Nancy Valen Explained

Nancy Valen
Birth Date:14 December 1965[1]
Birth Place:Brooklyn, NY, U.S.
Height:5' 6 1/2" (169cm)
Education:Dillard High School of Performing Arts
Alma Mater:Broward Community College
Othername:Nancy Valin
Nancy Van Patten
Yearsactive:1985–present

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 (1985).

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] was cast[4] as Nurse Jennifer,[5] supermodel Kathy Ireland[6] was going to play[7] the part. Ireland was however ultimately fired[8] during rehearsals after a disappointing table read[9] and a similarly disappointing dress rehearsal.[10] "She must have dazzled us in the office, because I hired her on the spot," recalled co-creator Peter Engel.[11] Engel soon called Ireland's manager[12] 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[13] on 23 series including Hardball, , 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[14]

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
1985Porky's Revenge!Ginger
1985Melissa
1989Young Sharon
1989LoverboyJenny Gordon
1989Listen to MeMia
1992Final EmbraceCandy Vale / Laurel Parrish
1993Little Devils: The BirthLynn
1994Seven SundaysNicky
1998Black ThunderMela
2003Written in BloodMary Ramson
2007Tanya Steele
2018Plagi BreslauAlicja Drewniak
2020Middleton ChristmasDr. Knowles

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1985Miami ViceLanaEpisode: "The Home Invaders"
1986–1987Ryan's HopeMelinda Weaver
1988Charles in ChargeTammyEpisode: "Barbelles"
1989Murder, She WroteSelina Williams WaverlyEpisode: "Night of the Tarantula"
1989BaywatchHallieEpisode: "Panic at Malibu Pier"
1990Hull HighDonna BreedloveMain role (8 episodes)
1990Saved by the BellJenniferEpisode: "From Nurse to Worse"
1991Samantha EdgarsEpisode: "Color Blind"
1991Full HouseLisa GreenEpisode: "Take My Sister, Please"
1992Murder, She WroteLily RolandEpisode: "Danse Diabolique"
1992Perry Mason: The Case of the Fatal FramingMala SikorskiTV film
1993Silk StalkingsSylvia DeCastroEpisode: "Team Spirit"
1994Silk StalkingsDr. Jillian DupreeEpisodes: "Natural Selection: Parts 1 & 2"
1994Fortune HunterMadison ReynoldsEpisode: "The Cursed Dagger"
1994Walker, Texas RangerLauraEpisodes: "Something in the Shadows: Parts 1 & 2"
1994HardballJenniferEpisode: "Pilot"
1994Boy Meets WorldMs. KellyEpisode: "Pairing Off"
1995FriendsLorraineEpisode: "The One with the Candy Hearts"
1996–1997BaywatchSamantha ThomasMain role (22 episodes)
1997ViperBianca CarsonEpisode: "Whistle Blower"
1998Dune 2000Fremen Kari (voice)Video game
1999LeslieEpisode: "Other People's Business"
2001Black ScorpionDet. Angela Archer / Angel of DeathEpisode: "Kiss of Death"
2002Spin CityAshleyEpisode: "Sex, Lies and Video Date"
20189-1-1Natalie GaineyEpisode: "Dosed"
2019Playing with FireMartina 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"

Notes and References

  1. News: Celebrity birthdays for the week of Dec. 11-17 . 30 May 2023 . The Associated Press (AP). December 5, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221205201318/https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-alabama-celebrity-music-8e415f0ccf67aebeadbef141ac24f828 . 5 December 2022.
  2. Web site: sbtbanniversary - MONDAY, APRIL 2, 1990. April 2, 2020. Instagram.
  3. Web site: TV Guidance Counselor Episode 382: Nancy Valen. Reid . Ken. 18 November 2019. TV Guidance Counselor Podcast.
  4. Web site: sbtbanniversary - TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 1990. April 3, 2020. Instagram.
  5. Web site: 13 Things You Didn't Know About Saved By The Bell. September 30, 2014. eBaum's World.
  6. Web site: sbtbanniversary -MONDAY, APRIL 2, 1990. April 2, 1990. Instagram.
  7. Web site: 10 Things You Didn't Know About 'Saved by the Bell'. Gerstenberger. Tim. 27 January 2015. TV Overmind.
  8. Book: Ireland, Kathy. 23 July 2002. Powerful Inspirations: Eight Lessons That Will Change Your Life. Crown Publishing. 9780385507202.
  9. Web site: sbtbanniversary -MONDAY, APRIL 2, 1990. April 3, 2020. Instagram.
  10. Web site: sbtbanniversary - THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 1990. April 5, 2020. Instagram.
  11. Web site: 10 Things You [Probably] Didn't Know About...Saved by the Bell]. January 17, 2015. Truffle Shuffle.
  12. Web site: 10 Things You Didn't Know About 'Saved by the Bell'. August 20, 2014. Fox News.
  13. Web site: In early 90s she guest-starred in such series as "The Young Riders", "Full House", "Silk Stalkings", "Murder She Wrote" and "Boys Meets World".. April 3, 2020. Instagram.
  14. Web site: Commercial Reel.