Nancy Kulp

Was offered a movie role (The Model and the Marriage Broker (1951)) after being in Hollywood less than three weeks.

Nancy Kulp wore many hats: Publicity person, actress, linguist, would-be politician and teacher. Originally from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Kulp attended college in Florida, then headed for Hollywood to work in publicity for the movies, not star in them. Soon after arriving in Hollywood, Kulp was convinced by director George Cukor and casting director Billy Gordon that she should be in front of the camera, not behind the scenes. What that began was a solid career as a character actress in films and television, including two memorable roles: on Love That Bob - Starring Bob Cummings "Grandpa's Christmas Visit" (1955) as bird-loving "Pamela Livingstone" and on The Beverly Hillbillies (1962) as the long-suffering, lovesick and bird-loving "Miss Jane Hathaway".

Writers played a twist on naming Nancy's best-known character, Miss Jane Hathaway. They reversed Nancy's first and middle names, so Nancy Jane Kulp became Jane Nancy Hathaway. We learned Miss Jane's middle name in The Return of the Beverly Hillbillies (1981).

After the Hillbillies ended its nine year run, Kulp found work in theater, Broadway and television, and dabbled in politics, making an unsuccessful 1984 run for congress in Pennsylvania.