Judy Norton
Norton as Mary Ellen Walton, 1977.
Born
Judy Norton

(1958-01-29) January 29, 1958 (age 65)
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Other namesJudy Norton-Graves, Judy Taylor
OccupationActress
Years active1967–present
Spouses
  • Douglas Taylor
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1976; div. 1978)​
  • Lynn Hughes
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1980, divorced)​
  • Randy Apostle
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1991; div. 2001)​
  • Robert Graves
    ​
    (m. 2002)​
Children2
Websitejudynorton.com Edit this at Wikidata

Judy Norton (born January 29, 1958)[1] is an American actress and theater director who is best known for her role as Mary Ellen Walton on The Waltons television series and subsequent Waltons TV movies.

Personal life

She was born in Santa Monica, California, to parents Harry and Constance (née Glazebrook) Norton.[2] She began practicing Scientology at age 13, and became a minister in the Church.[3] She married Douglas Taylor in 1976 at the age of 18; the marriage ended in divorce in 1978. She then married former football player Lynn Hughes whom she later divorced.[4]

In her early 20s, Norton, though still viewed as a child actress, posed nude for the August 1985 issue of Playboy in a bid to shed her wholesome "family" image. In 1991, Norton married Randy Apostle. They had one son, Devin, before divorcing in 2001.[5]

Norton is married to Robert Graves.[6] Norton has been writing, directing and starring in movies and theater. She also is a singer. An avid athlete, Norton has participated in competitive horse jumping and skydiving, in addition to skiing and tennis. Norton frequently showcased her athletic skills on Battle of the Network Stars in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Her CD Reflections was released in August 2016.[7]

Filmography

Year Title Role Director Notes Ref.
1967 Hotel Daughter Richard Quine
1979 Valentine Elizabeth Lee Philips
1979 A Twist of Faith Doctor Rachmaran Chris Angel
2001 Off Season Mrs. Murchison Bruce Davison
2013 Hansel and Gretel: Warriors of Witchcraft Allyson David DeCoteau
2013 Blood Is Thicker Doris Aster Nicholas Lam
2014 Finding Harmony Kat Stratton Dagen Merrill
2015 Broken: A Musical Karen David Nancy Criss
2015 The Sparrows: Nesting Susan Nancy Criss
2016 Another Day in Paradise Liz Jeffery Patterson Writer Judy Norton
2018 NOWHERE TO HIDE / Inclusion Criteria Tara Malone Josh Hodgins Writer Judy Norton
2000 Christy: Return to Cutter Gap Rebecca Holt Chuck Bowman Aired under the title Christy: The Movie
2020 Out of the Fight Psychologist Steve Moon
2022 Motorvation Kathy Angus Benfield

Television

Year Title Role Director Notes Ref.
1968 The Felony Squad Karen Collins George McCowan "The Distant Shore" Season 3 episode 11
1971 The Homecoming: A Christmas Story Mary Ellen Walton Fielder Cook On Christmas Eve 1933 Earl Hamner Jr.
1972–1981 The Waltons Mary Ellen Walton Vincent Sherman; Alf Kjellin; Harry Harris; Robert Butler; Philip Leacock; Lee Philips; Jack Shea; Ralph Senensky; Ralph Waite; Nick Webster; Ralph Senensky; Ivan Dixon; Richard Thomas; Harvey S. Laidman; Richard C. Bennett; Lawrence Dobkin; Walter Alzmann; Anthony Brand; Gwen Arner; Richard Chaffee; Nell Cox; William H. Bushnell; Larry Stewart; David F. Wheeler; Stan Lathan; Herbert Hirschman; Bernard McEveety; Gabrielle Beaumont; Bob Sweeney; Walt Gilmore; James Sheldon.
1979 Password Plus and Super Password Judy Norton George Choderker American TV game show September 7, 1979
1979 Battle of the Network Stars Judy Norton Andrew Glassman Series of competitions that television stars from ABC, CBS and NBC compete in various sporting events.
1980 Kraft Salutes Disneyland's 25th Anniversary Judy Norton-Taylor Dwight Hemion
1980 Password Plus and Super Password Judy Norton George Choderker
1980 Battle of the Network Stars Judy Norton Andrew Glassman
1981 Battle of the Network Stars Judy Norton Andrew Glassman
1982 The Love Boat Lydia Foster Bruce Bilson "Doc Takes the Fifth / Safety Last / A Business Affair" Season 5 Episode 13
1982 A Wedding on Walton's Mountain Mary Ellen Walton Lee Philips It is 1947
1982 Mother's Day on Walton's Mountain Mary Ellen Walton Gwen Arner Mary Ellen marries Jonesy
1982 A Day for Thanks on Walton's Mountain Mary Ellen Walton Harry Harris Thanksgiving Day 1947
1982 Password Plus and Super Password Judy Norton George Choderker
1983 Circus of the Stars Judy Norton CBS network Celebrities performed circus-type acts. show 8)
1984 Circus of the Stars Judy Norton CBS network Celebrities performed circus-type acts. show 9)
1984 Password Plus and Super Password Judy Norton George Choderker
1993 A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion Mary Ellen Walton Harry Harris Thanksgiving Day 1947
1995 A Walton Wedding Mary Ellen Walton Robert Ellis Miller November 1963
1997 The Last Daughter
1997 A Walton Easter Mary Ellen Walton Bill Corcoran It is 1969. John and Olivia 40th anniversary.
1997 Millennium (TV series) Carol Scammel Perry Lang "Monster" Season 2 Episode 4
1998 Stargate SG-1 Talia Jonathan Glassner
1998 The Inspectors
1999 You, Me, and the Kids “Facing the World”
1999 So Weird Mrs. Avner Charles Wilkinson Season 1 Episode 5 “Escape” TV series
1999 Cold Squad Mrs. Harris John L'Ecuyer television series Season 3 Episode 1 Deadly Games: Part 1
1999–2000 Beggars and Choosers (TV series) Gloria John L'Ecuyer television series "Hat Trick" Season 1 Episode 4; "Star Whores" Season 1 episode 15; "Moles, Meatloaf & Myrna Loy" Season 2 episode 14.
2000 Ed (TV series) Judge James Frawley Pilot show Season 1 episode 1
2000 Hollywood Off Ramp Richard Martin The Ultimate Question Season 1 episode 12 modern day Twilight Zone anthology series that aired on E! E! Hollywood Offramp
2000 Higher Ground Dr. Gray Alan Simmonds Season 1 Episode 10 “Close Encounters” TV series
2010 A Walton's Family Reunion Mary Ellen Walton Doug Butts It is 1969. John and Olivia 40th anniversary. Surviving cast members reminisce about the series and their lives.
2013 Bluff Sophia Wyndom Judy Norton and Neil Schell TV series 6 episodes: season 1 episodes 1 – 6: “Do the Thing”; “Live Out Land”; “They Never Fail”; “Do One Thing”; Episode #1.5 & #1.6.”
2014 Disorganized Zone The Organizer Judy Norton half-hour dramatic comedy that spoofs Twilight Zone episodes 7 episodes: “A Past Not So Dear”; “Universe Two”; “Too Perfect”; “Promises”; “The Beaten Path”; “Deadly Labels”; “Tomorrow”.
2020 The Quarantine Bunch Judy Norton Jeff MacIntyre Season 1 Episode 1 -6

