<P> When she was 11, Learned moved to Austria, where her father worked for the U.S. State Department . At this time, she attended Arts Educational School, Tring, now Tring Park School for the Performing Arts in Tring, Hertfordshire, England . During this time, she discovered the theater and decided to make acting her life's work . </P> <P> She was billed as "Miss Michael Learned" on The Waltons (which ran from 1972--1981) because she was relatively unknown at the time, and producers wished to avoid confusion among viewers about her gender . By the sixth season, as the show continued its success and after the departure of co-star Richard Thomas, producers' fear of confusion about her sex had been alleviated and the "Miss" was removed from Learned's billing . She was nominated for six Emmy Awards and won three for her role of Olivia Walton . After the end of the sixth season, she agreed to appear for one more season, on the condition that she wouldn't have to work the full nine months . </P> <P> Her character's abrupt disappearance was explained by Olivia developing tuberculosis and entering a sanatorium in Arizona . She made occasional guest appearances until the show's cancellation and later appeared in four of the six Waltons reunion movies made during the 1980s and 1990s . For her portrayal of Olivia Walton, Learned was nominated for four Golden Globe Awards . During her run as Olivia Walton, Learned and The Waltons co-star, Will Geer, appeared together in the 1974 made - for - TV movie, Hurricane . </P> <P> Learned starred as Nurse Mary Benjamin in the hospital drama Nurse, which ran on CBS during the 1980--81 and 1981--82 seasons . Though the series was well received critically, it was not a ratings success and lasted only two seasons . Nevertheless, Learned was nominated for two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress and won yet another Emmy for this role in 1982 . She later had a starring roles in the unsuccessful 1988 drama Hothouse, and 1989 sitcom Living Dolls and reprised her Waltons role for a number of TV movies and reunions in the 1990s . </P>

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