Nancy Kulp facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nancy Kulp
Kulp, 1960s
Born	Nancy Jane Kulp (1921-08-28)August 28, 1921 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	February 3, 1991(1991-02-03) (aged 69) Palm Desert, California, U.S.
Resting place	Westminster Presbyterian Cemetery, Mifflintown, Pennsylvania
Alma mater	Florida State University (BA) University of Miami
Years active	1951–89
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Charles M. Dacus ​ ​ (m. 1951; div. 1961)​
Military service
Service	United States Naval Reserve
Years of service	1944–1946
Rank	Lieutenant, junior grade
Wars	World War II American Theater
Awards	American Campaign Medal

Nancy Kulp (born August 28, 1921 – died February 3, 1991) was a famous American actress. She was also a talented comedienne. She is best known for playing the character Miss Jane Hathaway on the popular TV show The Beverly Hillbillies.

Early Life and Education

Nancy Jane Kulp was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Her parents were Robert Tilden and Marjorie C. Kulp. Nancy was their only child. Her father was a traveling salesman, and her mother was a schoolteacher. The family moved to Florida before 1935.

In 1943, Nancy graduated from Florida State College for Women. She earned a bachelor's degree in journalism. She then studied for a master's degree at the University of Miami. There, she was part of the Pi Beta Phi sorority. In the early 1940s, she also wrote articles for a newspaper. She wrote about famous people like Clark Gable.

Military Service During World War II

During World War II, Nancy Kulp joined the United States Naval Reserve in 1944. WAVES was a special branch for women in the Navy. She became a lieutenant, junior grade. This is a mid-level officer rank.

She received several awards for her service. One of these was the American Campaign Medal. Nancy left the Navy with honor in 1946.

Acting Career

Starting in Film

In 1951, Nancy Kulp moved to Hollywood, California. She started working in the publicity department at MGM studios. A director named George Cukor encouraged her to become an actress. That same year, she made her first film appearance. It was in The Model and the Marriage Broker.

She then appeared in other well-known movies. These included Shane, Sabrina, and A Star is Born. Later, she was in The Parent Trap and The Aristocats. In The Aristocats, she voiced the character Frou-Frou.

Television Roles

Kulp (center) with Max Baer Jr. and Sharon Tate in The Beverly Hillbillies, 1965

In 1955, Nancy joined the TV show The Bob Cummings Show. She played Pamela Livingstone, a bird watcher. She also appeared in episodes of many other popular shows. These included I Love Lucy, Perry Mason, and The Twilight Zone.

Guest star Jim Backus with Kulp in The Beverly Hillbillies (1963)

In 1962, Nancy Kulp got her most famous role. She became Jane Hathaway on the CBS show The Beverly Hillbillies. Jane Hathaway was a smart, serious, and often funny character. She worked for the Clampett family. Nancy was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1967 for this role. She stayed with the show until it ended in 1971.

After The Beverly Hillbillies, she appeared on The Love Boat. She also had roles in The Brian Keith Show and Sanford and Son. Her final TV appearance was in 1989 on Quantum Leap.

Theatre Work

Nancy Kulp also performed on Broadway. From 1980 to 1981, she was in the play Morning's at Seven. She played the character Aaronetta Gibbs. The play was shown at the Lyceum Theatre.

Politics and Teaching

In 1984, Nancy Kulp decided to run for a political office. She ran for the United States House of Representatives in Pennsylvania. She was a Democratic candidate. Her opponent was a Republican.

Her Hillbillies co-star, Buddy Ebsen, spoke out against her campaign. He said she was "too liberal." Nancy Kulp was upset by this. She felt it was not his place to get involved. She lost the election.

After the election, she worked at Juniata College. This is a college in Pennsylvania. She was an artist-in-residence and later taught acting.

Personal Life

Nancy Kulp married Charles Malcolm Dacus in 1951. They divorced in 1961. After she stopped acting and teaching, she moved to California. She became involved in many charity groups. These included the Humane Society of the Desert.

Later Years and Death

Nancy Kulp was a cigarette smoker. In 1990, she was diagnosed with cancer. She received treatment for it. By 1991, the cancer had spread. She passed away on February 3, 1991, at age 69. She is buried in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

Awards and Nominations

Discography

• Jerome Kern: Show Boat, conducted by John McGlinn, EMI, 1988

Images for kids

• 

  Kulp in Tallahassee wearing a button supporting FSU football

See also

In Spanish: Nancy Kulp para niños