Nancy Valen

Last updated
Nancy Valen
Born (1965-12-14) December 14, 1965 (age 58) [1]
Brooklyn, NY, U.S.
Other namesNancy Valin
Nancy Van Patten
Education Dillard High School of Performing Arts
Alma mater Broward Community College
Occupations
Years active1985–present
Known for
Height5' 6 1/2" (169cm)
Spouse
​
(m. 1994)​
Website nancyvalen.com

Nancy Valen (December 14, 1965) [1] is an American actress and television producer. She is best known for portraying Captain Samantha Thomas on Baywatch and Melissa in The Heavenly Kid (1984).

Contents

Early life

Nancy Valen was born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in Hallandale, Florida. By the time she was 12 years old, she was spending summers modeling in New York City and studied acting at Uta Hagen's HB Studios. After graduating from Dillard High School of Performing Arts, a magnet program in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Valen won a theatrical scholarship to the University of Florida. She ultimately declined the scholarship in favor of continuing her professional career in Miami. Meanwhile, she attended Broward Community College, where she studied theatre and paid for her tuition by modeling and acting, appearing in two episodes of Miami Vice .

After one year of college, Valen went to New York City to pursue a theatrical career. Within one month of being in New York, she landed a series regular role on the daytime drama Ryan's Hope . Valen stayed with Ryan's Hope for two years before moving to Los Angeles to pursue other interests.

Career

Acting

Valen made her film debut in Porky's Revenge (1985), followed by a role in The Heavenly Kid with Richard Mulligan and Jane Kaczmarek. In 1989, Valen co-starred alongside Patrick Dempsey in the film, Loverboy . She also had a small role opposite Kirk Cameron in the film Listen to Me . Her other film appearances include Seven Sundays alongside Molly Ringwald; directed by Academy Award-winning director, Jean-Charles Tacchella.

In addition to films, Valen has also appeared in various television series. In 1990, she guest starred in an episode [2] of Saved by the Bell as the brand new school nurse at Bayside High, Jennifer. Before Valen [3] [4] was cast [5] as Nurse Jennifer, [6] supermodel Kathy Ireland [7] was going to play [8] the part. Ireland was however ultimately fired [9] during rehearsals after a disappointing table read [10] and a similarly disappointing dress rehearsal. [11] "She must have dazzled us in the office, because I hired her on the spot," recalled co-creator Peter Engel. [12] Engel soon called Ireland's manager [13] to inform him that she would not be playing the part.

That same year, she co-starred in NBC's short-lived musical series Hull High under the direction of Kenny Ortega. After the series premiere, TV Guide proclaimed her "the most agreeably watchable new star on TV". Valen has also guest starred [14] on 23 series including Hardball , CSI: Crime Scene Investigation , Friends , Spin City , Boy Meets World , Full House , Charles in Charge , Miami Vice , Silk Stalkings , and Murder She Wrote .

Valen has also hosted several infomercials for the Bun and Thigh Roller, Slam Man, Thin 'n Sexy Body Wrap, Kevin Trudeau's Debt Cures "They" Don't Want You To Know About, Time Life The Heart of Classic Rock, and the Instyler. Valen has also starred in commercials for John Deere and Washington Mutual [15]

Valen has appeared as a guest on Leno, The Oprah Winfrey Show , Good Day L.A. and on the covers and pages of magazines and newspapers including American Women, FHM , Cosmopolitan , Entertainment Weekly , and The Los Angeles Times Calendar.

Producing

Valen, alongside Craig J. Nevius, formed Windmill Entertainment. Among the television programs she has produced include Living in TV Land, Chasing Farrah , William Shatner in Concert, and Let's Kill Scott Baio.

As an Executive Producer/reality series creator, Valen has partnered with a wide variety of companies including Whoop Inc., Renegade83, 44 Blue, Target, and Intuitive Entertainment. Valen later partnered with Authentic Entertainment on the series WHEN STAMIE MET TRACY. The series follows two former The Real L Word stars as they raise their three children with their extended modern family. In addition, Valen works with Jarrett Creative Group in partnership with the Biography Channel for the networks' highest rated series, Celebrity Ghost Stories and the hit series, Celebrity Close Calls .

