Nora Walker is the matriarch of the family. She's a loving and occasionally overbearing mother to Sarah, Kitty, Tommy, Kevin, and Justin, while also serving as the grandmother to Paige and Cooper Whedon.

As viewers know, Nora is a stout liberal, though she married a republican, William Walker. Ever since, the Walkers have been politically divided. This has led to numerous, entertaining dramatic situations.

After her husband died, Nora has kept busy by writing a novel.