{{short description|American actress, singer, and songwriter, radio host and producer}} {{Distinguish|Alison Balsom}} {{BLP sources|date=June 2019}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Allison Balson | image = File:Allison Balson Photo B&W.jpg | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|11|19}} | birth_place = Los Angeles CA | occupation = Actress, singer, songwriter | years_active = 1978–present (actress)<br />2013–present (singer-songwriter) }}

'''Allison Balson''' is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Her best-known role was that of Nancy Oleson on the ''Little House on the Prairie'' series{{r|etvs|page1=611}} which she portrayed from 1981 to 1983.

== Biography == Balson portrayed the adopted Nancy Oleson on the TV drama ''Little House on the Prairie'' (1981) and ''Little House: A New Beginning'' (1982-1983). Prior she worked as a guest star in numerous syndicated television shows, such as Quincy and CHIPS, after school specials, national commercial advertising campaigns, such as Coca-Cola, M&M's, KFC, Vivitar Camera, Minute Maid Orange Juice, and portrayed Chrissy Roberts in the syndicated TV sitcom ''The Life and Times of Eddie Roberts'' (1980).<ref name="etvs">{{Cite book |last=Terrace |first=Vincent |title=Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 |date=2011 |publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers |isbn=978-0-7864-6477-7 |edition=2nd |location=Jefferson, N.C. |page=600}}</ref> She also appeared in the film ''Best Seller'' (1987).<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33302890/tampa_bay_times/ |title=(photo caption) |date=November 18, 1987 |work=Tampa Bay Times |access-date=June 27, 2019 |location=Florida, St. Petersburg |page=82 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Balson also portrayed Mary in the indie feature film Broken Blood (2013) for which she was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress award of the Golden Door International Film Festival of Jersey City.{{Citation needed |date=March 2024}}

Balson hosted and produced the syndicated radio show "Music Scene Live" a talk show format broadcast which featured musical artists in live performance of original music in front of a live audience. The show aired nationally on a weekly basis, and was recorded for more than three years, and featured over 250 musical artists of various musical genres.{{Citation needed |date=March 2024}}

Balson continues to act in television and film productions. She is also in the process of producing and recording her third solo album, and released the single called "My Friend" in conjunction with the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Little House on the Prairie tv show.{{Citation needed |date=March 2024}}

==Filmography==

===Film=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | rowspan=4|1980 || ''The Hearse'' || Alice || |- || ''The Goosehill Gang and the Mystery of Howling Woods'' || rowspan=3|Beth || rowspan=3|Direct to video |- || ''The Goosehill Gang and the Gold Rush Treasure Map'' |- || ''The Goosehill Gang and the Mystery of the Treehouse Ghost'' |- | 1981 || ''Looker'' || Daughter || |- | rowspan=2|1987 || ''Legend of the White Horse'' || Jewel || |- || ''Best Seller'' || Holly Meechum || |- | 2013 || ''Broken Blood'' || Mary || |- |}

===Television=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | 1978 || ''A Guide for the Married Woman'' || Debby || TV movie |- | 1980 || ''The Life and Times of Eddie Roberts'' || Chrissy Roberts || Main role |- | rowspan=2|1981 || ''Quincy, M.E.'' || Megan Carmody || Episode – "Who Speaks for the Children" |- || ''CHiPs'' || Amy || Episode – "Moonlight" |- | 1982 || ''Goldie & Kids: Listen to Us'' || Herself || TV special |- | 1981–1983 || ''Little House on the Prairie'' || rowspan=4|Nancy Oleson || Main role |- | 1983 || ''Little House: Look Back to Yesterday'' || rowspan=3|TV movie |- | rowspan=2|1984 || ''Little House: The Last Farewell'' |- || ''Little House: Bless All the Dear Children'' |- | 1986 || ''ABC Afterschool Specials'' || Jed's Girlfriend || Episode – "A Desperate Exit" |- |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{IMDb name|id=0051159}} *[http://www.allisonbalson.com Official website] *Music Scene Live Homepage

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Balson, Allison}} Category:Living people Category:American child actresses Category:American women singer-songwriters Category:20th-century American actresses Category:21st-century American actresses Category:American television actresses Category:American film actresses Category:20th-century American singer-songwriters Category:20th-century American women singers Category:20th-century American singers Category:1969 births