Judy Pace facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Judy Pace
Pace in 1970
Born	Judy Lenteen Pace (1942-06-15)June 15, 1942 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Died	March 11, 2026(2026-03-11) (aged 83) Marina Del Rey, California, U.S.
Alma mater	Los Angeles City College
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1963—2017
Known for	Peyton Place The Young Lawyers
Spouse(s)	Don Mitchell ​ ​ (m. 1972; div. 1984)​ Curt Flood ​ ​ (m. 1986; died 1997)​
Children	2; including Julia Pace Mitchell
Awards	Image Award Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series The Young Lawyers (1970)

Judy Lenteen Pace (June 15, 1942 – March 11, 2026) was an American actress. She was known for her many roles in films and television shows. She often appeared in movies that featured strong Black characters and important stories.

Pace played Vickie Fletcher on the TV series Peyton Place from 1968 to 1969. She also starred as Pat Walters on the ABC drama series The Young Lawyers from 1970 to 1971. For her work on The Young Lawyers, she won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series in 1970.

Discovering Judy Pace: A Talented Actress

Early Life and First Steps in Acting

Judy Pace was born in Los Angeles, California on June 15, 1942. Her father was an airplane mechanic and her mother was a dressmaker.

After finishing Dorsey High School, Pace went to Los Angeles City College. There, she studied sociology. She made her first movie appearance in William Castle's 13 Frightened Girls in 1963. Her big break in Hollywood came in 1968. She played Vickie Fletcher in the popular ABC-TV drama Peyton Place. This role made her the first Black villainess on television.

Becoming a TV and Film Star

In 1968, famous film critic Roger Ebert praised Judy Pace's acting. He highlighted her performance in the youth-oriented film, Three in the Attic. Ebert described her as a "quick, funny actress" who could make any scene sparkle.

Judy Pace quickly became a familiar face in the 1970s. She appeared on both the big screen and television. She starred in many popular movies and TV shows. These films often featured strong Black characters and important stories.

She appeared in many popular TV shows. Some of these included Batman, Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, and Sanford and Son. Her diverse roles made her a well-known actress to audiences.

Cast of ABC TV series The Young Lawyers (1970), from left: Pace, Lee J. Cobb (both seated) and Zalman King

Memorable Roles and Achievements

For one season, Judy Pace starred in the ABC drama The Young Lawyers. She also played a very important supporting role in the 1971 ABC-TV movie Brian's Song. In this acclaimed film, she played Linda, the wife of football star Gale Sayers.

Her Life Off-Screen

In 1972, Judy Pace married actor Don Mitchell. They had two daughters together. Their daughters are actress Julia Pace Mitchell and Shawn Meshelle Mitchell. Pace and Mitchell later divorced in 1984.

Judy Pace had first met baseball legend Curt Flood in 1966. She was a contestant on the game show The Dating Game at the time. They dated for a few years. After her divorce from Don Mitchell, Pace and Flood reconnected. They married in 1986. They stayed together until Curt Flood passed away in 1997.

Judy Pace died peacefully in her sleep on March 11, 2026. She was 83 years old.

Judy Pace's Acting Work

Films and TV Shows

As actress:

Appearances as Herself

• Stevie Wonder/The Moments/Fully Guaranteed (1973) (TV episode)
• Soul Train (1973)
• Christopher Jones (1999)
• E! True Hollywood Story (1999)
• Curt Flood (2000) (TV episode)
• ESPN SportsCentury (two episodes, 2000–2004)
• Disciples of Jackie Robinson (2004) (TV episode)

See also

In Spanish: Judy Pace para niños