Bernie Nolan
The powerful lead voice of The Nolans whose vibrant stage presence and public bravery made her a beloved figure in British and Irish entertainment.
1960–2013 (age 53)·Irish actress and singer·Birthday: October 17·Baby Boomers
Biography
Bernie Nolan was the beating heart of The Nolans, the family singing group that stormed the charts with 'I'm In the Mood for Dancing.' As the lead vocalist, her strong, clear voice and cheeky, confident stage persona defined their infectious pop sound. The group's success was a family affair, but Bernie's charisma often placed her at the forefront. When the hits slowed, she seamlessly reinvented herself as a versatile actress, landing a long-running role on the UK soap 'Brookside' and later shining in musical theatre. Her most profound impact, however, came off-stage. After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010, she documented her treatment with unflinching honesty and optimism, becoming a powerful advocate and source of strength for thousands. Her death in 2013 felt like a personal loss to a public that had admired not just her talent, but her remarkable courage.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Bernie was born in 1960, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bernie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1960
#1 Movie
Swiss Family Robinson
Best Picture
The Apartment
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Bernie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1960Born
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1965Started school
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1973Became a teenager
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1976Could drive
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1978Could vote
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1981Turned 21
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1990Turned 30
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 40
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 50
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Died at 53
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
Key Achievements
- As lead singer of The Nolans, achieved international success with hits like 'I'm In the Mood for Dancing,' which sold over a million copies in the UK.
- Played the role of Diane Murray in the Channel 4 soap opera 'Brookside' for several years in the 1990s.
- Had a successful stage career, including starring as Mrs. Johnstone in the UK tour of the musical 'Blood Brothers.'
- Became a prominent campaigner and source of support for breast cancer awareness after her own public diagnosis.
Did You Know?
She was the fifth of six sisters in the Nolan family singing group.
Before her music career took off, she worked as a nursery nurse.
She published an autobiography, 'Now and Forever,' which detailed her cancer battle.
Her sister Coleen Nolan is a well-known television presenter and panelist in the UK.
““Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.””
