Nancy Olson, born Nancy Ann Olson on July 14, 1928, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is an American retired actress known for her work in film, television, and theater. She grew up in a family with a strong emphasis on education, with her father, Henry John Olson, being a physician, and her mother, Evelyn Bertha Olson, of Swedish descent. 

Her passion for acting began at a young age, and she performed in school plays and community theaters. She attended the University of Wisconsin and later transferred to UCLA, where she studied theater arts.

Her acting career began in the late 1940s when she signed a contract with Paramount Pictures. Her breakthrough role came in 1950 when she starred as Betty Schaefer in Billy Wilder's film "Sunset Boulevard," which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Her pairing with William Holden was considered a success, and she appeared with him in three other films: "Union Station" (1950), "Force of Arms" (1951), and "Submarine Command" (1951). Olson's success in "Sunset Boulevard" led to her being cast in several other films, including "Big Jim McLain" (1952), "So Big" (1953), and "Battle Cry" (1955).

In addition to her film work, she made several appearances in television shows and Broadway productions. She starred in Disney films such as "Pollyanna" (1960), "The Absent-Minded Professor" (1961), and "Son of Flubber" (1963), which were popular with movie-goers. 

She also appeared in the disaster film "Airport 1975" (1974) and made guest appearances on television shows such as "The Big Valley," "The Love Boat," and "Murder, She Wrote."

Her personal life was marked by her marriages to lyricist Alan Jay Lerner and businessman Alan W. Livingston. She married Lerner in 1950, and they had two daughters before divorcing in 1957. In 1962, she married Livingston, with whom she had a son. 

The couple remained together until Livingston's death in 2009. Nancy Olson spent her later years between her homes in New York City and Los Angeles, California. She continued to work in television and low-budget films, including a cameo appearance in the 1997 remake of "Flubber."

Throughout her career, she received several awards and nominations. She won a Special Career Award at the Fantasporto Film Festival in 2001 for her role in "Penny Dreadful" and was nominated for a Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actress for her performance in "Friday the 13th" (1980).