Latest news with #MaryEllenWalton
The Sun
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Seventies TV star who shocked by posing naked for Playboy is unrecognizable as she's spotted in LA – can you guess who?
AN American TV icon who went from wholesome TV sister in the 70s to a sexy siren posing for Playboy in the 80s has been spotted on a day out in Los Angeles. The actress, 67, was seen embracing the heat in a summer dress during an errands run by her home, and still has effortless chic as she strolled in a pair of shades. 5 5 Judy Norton shot to fame as Mary Ellen Walton in The Waltons from 1972 to 1981, becoming the sister figure for millions who tuned in every week to watch her. The Waltons followed the titular family – an expansive Virginia clan including Jason (Jon Walmsley), Erin (Mary Beth McDonough), Ben (Eric Scott), Elizabeth (Kami Cotler), Jim-Bob (David W. Harper), John Sr. (Ralph White), Olivia (Michael Learned) and Esther (Ellen Corby) – as they navigate the Great Depression era and World War II. As Mary Ellen, Judy appeared in all 212 episodes of the show's nine-season run, playing the oldest daughter of John and Olivia. Starting off as a tomboy figure in her younger years, Mary Ellen dreamed of a life away from the Walton Mountain before later pursuing a career as a nurse. But after the show ended, Judy was keen to shake off the image she had made during her nine years on screen, and in 1985 stripped off for Playboy Magazine. However, it was a decision she would later admit regretting, telling Fox News: 'I was getting a lot of advice from people who were representing me at the time. 'They felt it would be a good, positive career move. I wouldn't say that was the case and it's one of those things that if I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have made the choice.' "I learned a lot of lessons from it, in terms of trusting my own instincts and decisions more than other people's, even though it seemed like they knew more than me,' she added. 'Ultimately, I'm the one that had to live with a difficult decision to make at the time. It is what it is. You can only go forward.' Since appearing in The Waltons, Judy has continued her career as an actress, appearing in episodes of TV series including Bluff, Beggars and Chooser, Stargate SG-1 and Disorganized Zone. Legendary Emmy-winning actress looks unrecognisable as she speaks about life-saving role She also reprised her role of Mary Ellen in a string of TV Movie Specials throughout the 90s, including A Walton Wedding, A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion and Mother's Day on Walton's Mountain. In 2020, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Judy brought some entertainment to fans by joining forces with a group of former child stars for Zoom-based sitcom, The Quarantine Bunch. Based around a 'support group for former child stars' each episode would see former child stars, including Growing Pains' Jeremy Miller, Danny Pintauro from Who's The Boss and Due South's Dean McDermott, log in to the 'meeting' in order to navigate life together. While she hasn't been seen on screen since 2022 short movie Space Limbo, she's now lining up a new project – writing and starring in drama Shoot Like A Girl, which is currently in pre-production. 5
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Actress from wholesome 70s series who shocked with Playboy shoot is seen on rare outing... who is she?
An actress who starred in a classic television series from the 70s was seen on a rare outing in Los Angeles. The star portrayed a beloved role in the award-winning CBS show which aired for nine seasons - and was followed by six TV movies. She began her career in the late 1960s, and also took on minor roles over the years in shows such as The Love Boat. The actress also stepped into the music industry and released her album titled Reflections a decade earlier in 2015. In the 80s, the star also posed nude in a spread for Playboy magazine. Can you guess who it is? It is Judy Norton, 67 - who is known for playing Mary Ellen Walton in the hit series The Waltons, which aired from 1972-1981. The actress stepped out in L.A. over the past weekend and showed off her summer style wearing a sleeveless, floral-patterned dress. Norton accessorized her outfit for the daytime excursion by adding a necklace with a large pendant on the front as well as a pair of black shades. The star was born in January 1958 in Santa Monica and kicked off her acting career by taking an uncredited role in the 1967 movie Hotel. A few years later, she played eldest daughter Mary Ellen Walton in the TV movie The Homecoming: A Christmas Story. Upon garnering positive ratings, the film spawned the now classic series The Waltons - which garnered a number of accolades including an Emmy award for Outstanding Drama Series in 1973. The show had also starred Richard Thomas, Ralph Waite, Michael Learned, Ellen Corby, Will Geer, Jon Walmsley, Mary Elizabeth McDonough, Eric Scott, David W. Harper and Kami Cotler. She additionally slipped into a pair of open-toed, wedge heels and carried a mini tan bag and cream-colored cardigan in her hand The premise of the show followed the Walton family during the Great Depression in the 1930s as well as World War II in the 1940s. The first season of the series took time to gather an audience, which Norton reflected on during a past interview with Fox News in 2018. 'It took the whole season to find our audience and get them onboard,' the actress said. 'People then loved it and stayed loyal for nine years. In today's world, a show might get maybe 3-6 episodes to test it.' Judy added, 'And it's even harder now because there's so much competition today. A show could be gone before you even knew it existed. 'So we were in a very fortunate time in television where we were given that opportunity to stick around long enough for an audience to find us.' In regards to playing Mary Ellen throughout the span of 211 episodes, Norton stated that she 'relates to aspects of my character.' However, she had felt that at times her life had been 'on display' while talking about growing on with the show. 'At times it was difficult as an actor because as I was going through those angst-ridden years, they were also being reflected in the story that was being told… 'So at times I felt, "Oh goodness, my life is on display and this is really making me feel self-conscious." All those things made it a wonderful show, but sometimes it was uncomfortable to go portray that.' When the series came to an end in 1981, three TV movies premiered throughout 1982 - such as A Wedding On Walton's Mountain and A Day For Thanks On Walton's Mountain. Three additional TV movies aired in the 90s, including A Walton Wedding and A Walton Easter. Norton took on other minor roles in shows such as The Love Boat and Stargate SG-1. In 1985, the actress posed nude for a spread in Playboy magazine to shed her good-girl image, which she later came to regret. 'I was getting a lot of advice from people who were representing me at the time,' Judy said. 'They felt it would be a good, positive career move. I wouldn't say that was the case and it's one of those things that if I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have made the choice.' She continued to appear in both TV and movie projects over the years - with her last credit being a 2022 short film titled Space Limbo, per her IMDB page. Aside from appearing on the screen, Norton has also followed her passion for performing on the stage - which she began doing as a young child. The star has taken on roles in productions such as Hello Dolly, The Sound Of Music and Annie Get Your Gun. And in 2015, she dropped her album Reflections - which 'features a collection of standards and Broadway songs,' per her official website.
