Jess Walton

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Jess Walton (Jill, Y&R)

Vital Statistics

The 411

Born in Grand Rapids, MI, and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Jess Walton left home when she was only 17 to join the Toronto Workshop Productions' Repertory Theater. Five years later, in 1969, she moved to Hollywood, where she dated a rock 'n' roll manager and auditioned for film and TV roles. Her career didn't really begin to take off until 1971, when she landed a string of prime-time guest spots on shows such as THE YOUNG LAWYERS and MEDICAL CENTER. Walton became a contract player with Universal Studios and continued to work steadily through the '70s, appearing on many nighttime programs, including THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN, STARSKY AND HUTCH and BARNABY JONES. She also starred in several made-for-TV movies and big-screen films and was briefly wed to actor Bruce Davison. Despite finding success, however, the actress turned to drugs and alcohol.

In 1980, she completed rehab. Soon after, she met her current husband, grief counselor John W. James. The next year, she gave birth to their son, Cole. Now that she was a mother, Walton decided to put the Hollywood lifestyle behind her for good and took three years off. She then returned to TV on CAPITOL, playing Kelly/Shelley until 1987. Later in 1987, Walton joined Y&R as Jill, taking over for the popular Brenda Dickson. However, Walton's crackling chemistry with on-screen nemesis Jeanne Cooper (Katherine) won over critics and fans; during her tenure, she's won three awards for playing Jill.

Off-screen, Walton and Cooper, also a former addict, forged a close friendship. In the 10/18/88 issue of Soap Opera Digest, they both spoke candidly of their pasts in the cover story.

Though their characters were rivals for decades, Y&R fans got a shock in 2003 when Kay and Jill learned that they are, in fact, mother and daughter. Their storylines heated up again in 2007 when Kay revealed that she'd given away Jill's son, Phillip III, when he was born and switched him with another child. When she's not working, Walton donates her time to her husband's Grief Recovery Help Line.

Et Cetera

Five Random Facts
— Took to the stage for the first time in nearly 30 years in 2003 when she performed in the play Raw Comedy, Nothing Half-Baked, with her son, Cole, where they played — natch! — mother and son.
— Performed Billy's alcohol poisoning scenes in December, 1999, with her arm in a cast that was covered with a scarf after she fell off a ladder at home while decorating the family Christmas tree.
— Her first job was as a claims adjuster for the Ontario Hospital Services Commission in Canada.
— While she dated the rock 'n' roll manager, she got to hang out with Neil Young and Joni Mitchell.
— Starred opposite Clint Ritchie (ex-Clint, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) in The Peace Killers in 1971.

Other Soap Roles
CAPITOL (Kelly Harper/Shelley Granger, 1984-87)

TV Roles
RETURN OF THE MOD SQUAD (Kate Kelsey, 1979)
MRS. COLUMBO (Judy Arno, 1979)
BARNABY JONES (Doris Carson, 1977)
SWITCH (Angel Mendarez, 1977)
THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO (Lois Flynn, 1976)
BARETTA (Guest Star, 1976)
JIGSAW JOHN (Guest Star, 1976)
STARSKY AND HUTCH (Theresa Defusto, 1975)
CANNON (Janice Elder/Janet Coin, 1975; Melanie, 1973)
S.W.A.T. (Carole Ritchie, 1975)
GUNSMOKE (Kattalin Larralde, 1975; Patricia Colby O'Brien, 1973)
THE ROCKFORD FILES (Laura Smith, 1975)
THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN (Ellen Jane "E.J." Haskell, 1975)
IRONSIDE (Debbie, 1973; Jennifer, 1974)
MARCUS WELBY, M.D. (Guest Star, 1974, 1972)
TOMA (Guest Star, 1974)
KOJAK (Cheryl Pope, 1974)
GRIFF (Penny Coyle, 1973)
THE BOLD ONES: THE NEW DOCTORS (Sharon, 1972-73)
MEDICAL CENTER (Nancy, 1971)
THE F.B.I. (Mary Douglas, 1971)
THE YOUNG LAWYERS (Clara Smith, 1970)
THE GUNS OF WILL SONNETT (Abbey, 1969)

Film Roles
The Return of the Muskrats (Soap Actress, 2006)
Paper Bags (Margaret Rose, 2005)
Wasted in Babylon (Hellen Cook, 1999)
Monkeys in the Attic (Elaine, 1974)
The Peace Killers (Kristy, 1971)
The Strawberry Statement (Student, 1970)

TV Movies
THE HUNTED LADY (Kate, 1977)
REX HARRISON PRESENTS: STORIES OF LOVE (1974)
YOU'LL NEVER SEE ME AGAIN (Vicki Bliss, 1973)
THE VICTIM (Susan Chappel; 1972)

Say What?

"John is my rock and yet, we're so different. He's a Vietnam vet; I was a hippie. He loves sports, which I have no interest in whatsoever. He likes action movies; I like art films. We're so different that our son can't believe we stayed together all this time."
— Digest, 12/2/03

"I became so awestruck by these amazing people at the top of their fields that I fell into the trap of comparing their success with mine — which was nowhere."
— On befriending several musical legends, Digest, 12/7/99

"I'd have to keep a really close watch on my tongue. I'd really have to practice ‘Live and let live' if I knew Jill."
— On whether she could be friends with her alter ego, Digest, 7/15/97

"On some soaps, there is a tendency to cast for cheekbones. I don't have the ‘soap look.' I don't think I'm traditionally that good-looking."
— Digest, 9/28/93

"When I played Kelly Harper [on CAPITOL], I was thrilled when they gave me the drug storyline. It was a way of reaching all those people sitting out there. And I could do it truthfully, they let me have control of the story."
— Digest, 10/18/88

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