Nancy Valentine obit

 

Obituary: Nancy Annette Valentine

She was not on the list.

Nancy Annette Valentine, 89, died at home in Paradise Cove on July 31. She was born on Long Island, N.Y., on Jan. 21, 1928, to Richard Valentine, an artist, and Bertha Valentine, a Ziegfeld dancer-turned-housewife. Nancy outlived her three brothers and sister.

In 1943, she dropped out of high school her senior year to work as a Conover model, appearing on the cover of many popular magazines. While dining at the famed El Morocco nightclub one night in 1946, Nancy was discovered by Howard Hughes, who signed her to a long-term contract with 20th Century Fox. Viewed as a rising star, she left Hollywood to marry Jagaddipendra Narayan, the maharaja of Cooch Behar in India.

Until her retirement in the mid-1990s, Nancy had an active career in film and television. She starred in movies such as “-30-” with Jack Webb, “Tess Of The Storm Country” with Diane Baker and “The Black Castle” with Cornel Wilde. She also appeared in more than 100 TV shows, including “Dragnet,” “Sea Hunt,” “The Real McCoys,” “Thriller,” “Johnny Staccato,” “Peyton Place” and “Colombo,” among many others. She also acted as co-host of the popular Los Angeles late-night talk show, “The Tom Duggan Show.”

Nancy was married three times. After returning from India and divorcing the maharaja, she joined the Self-Realization Fellowship convent in Los Angeles. Four years later, before taking her final vows, she realized she couldn’t renounce the world. After leaving the convent, she resumed her career.

Her second marriage was to Ted Tillinghast, with whom she had a daughter, Darin Tillinghast. They divorced in the late 1950s. In 1962, she married TV producer Everett Chambers. They had a daughter, Alicia Chambers Fodor. Following their divorce in 1975, she lived in Malibu until her death. Nancy is survived by five grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and a number of loving family members and friends.

A loved one said she “will always live on in their hearts.”

Actress

Stockard Channing in The Girl Most Likely to... (1973)

The Girl Most Likely to...

7.3

TV Movie

2nd Nurse

1973

 

Katherine Cannon, Joyce Williams, and Pegi Boucher in Private Duty Nurses (1971)

Private Duty Nurses

4.5

Waitress

1971

 

James Franciscus and Tisha Sterling in Night Slaves (1970)

Night Slaves

6.0

TV Movie

May

1970

 

Diane McBain and Van Williams in Surfside 6 (1960)

Surfside 6

7.9

TV Series

Wilma Argus

1962

1 episode

 

Robert Harland and Stephen McNally in Target: The Corruptors (1961)

Target: The Corruptors

7.7

TV Series

1961

1 episode

 

Lloyd Bridges in Sea Hunt (1958)

Sea Hunt

7.7

TV Series

Virgie Bryant

1961

1 episode

 

Audie Murphy in Whispering Smith (1961)

Whispering Smith

7.4

TV Series

Stella Dean

1961

1 episode

 

Thriller (1960)

Thriller

8.2

TV Series

Arlene

1961

1 episode

 

Robert Conrad, Anthony Eisley, Poncie Ponce, and Connie Stevens in Hawaiian Eye (1959)

Hawaiian Eye

7.7

TV Series

Pat

1961

1 episode

 

Tess of the Storm Country (1960)

Tess of the Storm Country

5.4

Teola Graves

1960

 

Dick Powell in Zane Grey Theatre (1956)

Zane Grey Theatre

7.5

TV Series

Lilly

1960

1 episode

 

David Janssen in Richard Diamond, Private Detective (1956)

Richard Diamond, Private Detective

7.8

TV Series

Lila Bradley

Nancy Porter

1959–1960

2 episodes

 

Walter Brennan, Richard Crenna, and Kathleen Nolan in The Real McCoys (1957)

The Real McCoys

7.6

TV Series

Miss Simpson

1960

1 episode

 

New Comedy Showcase (1960)

New Comedy Showcase

TV Series

1960

1 episode

 

Bachelor Father (1957)

Bachelor Father

7.2

TV Series

Ruth Martin

1960

1 episode

 

Lawman (1958)

Lawman

8.1

TV Series

Jennie Jennings

1960

1 episode

 

Henry Fonda in The Deputy (1959)

The Deputy

7.0

TV Series

Alva Wagner

1960

1 episode

 

