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Who is Tracey Gold?
American actress Tracey Gold was born in New York City, USA, on 16 May 1969, making Taurus her zodiac sign. She has 77 acting credits but is perhaps still known best for starring as Carol Seaver in all 167 episodes of the popular family comedy series “Growing Pains”, which also starred Joanna Kerns and Alan Thicke, and was created by Neal Marlens. It follows the misadventures of a dysfunctional family, the series aired from 1985 through 1992, and won 17 of its 40 award nominations.
Tracey hasn’t appeared in any movies or TV series since 2016, but hasn’t officially retired from acting.
Education and early life
Tracey was raised alongside her four sisters in New York City, by their mother Bonnie Gold and father Harry Gold, who eventually divorced, and Bonnie married her second husband Joe Fisher.
Tracey was only four when she appeared in a Pepsi print ad, and was seven when she made her debut TV series appearance, playing Rosemary Armagh in a 1976 episode of the drama mini-series “Captains and the Kings”.
She then continued acting throughout her education, and was into several activities while attending a local high school in Los Angeles, California having moved there because of acting; she took dance lessons, sang, and ran track.
Upon matriculating in 1987, she focused on acting, and didn’t enroll at college.
Roles in TV series
Tracey appeared in an episode or two of a couple of series in the second half of the ‘70s, such as the biographical historical mini-series “Roots”, the horror mystery mini-series “The Dark Secret of Harvest Home”, and the crime mystery “Quincy M. E.”
In 1983 and 1984, she starred as Susan Barnes in all 18 episodes of the comedy “Goodnight, Beantown”, which also starred Mariette Hartley and Bill Bixby, and was created by AJ Carothers. It follows two Boston news anchors who’ve fallen in love, and the series won two of its three award nominations. The remainder of the decade saw Tracey appear in an episode or two of the drama “Trapper John, M. D.”, the family comedy “Benson”, and the adventure comedy “ABC Afterschool Specials”.
Tracey appeared in only a couple of TV series in the ‘90s, with some of the most popular amongst these having been the family drama “Chicken Soup for the Soul”, the historical fantasy “Twice in a Lifetime”, and the adventure comedy “The Wonderful World of Disney”.
In 2003, she played Penny Barton in the episode “Misbegotten” of the popular fantasy mystery “The Dead Zone”, which starred Nicole de Boer and Anthony Michael Hall, and was created by Michael Piller. It follows Johnny who’s awoken after having been in a coma for six years; the series aired from 2002 through 2007 and won three of its 19 award nominations. Tracey appeared in only one other TV series in the 2000s, playing a supporting character in the 2009 episode “Stealing Alan Thicke” of the comedy “Star-ving”.
She’s since had only two TV series roles, portraying Polly in the 2013 episode “Something Happened” of the romantic comedy “Melissa & Joey”, and Laura Nugent in the 2014 episode “Shot Through the Heart” of the crime comedy “Heartbreakers”.
Roles in movies
Tracey’s debut film role was playing Donna Blanenship in the 1978 horror “Night Cries”, and some of her following roles were in the 1978 biographical sports drama “Little Mo”, the 1979 adventure “The Incredible Journey of Doctor Meg Laurel”, and the 1979 drama “Jennifer: A Woman’s Story”.
In 1982, she played Marianne Dunlap in the drama “Shoot the Moon”, which starred Diane Keaton and Albert Finney, and was directed by Alan Parker. It follows a woman who’s been abandoned by her husband because he’s fallen for a younger woman, while she now has to raise their four children all by herself; the film was nominated for seven awards. Some of Tracey’s other notable performances in the ‘80s were in the 1983 drama “Who Will Love My Children?”, the 1988 comedy “Dance ‘Til Dawn”, and the 1990 fantasy comedy “The Willies”.
What marked the ‘90s for her was perhaps starring as Nancy Walsh in the 1994 drama “For the Love of Nancy”, which also starred Jill Clayburgh and was directed by Paul Schneider. It follows a married couple as they’re trying to help their anorexic daughter. Tracey could then have been seen appearing in the 1995 thriller “Sleep, Baby, Sleep”, the 1996 thriller “The Perfect Daughter”, and the 1998 crime thriller “Dirty Little Secret”.
She had only a couple of film roles in the 2000s, with the most popular amongst these having perhaps been the 2007 crime action thriller “Final Approach”, which starred Dean Cain and Anthony Michael Hall, and was directed by Armand Mastroianni; it follows a former FBI negotiator as he’s trying to save the people on a jumbo jet which has been taken over by terrorists.
Some of Tracey’s most recent movie roles have been in the 2014 family sports drama “My Dad’s a Soccer Mom”, and in 2016 the crime thriller “I Know Where Lizzie Is” and the family drama “All Hallow’s Eve”.
Other credits
Tracey produced the 2002 thriller movie “She’s No Angel”.
Some of her recent talk-show appearances have been in “One on One with Kirk Cameron”, “Entertainment Tonight” and “Today”.
Awards and nominations
Tracey’s won one of her six award nominations: a 1984 Young Artist Award for Best Young Actress in a New Television Series, for her performance in “Goodnight, Beantown”.
Some of her other nominations include a 1986 Young Artist Award for Best Young Actress Starring in a New Television Series, a 1989 Kids’ Choice Award for Favorite TV Actress, and a 2008 TV Land Award for Character You’d Pay to Do Your Homework for You, all for “Growing Pains”.
Love life and marriage
Tracey was introduced to her future husband Roby Marshall by their mutual friend Joanna Kerns, an American actress and director; Roby’s a production assistant, and is perhaps known best for having co-produced the 1992 fantasy horror comedy movie “Death Becomes Her”.
Tracey and Roby married in a small ceremony on 8 October 1994, and they have four sons together – Sage Gold Marshall born on 16 February 1997, second son Bailey Vincent followed on 4 March 1999, third son Aiden Michael on 9 May 2004, and number four son Dylan Christopher on 1 April 2008.
There are no other men whom Tracey’s been with, that we know about; she’s married to Roby Marshall as of July 2023, and they have four sons together.
Interesting facts and hobbies
Tracey began thinking about dieting at the age of seven, and was only 11 when she was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. She was able to overcome the eating disorder, and maintained a normal weight as a teenager, but began struggling with anorexia again aged 22; Tracey was fired from a number of projects because of her ‘skeletal appearance’, and was only able to recover in 1994, aged 25.
Tracey wrote about her struggles with anorexia in her 2003 book “Room to Grow: An Appetite for Life”.
Her first on-screen kiss was with Kevin Wixted, and her second with famous American actor Brad Pitt.
One of Tracey’s best friends was the late American actor and screenwriter Alan Thicke, who passed away aged 69 on 13 December 2016.
Jim Carrey’s one of Tracey’s favorite actors, and some of her favorite movies include “Yes Man”, “The Cable Guy” and “Man on the Moon”.
Car crash and trial
Tracey was driving drunk in 2004, and rolled her SUV down a freeway embankment; her husband and their two sons suffered minor injuries, but their other son Sage was left with a head laceration and a broken clavicle.
Tracey was arrested on DUI charges, and spent five hours behind bars prior to being released on $50,000 bail; after pleading guilty in court, Tracey was sentenced to 240 hours of community service, and was put on three-years probation.
Height, eyes and wealth
Tracey’s age is 54. Her eyes and hair are brown, she’s 5ft 3ins (1.62m) tall and weighs around 120lbs (55kgs).
Tracey’s net worth’s been estimated at over $2.5 million, as of July 2023.
