Claim to Fame: She is best known for portraying the Governor's
daughter, Katie, on the TV sitcom Benson (1979–1986).
Family Life: Her older sister is actress Tracey Gold (Carol on Growing
Pains). Birth parents are Joe and Bonnie Fisher. In 1973, her mother got
remarried to Harry Goldstein, and both Missy and Tracey were legally adopted by
their stepfather and became known as Tracey and Melissa Goldstein. The sisters,
along with their two younger siblings, Brandy and Jessie,
shortened their family name to Gold for professional use. The youngest sister
Cassie is the only non-acting member of the siblings.
Info:
Missy was already a veteran of miniseries and commercials when she joined the
cast of Benson at the age of nine. She earned fame for her role as the
governor's precocious daughter Katie Gatling, and won the award for best young
actress in a comedy series in 1984. Missy also had regular roles on Eight is
Enough, Fantasy Island, Nancy Drew, and Trapper John, M.D.
Trivia:
Is left-handed.
Has a tattoo on her left ankle.
sister-in-law of Roby Marshall.
Auditioned for roles in various soap operas, but never accepted any because she
didn't want to be committed to five-year contracts.
Was very close to Inga Swenson, who played the housekeeper on Benson.
Her Benson colleagues felt she was too smart to be in acting.
Where
is She Now: Missy left show business after her role on Benson to pursue an
education. She used her earnings from the show to pay for a B.A. at Georgetown
University and a Ph.D. from the California School of Professional Psychology.
She worked with LAPD crisis negotiators as well as patients with eating
disorders. Although her older sister Tracey endured a well-publicized battle
with anorexia, Gold credits fans with inspiring her career choice.
Now known as Dr. Melissa Gold, she resides in Maine where she is a practicing
psychologist.
Write
to Missy Gold Missy Gold
3500 W. Olive Ave. #1400
Burbank, CA 91505
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CREDITS: "Benson" .... Katherine 'Katie' Olivia Gatling (157 episodes,
1979-1986)
The Blinkins (1986) (TV) (voice) .... Blink
"Trapper John, M.D." .... Rachael McCall (1 episode, 1984)
- Moonlighting Becomes You (1984) TV episode .... Rachael
McCall
Twirl (1981) (TV) .... Traci Jordan
Blind Tom: The Story of Thomas Bethune (1981)
"How the West Was Won" .... Stacy Willow (1 episode, 1979)
- The Forgotten (1979) TV episode .... Stacy Willow
"Eight Is Enough" .... Missy Appleton (1 episode, 1979)
- Best of Friends (1979) TV episode .... Missy Appleton
Ishi: The Last of His Tribe (1978) (TV) .... Little Girl
"Sword of Justice" .... Nancy (1 episode, 1978)
- Aloha, Julie Lang (1978) TV episode .... Nancy
Little Mo (1978) (TV) .... Brenda Brinker
The Kid from Not-So-Big (1978) .... Bobbi
"The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries" .... Grace (1 episode,
1977)
- Will the Real Santa...? (1977) TV episode .... Grace
"Rafferty" .... Judy Cardler (1 episode, 1977)
- The Epidemic (1977) TV episode .... Judy Cardler
"Captains and the Kings" (1976) TV mini-series .... Mary
Armagh as a Child
Self:
"The New Hollywood Squares" .... Guest Appearance (1 episode,
1987)
- Episode dated 9 February 1987 (1987) TV episode ....
Guest Appearance
"Family Feud" .... Herself (1 episode, 1984)
- Super Teens (1984) TV episode .... Herself
Circus of the Stars #8 (1983) (TV) .... Herself (performer)
Circus of the Stars #7 (1982) (TV) .... Herself (performer)