Ms. Michael Learned

The cast of the Waltons recently celebrated their 40th anniversary of the hit series that ran for a decade, making Michael the quintessential TV Mom, as Olivia Walton, beating Shirley Partridge by 6 years, Carol Brady by 4 years and even Caroline Ingles by 1 year. As a result of the show, which she had been told wouldn't survive its first season, Michael Learned has gone on to become a four-time Emmy award-winning actress.