In the scripted world, Valen has partnered with VH1, ABC, FOX Television and Emmy award winning producer, Tony To. Valen is in development and is a Co-Executive Producer on ACTION HEROES INC. for ABC/Fox Studios. The action-comedy movie franchise stars William Shatner, Robert Wagner and Lee Majors as three former TV heroes turned real life detectives.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1985 Porky's Revenge! Ginger
1985 The Heavenly Kid Melissa
1989 The Big Picture Young Sharon
1989 Loverboy Jenny Gordon
1989 Listen to Me Mia
1992 Final Embrace Candy Vale / Laurel Parrish
1993Little Devils: The BirthLynn
1994 Seven Sundays Nicky
1998 Black Thunder Mela
2003Written in BloodMary Ramson
2007 The Wager Tanya Steele
2018 Plagi Breslau Alicja Drewniak
2020Middleton ChristmasDr. Knowles

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1985 Miami Vice LanaEpisode: "The Home Invaders"
1986–1987 Ryan's Hope Melinda Weaver
1988 Charles in Charge TammyEpisode: "Barbelles"
1989 Murder, She Wrote Selina Williams WaverlyEpisode: "Night of the Tarantula"
1989 Baywatch HallieEpisode: "Panic at Malibu Pier"
1990 Hull High Donna BreedloveMain role (8 episodes)
1990 Saved by the Bell Jennifer Episode: "From Nurse to Worse"
1991 The Young Riders Samantha EdgarsEpisode: "Color Blind"
1991 Full House Lisa GreenEpisode: "Take My Sister, Please"
1992 Murder, She Wrote Lily RolandEpisode: "Danse Diabolique"
1992 Perry Mason: The Case of the Fatal Framing Mala SikorskiTV film
1993 Silk Stalkings Sylvia DeCastroEpisode: "Team Spirit"
1994 Silk Stalkings Dr. Jillian DupreeEpisodes: "Natural Selection: Parts 1 & 2"
1994 Fortune Hunter Madison ReynoldsEpisode: "The Cursed Dagger"
1994 Walker, Texas Ranger LauraEpisodes: "Something in the Shadows: Parts 1 & 2"
1994 Hardball JenniferEpisode: "Pilot"
1994 Boy Meets World Ms. KellyEpisode: "Pairing Off"
1995 Friends LorraineEpisode: "The One with the Candy Hearts"
1996–1997 Baywatch Samantha ThomasMain role (22 episodes)
1997 Viper Bianca CarsonEpisode: "Whistle Blower"
1998 Dune 2000 Fremen Kari (voice)Video game
1999 The Love Boat: The Next Wave LeslieEpisode: "Other People's Business"
2001 Black Scorpion Det. Angela Archer / Angel of DeathEpisode: "Kiss of Death"
2002 Spin City AshleyEpisode: "Sex, Lies and Video Date"
2018 9-1-1 Natalie GaineyEpisode: "Dosed"
2019 Playing with Fire Martina GaianiEpisode: "Fabrizio Juega Con Fuego - Fabrizio Plays With Fire"
Episode: "El Terror De Camila - Camilla's Terror"
Episode: "Fabrizio el Insaciable - Fabrizio the Insatiable"
Episode: "Fabrizio Tienta al Diablo - Fabrizio Tempts the Devil"
Episode: "Jorge Sabe que lo Traicionan - Jorge Knows the Betray"
Episode: "El Plan Macabro de Jorge - Jorge's Macabre Plan"
Episode: "A la Caza de Fabrizio"
Episode: "Dolorosa Realidad"

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiffani Thiessen</span> American actress (born 1974)

Tiffani Amber Thiessen is an American actress. Her roles as Kelly Kapowski on NBC's Saved by the Bell (1989–1993) and its spin-off media, and as Valerie Malone on Fox's Beverly Hills, 90210 (1994–98) established her as a teen idol of the 1990s. As an adult, she has played Wilhemina 'Billie' Chambers in Fox's Fastlane (2002–2003), Natasha Drew in ABC's What About Brian (2007), Elizabeth Burke in USA Network's White Collar (2009–2014), and Lori Mendoza in Netflix's Alexa & Katie (2018–2020). For the latter, she earned a Daytime Emmy Award nomination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denise Richards</span> American actress (born 1971)

Denise Lee Richards is an American actress and television personality. Her most recognized roles are Carmen Ibanez in Starship Troopers (1997), Kelly Van Ryan in Wild Things (1998) and Bond girl Christmas Jones in The World Is Not Enough (1999). She has also appeared in films Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999), Valentine (2001), Undercover Brother (2002), Scary Movie 3 (2003), Love Actually (2003), and Madea's Witness Protection (2012).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lisa Kudrow</span> American actress (born 1963)

