Who Is Martie Allen, Kristy McNichol’s Partner and Are They Married?

Martie Allen (born 1963) is a teacher, former television personality and partner of retired actress Kristy McNichol. The couple has been together for nearly 30 years now but are not married.

Ever since she retired from acting in 2001, Kristy McNichol has firmly stayed out of the spotlight in order to focus on herself. The two-time Emmy winner has turned down all overtures to lure her back to the spotlight but she did make an exception in 2012 and what a momentous exception it was as McNichol used that opportunity to come out of the closet. She also introduced the world to her long-term partner, Martie Allen.

Just like her famous girlfriend, Allen is also said to have had a brush with showbiz, albeit not to the same extent that McNichol did. She would later come into the latter’s life as it was spiraling out of control and helped her get over several troubles. The two have been going steady since then and have built a wonderful life for themselves away from the spotlight.

Martie Allen Is A Former Television Personality

Thousands of people dream of making it big in Hollywood but only a few succeed at the end of the day. One of those who fall into the former category is Martie Allen. A native of the United States of America, Allen was born in the year 1960.

There is not much information about her family background or what her early childhood looked like. Her place of birth is also not known but one thing that is for sure is that after completing school, she headed out to Hollywood to see if she could make it as an actress. In tinsel town, Martie Allen was able to land a few TV jobs but that was that. She was never able to become as successful as her partner, Kristy McNichol.

Born on the 11th of September 1962 in Los Angeles, Kristy McNichol began appearing in commercials as a child. By the time she reached the age of 10, she was already guest-starring in several TV shows, and aged 13, she landed a career-defining role on the drama series, Family.

The show ran for four years during which Kristy McNichol portrayed an all-American tomboy named Buddy. Her performance made her a teen star. She also received several accolades, including the 1977 and 1979 Emmy awards for best-supporting actress in a dramatic series. Kristy McNichol was therefore a bonafide star even before she clocked the age of 16 and many expected her to go on and dominate. It was not to be though as the pressure of coping with stardom at an early age caught up with her.

By the age of 20, she experienced a major emotional breakdown which saw her halt work for a whole year. She later got help but the whole thing dealt a blow to her reputation and she found it hard getting work when she resumed. To stay afloat, McNichol did a series of jobs such as real estate assessor and hairdresser. She later made a successful comeback on the TV sitcom, Empty Nest, in 1988.

Kristy McNichol would say goodbye to Hollywood on her own terms in 2001. She has remained out of the spotlight but maintains a decent net worth of $7 million. This makes her about 12 times richer than her partner, Martie Allen, who is said to be worth $500K.

Allen and Kristy McNichol Commenced Their Relationship in 1992

One of the factors that motivated Kristy McNichol to retire was the need to live outside the spotlight. That remains her guiding principle to date and as such, neither she nor Martie Allen has been forthcoming with specific details about their romance or how they met. It is however known that they began dating in the year 1992.

That particular year was a bag of mixed fortunes for McNichol. Her career comeback was going well on Empty Nest but she was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder. This forced her to drop out of filming on Empty Nest and she must have found herself contemplating her future.

Luckily, Martie was there to help her through it all and their bond grew stronger with each passing day. They began dating and subsequently moved in together. Martie was by McNichol’s side when she returned to the set of Empty Nest to film her final episode. She also supported the actress through the next several years as she fought to rejig her career.

Those efforts only resulted in minor roles and voice-over work which must have been crushing for McNichol. Allen helped her get through this as well and by 2001, the actress formally announced her retirement from the industry.

Martie Allen and Kristy McNichol Only Went Public With Their Relationship in 2012

Despite the important spot they occupied in each other’s lives, Martie Allen and Kristy McNichol never disclosed their romance to the rest of the world. They kept it under the wraps for 20 years before McNichol finally released a statement to People Magazine in 2012, proudly declaring that she was gay.

The actress also named Martie as her partner of 20 years and stated that she wanted to be open about who she was. This was done in a bid to support kids who were being bullied for being of a different sexual orientation. This announcement predictably grabbed the headlines and also offered an insight into why Martie Allen and Kristy McNichol hid their relationship for so long.

The battle for equality among the LGBTQ people has been a long one and has not been entirely won. Even though people are becoming increasingly open-minded, many still discriminate against gay people which gives us an insight into how intolerant the environment must have been back in the 90s. It is this prejudiced environment that probably motivated Martie Allen and Kristy McNichol to keep their relationship low-key for so long. Even if the duo had enough resources to protect themselves from harm, the revelation would have attracted an unwanted level of spotlight which further motivated them to stay mom.

Whichever it is, every gay person has the right to come out when it is most comfortable for them and Allen and McNichol did exactly this in 2012. It is nearly a decade since they made things public and their relationship continues to flourish out of the spotlight.

The couple has been together for nearly 30 years now but has never been married, even though gay marriages have been legalized all throughout the U.S. They also do not have any children together. You can however trust that they are living their best lives. Allen and McNichol spend their time on activities such as tennis, yoga, and traveling. The couple is also said to have several mini Dachshunds that they lavish their love on.

Quick Facts About Martie Allen

1. Who is Martie Allen? Martie Allen is the partner of two-time Primetime Emmy Award winner Kristy McNichol. She is also a former television personality and actress.
2. When and where was Martie Allen born? Martie Allen was born on January 1, 1960, in the United States. The exact location of her birth is not publicly known.
3. What is known about Martie Allen’s education? There is currently no public information available about Martie Allen’s educational background.
4. What can you tell me about Martie Allen’s professional career? Martie Allen’s career is largely unknown. She had a brief stint as a television personality and dabbled in film and television. Her partner, Kristy McNichol, had a successful career as an actress and won two Emmy Awards for her role in the television series “Family.”
5. Who is Martie Allen’s partner? Martie Allen is in a long-term relationship with Kristy McNichol, a famous actress known for her role in the TV series “Family” and the film “Little Darlings.”
6. What are Martie Allen’s hobbies and interests? Martie Allen enjoys traveling, photography, painting, social events, and watching movies and games. She also maintains regular fitness by going to the gym.
7. What is Martie Allen’s net worth? Martie Allen has earned around $1 million to $5 million throughout her professional career.
8. Is Martie Allen active on social media? Martie Allen is active on various social media platforms where she shares photos and videos with her fans.
9. Does Martie Allen have any children? There is no evidence or public information suggesting that Martie Allen and Kristy McNichol have any biological or adoptive children.
10. How tall is Martie Allen and what is her body measurement? Martie Allen is 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs around 70 Kg. Her body measurements are 34-29-38 inches.
11. What is Martie Allen’s current residence? Martie Allen currently resides in Los Angeles, California, United States of America.
12. Is Martie Allen still together with Kristy McNichol? Yes, Martie Allen and Kristy McNichol have been together since the early 1990s and are still in a relationship.