Actress from wholesome 70s series who shocked with Playboy shoot is seen on rare outing… who is she?

An actress who starred in a classic television series from the 70s was seen on a rare outing in Los Angeles. 

The star portrayed a beloved role in the award-winning CBS show which aired for nine seasons – and was followed by six TV movies. 

She began her career in the late 1960s, and also took on minor roles over the years in shows such as The Love Boat. 

The actress also stepped into the music industry and released her album titled Reflections a decade earlier in 2015. 

In the 80s, the star also posed nude in a spread for Playboy magazine.  

Can you guess who it is? 

An actress who starred in a classic television series from the 70s was seen on a rare outing in Los Angeles – can you guess who it is?

It is Judy Norton, 67 – who is known for playing Mary Ellen Walton in the hit series The Waltons, which aired from 1972-1981. 

The actress stepped out in L.A. over the past weekend and showed off her summer style wearing a sleeveless, floral-patterned dress. 

Norton accessorized her outfit for the daytime excursion by adding a necklace with a large pendant on the front as well as a pair of black shades. 

The star was born in January 1958 in Santa Monica and kicked off her acting career by taking an uncredited role in the 1967 movie Hotel. 

A few years later, she played eldest daughter Mary Ellen Walton in the TV movie The Homecoming: A Christmas Story. 

Upon garnering positive ratings, the film spawned the now classic series The Waltons – which garnered a number of accolades including an Emmy award for Outstanding Drama Series in 1973. 

The show had also starred Richard Thomas, Ralph Waite, Michael Learned, Ellen Corby, Will Geer, Jon Walmsley, Mary Elizabeth McDonough, Eric Scott, David W. Harper and Kami Cotler. 

It is Judy Norton, 67 – who is known for playing Mary Ellen Walton in the hit series The Waltons (seen above), which aired from 1972-1981

The actress stepped out in L.A. over the past weekend and showed off her summer style wearing a sleeveless, floral-patterned dress

She additionally slipped into a pair of open-toed, wedge heels and carried a mini tan bag and cream-colored cardigan in her hand

Upon garnering positive ratings, the film spawned the now classic series The Waltons – which garnered a number of accolades including an Emmy award for Outstanding Drama Series in 1973; cast seen in 1972 

The premise of the show followed the Walton family during the Great Depression in the 1930s as well as World War II in the 1940s. 

The first season of the series took time to gather an audience, which Norton reflected on during a past interview with Fox News in 2018. 

‘It took the whole season to find our audience and get them onboard,’ the actress said. ‘People then loved it and stayed loyal for nine years. In today’s world, a show might get maybe 3-6 episodes to test it.’

Judy added, ‘And it’s even harder now because there’s so much competition today. A show could be gone before you even knew it existed. 

‘So we were in a very fortunate time in television where we were given that opportunity to stick around long enough for an audience to find us.’ 

In regards to playing Mary Ellen throughout the span of 211 episodes, Norton stated that she ‘relates to aspects of my character.’ 

However, she had felt that at times her life had been ‘on display’ while talking about growing on with the show. 

‘At times it was difficult as an actor because as I was going through those angst-ridden years, they were also being reflected in the story that was being told… 

‘It took the whole season to find our audience and get them onboard,’ the actress said. ‘People then loved it and stayed loyal for nine years. In today’s world, a show might get maybe 3-6 episodes to test it’; seen on show with Peter Fox in 1977 

In regards to playing Mary Ellen throughout the span of 211 episodes, Norton stated that she ‘relates to aspects of my character’

‘So at times I felt, “Oh goodness, my life is on display and this is really making me feel self-conscious.” All those things made it a wonderful show, but sometimes it was uncomfortable to go portray that.’ 

When the series came to an end in 1981, three TV movies premiered throughout 1982 – such as A Wedding On Walton’s Mountain and A Day For Thanks On Walton’s Mountain. 

Three additional TV movies aired in the 90s, including A Walton Wedding and A Walton Easter. 

Norton took on other minor roles in shows such as The Love Boat and Stargate SG-1. 

In 1985, the actress posed nude for a spread in Playboy magazine to shed her good-girl image, which she later came to regret.

‘I was getting a lot of advice from people who were representing me at the time,’ Judy said.

‘They felt it would be a good, positive career move. I wouldn’t say that was the case and it’s one of those things that if I knew then what I know now, I wouldn’t have made the choice.’ 

In 1985, the actress posed nude for a spread in Playboy magazine to shed her good-girl image, which she later came to regret; seen in 1983 in L.A.

Aside from appearing on the screen, Norton has also followed her passion for performing on the stage – which she began doing as a young child; seen in 2012 in L.A. 

She continued to appear in both TV and movie projects over the years – with her last credit being a 2022 short film titled Space Limbo, per her IMDB page.   

Aside from appearing on the screen, Norton has also followed her passion for performing on the stage – which she began doing as a young child. 

The star has taken on roles in productions such as Hello Dolly, The Sound Of Music and Annie Get Your Gun. 

And in 2015, she dropped her album Reflections – which ‘features a collection of standards and Broadway songs,’ per her official website.