Andrew Duggan, Arlene Howell, Richard Long, and Van Williams in Bourbon Street Beat (1959)

Bourbon Street Beat

7.8

TV Series

Ruby

1960

1 episode

 

John Bromfield in U.S. Marshal (1958)

U.S. Marshal

7.4

TV Series

Vera Andrews

1960

1 episode

 

Edd Byrnes, Roger Smith, and Efrem Zimbalist Jr. in 77 Sunset Strip (1958)

77 Sunset Strip

7.7

TV Series

Rhonda Saxon

1960

1 episode

 

Johnny Staccato (1959)

Johnny Staccato

7.9

TV Series

Sugar Cane

Millie Kloch

1960

1 episode

 

Man with a Camera (1958)

Man with a Camera

7.3

TV Series

Hazel Britt

1960

1 episode

 

Have Gun - Will Travel (1957)

Have Gun - Will Travel

8.4

TV Series

Beverly - Paladin's Love Interest

1959

1 episode

 

-30- (1959)

-30-

6.7

Jan Price

1959

 

Dragnet (1951)

Dragnet

7.5

TV Series

Elsie Macken (as Nanci Valentine)

1959

2 episodes

 

Rory Calhoun in The Texan (1958)

The Texan

7.6

TV Series

Helen

1959

1 episode

 

Lee Marvin in M Squad (1957)

M Squad

8.1

TV Series

Connie Lyman

1959

1 episode

 

Dale Robertson in Tales of Wells Fargo (1957)

Tales of Wells Fargo

7.9

TV Series

Jeannie Nolan

1959

1 episode

 

The D.A.'s Man (1959)

The D.A.'s Man

7.6

TV Series

Spangles

1959

1 episode

 

Mike Hammer (1958)

Mike Hammer

8.0

TV Series

Linda

1959

1 episode

 

John R. Ellis, Dean Fredericks, and Johann Des Roches in Steve Canyon (1958)

Steve Canyon

7.1

TV Series

Nurse Cluney (uncredited)

1958

1 episode

 

Matinee Theatre (1955)

Matinee Theatre

7.5

TV Series

1958

1 episode

 

Official Detective (1957)

Official Detective

8.4

TV Series

Miss Grant

1957

1 episode

 

Jane Wyman Presents the Fireside Theatre (1955)

Jane Wyman Presents the Fireside Theatre

7.5

TV Series

Marjorie Ewing

1956

1 episode

 

Mr. & Mrs. North (1952)

Mr. & Mrs. North

7.4

TV Series

Edna Diaz

1953

1 episode

 

Jane Powell, Farley Granger, Ann Miller, and Bobby Van in Small Town Girl (1953)

Small Town Girl

6.3

Mary

1953

 

Victor Mature, David Brian, and Esther Williams in Million Dollar Mermaid (1952)

Million Dollar Mermaid

6.5

Harper's Secretary (uncredited)

1952

 

Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr., Paula Corday, Richard Greene, John Hoyt, Stephen McNally, and Michael Pate in The Black Castle (1952)

The Black Castle

6.3

Therese Von Wilk

1952

 

Racket Squad (1950)

Racket Squad

7.5

TV Series

Vivian

1952

1 episode

 

Father's Little Dividend (1951)

Father's Little Dividend

6.5

Baby Shower Guest (uncredited)

1951

 

Father of the Bride (1950)

Father of the Bride

7.1

Fliss (uncredited)

1950

 

Gene Tierney and Richard Conte in Whirlpool (1950)

Whirlpool

6.7

Taffy Lou (uncredited)

1950

 

Pat O'Brien, George Raft, and Ella Raines in A Dangerous Profession (1949)

A Dangerous Profession

6.0

Dawson's Secretary (uncredited)

1949

 

Strange Bargain (1949)

Strange Bargain

6.7

Lucille Gosler (uncredited)

1949

 

Ronald Reagan, Eddie Bracken, and Virginia Mayo in The Girl from Jones Beach (1949)

The Girl from Jones Beach

6.2

Margot (uncredited)

1949

 

Make Believe Ballroom (1949)

Make Believe Ballroom

6.8

Carhop (uncredited)

1949

 

Warner Baxter, Stephen Dunne, and Lois Maxwell in The Crime Doctor's Diary (1949)

The Crime Doctor's Diary

6.3

Operator (uncredited)

1949