Nancy Walters

File:Nancy Walters Strike It Rich 1957.jpg

Nancy Walters (born Nancy Driver{{cite news |last1=Wadsworth |first1=Charlie |title=Hush Puppies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22236234/the_orlando_sentinel/ |work=The Orlando Sentinel |date=June 13, 1961 |location=Florida, Orlando |page=18|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = July 26, 2018}} {{Open access}} on June 26, 1933 – September 29, 2009) was an American model, actress and minister.

Early years

Walters was born in Mount Plymouth, Florida, and brought up near Mount Plymouth and Zellwood, Florida.{{cite news |title=In Movies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22233752/nancy_walters/ |work=The Orlando Sentinel |date=January 31, 1958 |location=Florida, Orlando |page=3|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = July 26, 2018}} {{Open access}} A bone infection that was incurred when she was four years old prevented her from standing until her teenage years.{{cite news |title=Nancy Walters |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22234761/nancy_walters/ |work=Williamsport Sun-Gazette |date=September 22, 1959 |location=Pennsylvania, Williamsport |page=9|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = July 26, 2018}} {{Open access}} When she was seven years old, she spent eight months in a hospital for treatment of the infection.{{cite news |last1=Rand |first1=Sumner |title=Nancy Walters Gets Her Big Chance |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22235354/the_orlando_sentinel/ |work=The Orlando Sentinel |date=June 5, 1960 |location=Florida, Orlando |page=46|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = July 26, 2018}} {{Open access}} After she finished high school, she went to secretarial school and took a business law class, both of which were in line with her plans to be a lawyer's secretary.{{cite news |title=Star Once A Cripple |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22235746/nancy_walters/ |work=Quad-City Times |date=October 30, 1960 |location=Iowa, Davenport |page=64|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = July 26, 2018}} {{Open access}}

Career

Her career in modeling included appearances in the magazines Glamour, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and Mademoiselle.{{cite web|title=Elvis' Women;Nancy Walters|url=http://elviswomen.greggers.net/waltersnancy.htm|accessdate=November 9, 2012}}

In 1955 Walters left modeling and began working on the NBC game show The Big Payoff.{{cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=Earl |title=It Happened Last Night |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22233055/courierpost/ |work=Courier-Post |date=November 12, 1955 |location=New Jersey, Camden |page=5|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = July 26, 2018}} {{Open access}} In 1958 she was also on the CBS show Strike It Rich.{{cite web|title=Nancy Walters: The Private Life|url=http://www.glamourgirlsofthesilverscreen.com/show/550/Nancy+Walters/index.html|accessdate=November 9, 2012}}

Walters was in productions at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre.{{cite news |title=Nancy Walters Gets Contract at MGM |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22234571/the_los_angeles_times/ |work=The Los Angeles Times |date=June 3, 1959 |location=California, Los Angeles |page=41|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = July 26, 2018}} {{Open access}} On Broadway, she performed as a singer in Ankles Aweigh (1955).{{cite web |title=Nancy Walters |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/nancy-walters-103800 |website=Internet Broadway Database |publisher=The Broadway League |accessdate=27 July 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727001554/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/nancy-walters-103800 |archivedate=27 July 2018}} A 1957 newspaper article described her as a protege of Bernie Wayne.{{cite news |title=Career Looms |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22233553/pittsburgh_postgazette/ |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=March 9, 1957 |location=Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh |page=23|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = July 26, 2018}} {{Open access}}

In 1960 Walters signed a film contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, with her first film for that studio being Bells Are Ringing (1960).{{cite news |title=Contract for Model |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22234981/nancy_walters/ |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=May 11, 1960 |location=Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh |page=13|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = July 26, 2018}} {{Open access}} She was in movies including Blue Hawaii, The Singing Nun and Monster on the Campus. Over the years she was a guest star on several television shows, including 77 Sunset Strip, Gunsmoke, The Monkees, and Get Smart. Her film and television career ended after 1967.{{cn|date=June 2025}}

After her husband was killed in Vietnam, Walters joined an evangelical group.{{cite news |last1=Campbell |first1=Ramsey |title=Acting Bug Bites Again |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2003/02/16/acting-bug-bites-again/ |access-date=27 July 2018 |work=The Orlando Sentinel |date=February 16, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727022554/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-02-16/news/0302160022_1_elvis-presley-nancy-walters-blue-hawaii |archive-date=27 July 2018 |url-status=live |location=Florida, Orlando}} She became an ordained minister and was living in Las Vegas, [

Nevada when she died at the age of 76.{{cite web|title=Elvis' Women:Nancy Walters|url=http://elviswomen.greggers.net/waltersnancy.htm|accessdate=November 9, 2012}}

Personal life

On March 10, 1962, Walters married Lt. Paul Warren Payne, a jet pilot in the U.S. Navy, in Las Vegas, Nevada.{{cite news |title=Nancy Walters Weds Jet Pilot In Las Vegas |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22236553/nancy_walters/ |work=Orlando Evening Star |date=April 2, 1962 |location=Florida, Orlando |page=3|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = July 26, 2018}} {{Open access}}

Recognition

Walters was one of 13 actresses selected as Deb Stars of 1958.{{cite news |title=Future Stars |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22234390/idaho_state_journal/ |work=Idaho State Journal |date=September 28, 1958 |location=Idaho, Pocatello |page=32|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = July 26, 2018}} {{Open access}}