Nancy Bartlett (Sandra Bernhard), "Roseanne" (1992)
Sandra Bernhard made her "Roseanne" debut in Season 4 of the working-class family sitcom. Her character, Nancy Bartlett, hit the screen as Arnie Thomas's fiancée. After their marriage ended,
she came out of the closet in the episode "Ladies' Choice."
With that, Nancy became the first series-regular lesbian character in TV history. The co-owner of the Lanford Lunch Box was known for being a ...
more Nancy Bartlett (Sandra Bernhard), "Roseanne" (1992)
Sandra Bernhard made her "Roseanne" debut in Season 4 of the working-class family sitcom. Her character, Nancy Bartlett, hit the screen as Arnie Thomas's fiancée. After their marriage ended,
she came out of the closet in the episode "Ladies' Choice."
With that, Nancy became the first series-regular lesbian character in TV history. The co-owner of the Lanford Lunch Box was known for being a loyal friend to Jackie and unabashedly promiscuous. Still, Nancy wasn't the only
gay character on "Roseanne." Roseanne's boss at Rodbell's Luncheonette, Leon Carp, celebrated the third same-sex marriage on TV when he married his boyfriend, Scott. The roles were played by former "Fernwood 2Night" co-stars Martin Mull and Fred Willard. Even Roseanne's mom, Bev (Estelle Parsons), admitted that she was gay on the show.
It wasn't until 1994, though, that the biggest controversy on the topic came out. That's when Roseanne Conner
kissed Nancy's girlfriend, Sharon. ABC almost didn't run the episode, which featured Mariel Hemingway, but they must be glad they did. Roughly 30 million viewers tuned in to witness the moment.
In real life, Bernhard is openly gay. She and partner
Sara Switzer are raising a teen daughter, Cicely.
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