“Meet the Bunch”; “Good-bye Chewy”; “You want to sell what?” “A Tale of two zooms”, “Stay the F**K Home!”; “Shut up and ACT!!!”.

Former child stars support group via Zoom during the Coronavirus quarantine.

Music

Year Title Role Director Notes Ref.
1999 A Walton Christmas: Together Again Mary Ellen Walton Jon Walmsley Track Listings: Walton's Theme; Earl Hamner's Narrative; Christmas Times A Comin'; Intro to Mama's Applesauce Cake; Mama's Applesauce Cake; Sleigh Ride; Follow That Star; That's What Christmas Means to Me; Intro to Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas; Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas; Intro To Snowman Land; Snowman Land; 'Twas The Night Before Christmas; Little Drummer Boy; Home For The Holidays; Santa's Big Parade; Intro to All I Want For Christmas; All I Want For Christmas; Good Night (With Dialogue)
2015 Reflections Judy Norton
2022 Home for Christmas Judy Norton

References

  1. ^ "Today in History: JAN 29, Prohibition launches". The Times-Tribune. January 29, 2023. ProQuest 2770475825. Today's birthdays: [...] Actor Katharine Ross is 83. [...] Actor Tom Selleck is 78. [...] Actor Marc Singer is 75. [...] Rock musician Louie Perez (Los Lobos) is 70. [...] Talk show host Oprah Winfrey is 69. [...] Country singer Irlene Mandrell is 67. [...] Actor Judy Norton (TV: "The Waltons") is 65.. See also:
    • "Today in History: [HOME Edition 2]". Daily Breeze. January 29, 2003. p. B5. ProQuest 338525724. Today's birthdays: [...] Actress Katharine Ross is 63. Actor Tom Selleck is 58. Actor Marc Singer is 55. [...] Rock musician Louie Perez (Los Lobos) is 50. Talk-show host Oprah Winfrey is 49. Country singer Irlene Mandrell is 46. Actress Judy Norton Taylor ("The Waltons") is 45..
  2. ^ O'Donnell, Monica M. (1986). Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television. Volume 3 : A Biographical Guide Featuring Performers, Directors, Writers, Producers, Designers, Managers, Choreographers, Technicians, Composers, Executives, Dancers, and Critics in the United States and Great Britain. Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research. p. 286. ISBN 0-8103-2066-5.
  3. ^ Garfield, Kim (October 31, 1976). "Judy Norton Got Married Twice In One Year, Once As Herself And Once As Mary Ellen Walton". The Ledger. Lakeland, Fla. p. 37.
  4. ^ "Happily ever after?; Gay grandpa, alcohol abuse and a Playboy centrefold ... it would never have happened on Walton's mountain. But the perfect family acted out these dramas in real life ..." Scottish Daily Record. Glasgow. October 30, 1999. Retrieved March 11, 2020 – via The Free Library. She has been divorced twice, but is now married with a child.
  5. ^ Venezia, Todd (July 24, 2002). "Walton Family's Tragic Secret Lives: Playboy Pix, Booze, Disease And Bad Marriages Ravage TV Icons". New York Post. After "The Waltons," Norton became most famous for her decision to pose nude in a 1985 Playboy magazine spread ... Norton, who now teaches acting and singing while raising her 5-year-old son Devin, keeps a sense of humor about the shots.
  6. ^ Closer Weekly
  7. ^ Chambers, Casey (December 4, 2019). "Interview -- Judy Norton (Actress, Writer, Director)". The College Crowd Digs Me.

External links

The Waltons
Authority control databases
Categories