Advertisement

From struggling actress to national star: 20 pictures of Nancy Reagan

Former first lady Nancy Reagan died Sunday morning of congestive heart failure at her home in Bel Air. She was 94.

By Will Creighton

Former first lady Nancy Reagan died Sunday morning of congestive heart failure at her home in Bel Air. She was 94.

A struggling Hollywood actress, she met her future husband, actor Ronald Reagan, in 1949. They married three years later at the Little Brown Church in the Valley. "My life didn't really begin until I met Ronnie," she would write in her memoirs.

Advertisement

Mrs. Reagan was a constant presence as her late husband transformed from Hollywood actor to California governor, and then two-term president.

Following the attempted assassination of President Reagan just two months into his presidency, Mrs. Reagan once revealed the intense fear she felt every time he ventured into a crowd. She also publicly shared her family's personal journey as they struggled through the former president's battle with Alzheimer's.

As her stepson Michael Reagan summed up, "She is once again with the man she loved."

Advertisement

"Mrs. Reagan will be buried at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, next to her husband, Ronald Wilson Reagan, who died on June 5, 2004," her representative, Joanne Drake wrote in a statement.

A kiss on the forehead as Nancy Reagan joins her husband, former California Governor Ronald Reagan, as he campaigned for the 1976 Republican Presidential nomination.

UPI File Photo

An alien descends on the White House. Alf makes a pit stop to attend a Christmas party thrown by first lady Nancy Reagan for the children of U.S. diplomats.

File Photo by The White House/UPI

A collaborative effort between first lady Nancy Reagan and some young campers from Camp Ockanickon as they work on some arts and crafts projects.

File Photo by J.C. Anderson/UPI

Ronald and Nancy Reagan at the Little Brown Church in the Valley on their wedding day on March 4, 1952. With them, are William Holden and his wife Brenda Marshall, the best man and maid of honor.

UPI File Photo
Advertisement

"May I cut in?" President Ronald Reagan attempts to steal his wife Nancy away from famed crooner Frank Sinatra during a party at the White House.

UPI File Photo

There must be some mistletoe up there. Decked out as Santa Claus, Mr. T, gets a kiss on the forehead from first lady Nancy Reagan while helping her unveil the annual White House Christmas decorations.

File Photo by Larry Rubenstein/UPI
Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy visiting his hometown in Tampico, Ill., as he campaigned for the 1976 Republican presidential nomination.

UPI File Photo

You had one job! President Ronald Reagan roars with laughter as first lady Nancy Reagan realizes she has forgotten to introduce him after she spoke to an inaugural tribute at the Capital Centre.

File Photo by Pat Benic/UPI
Advertisement

Nancy Reagan, keeping up her tradition of rolling an orange down the aisle of the campaign plane, works on her form on the Air Force DC-9 that brought President-elect Ronald Reagan and her to Washington.

File Photo by Ron Edmonds/UPI

President Ronald Reagan gets a big hug from Nancy as they leave Bethesda Naval Hospital in September 1981.

File Photo by The White House/UPI

"I know kung fu." Nancy Reagan works on her martial arts skills with karate expert Yoshimi Inouye during a visit to an inner-city school.

File Photo by Larry Rubenstein/UPI

Nancy Reagan naps on her husband Ronnie's lap during a flight back to California, as the former governor, campaigned for the 1976 Republican Presidential nomination. Former UPI photographer Brad Zucroff says such candid images were a rarity because the Reagans' private area of the plane was typically off limits for photography. After heading up front and asking for permission to shoot some "color" at their California home, Zucroff says he was able to take two quick shots as he returned to the press area, Reagan winking at him as he left.

File Photo by Brad Zucroff/UPI
Advertisement

Queen Elizabeth and first lady Nancy Reagan bid farewell following a brief meet--up during the Queen's trip to California.

File Photo by Don Rypka/UPI

Basketball legend Larry "Gator" Rivers gives Nancy Reagan a crash course on how to spin a basketball on your finger. The first lady needed some practice.

File Photo by Vince Mannino/UPI

President Ronald Reagan digs into his birthday cake after Nancy surprised him with it at a news conference.

File Photo by Don Rypka/UPI

Can't take my eyes off of you. President Ronald Reagan gazes at Nancy as she waves to reporters from her Bethesda Naval Hospital room. Mrs. Reagan was recovering from successful breast cancer surgery.

File Photo by Cliff Owen/UPI

First Lady Nancy Reagan, with television actor Emanuel Lewis on her lap, applauds along with NBC-TV's weatherman Willard Scott dressed as Santa during her annual party for the children of the Washington diplomat corps.

File Photo by Vince Mannino/UPI
Advertisement

Nancy Reagan waves as she and some young campers enjoy a rowboat ride on the lake at Camp Ockanickon.

File Photo by J.C. Anderson/UPI

Former first lady, Nancy Reagan touches the casket of her husband, former President Ronald Reagan, in the Capitol Rotunda on Capitol Hill.

File Photo by Peter Jones/Pool/UPI

On to the next adventure.

File Photo by Peggy Bresler/UPI

Latest Headlines