occasional film appearances over the years. As First Lady, Nancy Reagan was known for her active role in supporting her husband's presidency and for her work as an advocate for various causes. She focused on issues such as drug abuse prevention, foster care, and Alzheimer's disease awareness. She founded the Nancy Reagan Foundation to support drug prevention programs and to provide assistance to families affected by drug abuse. She also played a key role in promoting the construction of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, California. Later in life, Nancy Reagan became an advocate for drug abuse prevention, and she was especially involved in the "Just Say No" campaign of the 1980s. She worked with educators and policymakers to promote drug education programs in schools and to raise awareness about the dangers of drug use. She also founded the Nancy Reagan Foundation to support drug prevention programs and to provide assistance to families affected by drug abuse. After her husband's death in 2004, Nancy continued to work on behalf of the causes she had championed as First Lady. She established the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and worked to raise awareness and funding for Alzheimer's disease research, following her husband's battle with the disease in his later years.
  • Personal Life & Family

    Nancy Reagan was married to Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, for more than 50 years until his death in 2004. The couple met in 1951 while they were both actors in Hollywood, and they were married the following year. As First Lady, Nancy Reagan was known for being fiercely protective of her husband and for her devotion to their relationship. She was often criticized by political opponents for her strong influence over the president and for her lavish tastes, but she remained steadfast in her support of her husband and his political goals. After leaving the White House, Nancy continued to live in California and remained active in public life. She was known for her elegant style and her love of gardening, and she was an avid supporter of the arts. She also continued to be a vocal advocate for Alzheimer's disease research, following her husband's diagnosis with the disease. Nancy Reagan passed away in 2016 at the age of 94. She was remembered for her dedication to her husband, her unwavering commitment to public service, and her efforts to raise awareness about Alzheimer's disease.
  • 03/6
    2016

    Death

    March 6, 2016
    Death date
    Congestive heart failure
    Cause of death
    Bel Air in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California United States
    Death location
  • 03/11
    2016

    Gravesite & Burial

    March 11, 2016
    Funeral date
    Ronald Reagan Presidential Library 40 Presidential Dr, in Simi Valley, Ventura County, California 93065, United States
    Burial location
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2 Memories, Stories & Photos about Nancy

Emilio Savorgnan & President Reagan
Emilio Savorgnan & President Reagan
Great uncle & aunt with President Reagan: Great uncle (ambassador) with aunt , Nancy and Ronald Reagan in a reception to the Italian embassy 1987.Picture taken in the blue room of the White House.
People in photo include: Ronald Reagan and Emilio Savorgnan
Date & Place: at The White House in Washington, DC 20500, Estados Unidos
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Mrs. Ronald Reagan
Mrs. Ronald Reagan
A photo of Nancy (Davis) Reagan, wife of President Ronald Reagan.
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Nancy Robbins' Family Tree & Friends

Nancy Robbins' Family Tree

Parent
Parent
Partner
Child
Sibling
Marriage

Ronald Wilson Reagan

&

Nancy Davis Reagan

March 4, 1952
Marriage date
San Fernando, Los Angeles County, CA United States
Marriage location
Ronald's Death
Cause of Separation
June 5, 2004
Ronald's death date
Bel Air Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA United States
Separation location
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Friendships

Nancy's Friends

Friends of Nancy Friends can be as close as family. Add Nancy's family friends, and her friends from childhood through adulthood.
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5 Followers & Sources
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Other Biographies

Other Nancy Robbins Biographies

Other Robbins Family Biographies

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