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"

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  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".