Martie Allen – Facts about Kristy McNichol's Longtime Partner

Kristy McNichol's partner, Martie Allen, may not be affiliated with Hollywood like her beau once was, but she pursued her own passion in the entertainment industry. She and McNichol went public with their romance in the early 2010s, decades after its onset.

Kristy McNichol was a Hollywood star in the 1970s and 80s, best known for her beloved character Buddy Lawrence in the show "Family." She also appeared as Barbara Weston in "Empty Nest," but later left the acting world behind to focus on more important things.

She maintained her privacy afterward, leading a quiet life with her beau, Martie Allen. Their relationship began in the 1990s. Martie led a different and multi-faceted career from Kristy, dabbling in entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and entertainment.

She's passionate about youth empowerment and safety and has teamed up with an organization to ensure secure futures for children without parents or families. She's also a likely descendant of a late but well-respected Public Accountant.

Martie Studied Clinical Psychology

When Martie and Kristy announced they were a couple, it was revealed Martie was the same age as her lover (49 years). There's little known about her background, but an online obituary published by The Clarion-Ledger listed her as one of William L. Norton's grandchildren.

It referred to her as Martie Miles, the same name she uses for her Facebook account. Among the late William's children is Nancy Norton Allen, who once commented under an FB post shared by Martie in 2016. Nancy also contributed to a fundraiser Martie promoted on her page the following year.

She's married to a gentleman named Clyde Allen, M.D., who was also listed as a family member in the obituary. Under one of Nancy's 2020 posts, a commenter mentioned Dr. Allen as she sent well wishes to Nancy's family amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Russell Allen, also one of William's grandchildren, is among the likes on Martie's FB page. And though Martie has yet to confirm her connection to these people, there's a considerable likelihood that they are, indeed, her family.

It's unknown where she graduated high school, but Martie attained her degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University. Among her skills, which have been endorsed on LinkedIn, she listed Psychotherapy, teaching, and team leadership.

Martie Looks Out for Traumatized Kids

In 2003, Martie began her private practice, offering individuals and couples counseling. In 2008, while working as a counselor, she took a job at Casa Pacifica as a Clinical Supervisor, leading therapeutic behavioral specialists in community mental health settings.

Martie then became the institution's Program Manager in 2010 before moving to work on Special Projects from June 2012 to May 2013. While at Casa Pacifica, she started working with the Ryokan College Faculty in 2009 and remained there until 2019.

In July 2013, she became a Director at Aspiranet, a social service organization in Ventura County. It was founded in 1975 in San Francisco. Aspiranet also offered Foster Family Services, for which she promoted the fundraiser mentioned above.

Martie even appeared for an interview as the Aspiranet Director with Consortium Media Services during their Foster Care Month. Apart from helping or leading others, Martie develops her experience as a voice actor and audiobook narrator.

Martie and Kristy McNichol Hid Their Relationship from the Public for 20 Years

The couple announced their relationship in 2012, revealing they'd been together for 20 years. This was after Kristy left the Hollywood spotlight to focus on her health. She later opened up about her exit from the industry in 2015.

Kristy, who appeared as Barbara Weston alongside the late Betty White in "Golden Girls," explained her reasons for coming out, saying as she neared 50 years of age, she wanted to live openly in her true identity.

Still, she and Martie guard their privacy. Kristy has no official social media accounts, and Martie has a private Instagram and a rarely active FB page. At the time of this writing, it's also unknown if they've remained a couple or had any children.