Lisa Valerie Kudrow is an American actress. She rose to international fame for her role as Phoebe Buffay in the American television sitcom Friends, which aired from 1994 to 2004. The series earned her Primetime Emmy, Screen Actors Guild, Satellite, American Comedy and TV Guide awards. Phoebe has since been named one of the greatest television characters of all time and is considered to be Kudrow's breakout role, spawning her successful film career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth Berkley</span> American actress

Elizabeth Berkley is an American actress. She played Jessie Spano in the television series Saved by the Bell and Nomi Malone/Polly Ann Costello in the 1995 Paul Verhoeven film Showgirls. She voiced the title role of the anime film Armitage III: Poly-Matrix and had supporting roles in the films The First Wives Club and Roger Dodger. In theater, she received critical acclaim for her performance in Hurlyburly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julianna Margulies</span> American actress (born 1966)

Julianna Margulies is an American actress. After several small television roles, Margulies received wide recognition for her starring role as Carol Hathaway in the NBC medical drama series ER (1994–2009), for which she received a Primetime Emmy Award and six Screen Actors Guild Awards, in addition to four Golden Globe Award nominations. In 2009, she took on the lead role of Alicia Florrick in the CBS legal drama series The Good Wife (2009–2016). Her performance garnered critical acclaim, winning a further two Primetime Emmy Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and a Television Critics Association Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carnie Wilson</span> American musician (born 1968)

Carnie Wilson is an American singer and television personality. She is the daughter of Brian Wilson and in 1989 co-founded the pop music trio Wilson Phillips with her younger sister Wendy. From 1995 onwards, she has also been a host or guest star on a variety of television shows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lisa Rinna</span> American actress

Lisa D. Hamlin is an American actress, television personality and model. As an actress, she is best known for her roles as Billie Reed on the NBC daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives and Taylor McBride on Fox's television drama Melrose Place. Between 2014 and 2022, Rinna starred on Bravo's hit reality television series The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Other television credits include being a contestant on NBC's The Celebrity Apprentice and ABC's Dancing with the Stars, as well as guest-starring roles on series such as Entourage, Veronica Mars, Community, The Middle, and American Horror Stories. Rinna made her Broadway debut in Chicago as Roxie Hart in June 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nancy McKeon</span> American actress

Nancy Justine McKeon is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Jo Polniaczek on the NBC sitcom The Facts of Life and Jinny Exstead on The Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaley Cuoco</span> American actress (born 1985)

Kaley Christine Cuoco is an American actress. She is known for starring as Penny on the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory (2007–2019) and as the title character in the HBO Max comedic thriller The Flight Attendant (2020–2022). The latter earned her nominations for Primetime Emmy Awards and Golden Globe Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pamela Adlon</span> American actress (born 1966)

Pamela Adlon is an American actress, writer and director. She is known for voicing Bobby Hill in the animated comedy series King of the Hill (1997–2010), for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award. She also voiced Baloo in Jungle Cubs (1996–1998), the title role in the Pajama Sam video game series (1996–2001), Lucky in 101 Dalmatians: The Series (1997–1998), Margaret "Moose" Pearson in Pepper Ann (1997–2000), Ashley Spinelli in Recess (1997–2001), Otto Osworth in Time Squad (2001–2003), and Brigette Murphy in Milo Murphy's Law (2016–2019), among numerous others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sasha Pieterse</span> South African-born American actress (born 1996)

Sasha Pieterse Sheaffer is a South African-born American actress, singer and songwriter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kate Mara</span> American actress (born 1983)

Kate Rooney Mara is an American actress. She is known for work in television, playing reporter Zoe Barnes in the Netflix political drama House of Cards, computer analyst Shari Rothenberg in the Fox thriller series 24 (2006), wronged mistress Hayden McClaine in the FX miniseries American Horror Story: Murder House (2011), Patty Bowes in the first season of the FX drag ball culture drama series Pose (2018), and a teacher who begins an illicit relationship with an underage student, in the FX miniseries A Teacher (2020). For the latter, she received an Independent Spirit nomination for Best New Scripted Series as an executive producer.

