Anecdotes

Appeared in multiple commercials as a spokesperson for Bounty Paper Towels as the lovable Rosie the Waitress in the 1970s and 1980s.

Despite her enormous success as a comedienne, Walker was highly insecure and underwent years of therapy.

When auditioning for "Best Foot Forward" on Broadway, George Abbott thought she was the actress Helen Walker auditioning and signed her up for a bit part. After she got the part, her talent was revealed and the part was rewritten into a starring role for her. She decided to keep the name "Walker."

Met husband and vocal coach David Craig when she lost her voice during the run of the Broadway musical "Look Ma, I'm Dancing" in 1948. The two had a daughter and remained married until Walker's death in 1992.

Nancy Walker's daughter, Miranda Craig, said the actress had a recurrence of a lung cancer in both of her lungs in 1990, which was first diagnosed and removed in 1982.

Can't Stop the Music (1980) was the only feature film directed by her. Many press releases stated that Walker was the first woman to direct a multi-million dollar musical, and had been signed to a three-picture contract, which was rescinded when the film bombed.

Her first major Broadway role was as the Blind Date in "Best Foot Forward" (1941). She made her film debut repeating her stage role in the film version (Best Foot Forward (1943)).

Was twice nominated for Broadway's Best Actress (Musical) Tony Award for Actress in a Musical in 1956, for "Phoenix '55," and in 1961, for "Do Re Mi".

She was a lifelong Democrat.

She is the only person to direct a film and be a TV spokesperson for paper towels.

A close friend of Montgomery Clift's, although she admitted after his death that he could be annoying at times.

Upon Walker's death, she was cremated and her ashes scattered in the Pacific Ocean.

Her daughter, Miranda Craig, died in 2000 at the age of 47.