<i>The Bronx Bunny Show</i> Irish ten-part television series

The Bronx Bunny Show is an Irish ten-part series originally broadcast in 2003 on E4 in the United Kingdom and later in Ireland. It was an adult puppet interview show which followed the premise of a semi-educational show for the good people of the Bronx, Brooklyn and Manhattan. The show was produced from a run-down tenement building in the Bronx where Bronx Bunny and his sidekick, a cigarette-smoking panda named Teddy T, would interview celebrities who "done good". The Bronx Bunny Show won "Best Entertainment Show" IFTA Award in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rachelle Lefevre</span> Canadian actress

Rachelle Marie Lefèvre is a Canadian actress. She has starred in the television series Big Wolf on Campus and had recurring roles in What About Brian, Boston Legal, and Swingtown. She played the vampire Victoria in the first film of the Twilight saga. In 2011, she starred in the ABC medical drama Off the Map, followed by the CBS series A Gifted Man (2011–2012) and Under the Dome (2013–2015).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Craig J. Nevius</span>

Craig J. Nevius is an American playwright, screenwriter and film producer. He is the owner of Windmill Entertainment LLC, a television development and production company that specializes in both scripted and unscripted projects with pop culture appeal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Shatner</span> Canadian actor (born 1931)

William Shatner is a Canadian actor. In a career spanning seven decades, he is best known for his portrayal of James T. Kirk in the Star Trek franchise, from his 1966 debut as the captain of the starship Enterprise in the second pilot of the first Star Trek television series to his final appearance as Captain Kirk in the seventh Star Trek feature film, Star Trek Generations (1994).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Annabelle Wallis</span> British actress (born 1984)

Annabelle Wallis is an English actress. She is known for her roles as Jane Seymour in Showtime's period drama The Tudors (2009–2010), Grace Burgess in the BBC drama Peaky Blinders (2013–2022), Mia Form in the supernatural horror film Annabelle (2014), Jenny Halsey in the supernatural adventure film The Mummy (2017), Sandra in Silent Night (2021) and Madison Mitchell in the horror film Malignant (2021).

Sarayu Rao, also known as Sarayu R. Blue, is an American actress. She is perhaps best known for her recurring role as Angela on the Fox sitcom Sons of Tucson, as well as Dr. Sydney Napur on David E. Kelley's Monday Mornings on TNT. She has also guest starred in a number of television series.

Cyrina Fiallo is an American actress and filmmaker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leah Lewis</span> American actress (born 1996)

Leah Lewis is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Georgia "George" Fan in The CW series adaptation of Nancy Drew (2019–2023), Ellie Chu in the Netflix comedy-drama film The Half of It (2020), and voicing Ember Lumen in the Pixar animated film Elemental (2023).

References

  1. 1 2 "Celebrity birthdays for the week of Dec. 11-17". The Associated Press (AP) . December 5, 2022. Archived from the original on 5 December 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  2. ↑ "sbtbanniversary - MONDAY, APRIL 2, 1990". Instagram. April 2, 2020.
  3. ↑ Splat From The Past #16- Nancy Valen on YouTube
  4. ↑ Reid, Ken (18 November 2019). "TV Guidance Counselor Episode 382: Nancy Valen". TV Guidance Counselor Podcast.
  5. ↑ "sbtbanniversary - TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 1990". Instagram. April 3, 2020.
  6. ↑ "13 Things You Didn't Know About Saved By The Bell". eBaum's World. September 30, 2014.
  7. ↑ "sbtbanniversary -MONDAY, APRIL 2, 1990". Instagram. April 2, 1990.
  8. ↑ Gerstenberger, Tim (27 January 2015). "10 Things You Didn't Know About 'Saved by the Bell'". TV Overmind.
  9. ↑ Ireland, Kathy (23 July 2002). Powerful Inspirations: Eight Lessons That Will Change Your Life. Crown Publishing. ISBN   9780385507202.
  10. ↑ "sbtbanniversary -MONDAY, APRIL 2, 1990". Instagram. April 3, 2020.
  11. ↑ "sbtbanniversary - THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 1990". Instagram. April 5, 2020.
  12. ↑ "10 Things You [Probably] Didn't Know About...Saved by the Bell". Truffle Shuffle. January 17, 2015.
  13. ↑ "10 Things You Didn't Know About 'Saved by the Bell'". Fox News. August 20, 2014.
  14. ↑ "In early 90s she guest-starred in such series as "The Young Riders", "Full House", "Silk Stalkings", "Murder She Wrote" and "Boys Meets World"". Instagram. April 3, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Commercial Reel".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.