Actress. She is best remembered for her portrayal of the vivacious Abigale Prentice in "Blue Hawaii" (1961). Born Nancy Driver, while working as a secretary in a lawyers office, she was encouraged by her peers to pursue a career in modeling due in part to the popularity of her looks. After relocating to New York City, New York, she signed with the Forbes Agency and became a popular cover girl for "Glamour", "Vogue," "Harper's Bazaar," and "Mademoiselle". Following the completion of her theatrical training at the Neighborhood Playhouse, she made her theatrical debut in "Ankles Aweigh", where she was discovered by a talent scout who brought her out to California for several screen and vocal tests. Upon being reviewed by director, Jack Arnold, he was so impressed by her dark good looks, poise, and charm, that he arranged for her to begin a career in the film industry beginning with her appearing under his supervision per a leading role in "Monster on the Campus" (1958). From there, she would go on to enjoy a successful career as a character actress in film and television; often typecast as young wives, faithful friends, nurses, retail clerks, debutantes, playgirls, chorines, attractive neighbors, love interests, femme fatales, singers, and businesswomen. She appeared in such feature films as "Bells Are Ringing" (1960), "The Green Helmut" (1961), and "The Singing Nun" (1966). On television, she became a household name appearing in various guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "Tightrope," "77 Sunset Strip," "The Monkees," "Gunsmoke," "He & She," "Mr. Terrific," and "Get Smart". In addition, she toured the nation appearing as a leading lady in such stage productions as "The Philadelphia Story," "Dinner at Eight," "Blithe Spirit," "The Boys from Syracuse," "My Sister Eileen," "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs," "My Fair Lady," "The Glass Menagerie," "A Streetcar Named Desire," "The Mousetrap," and "Enchantment". During her career, she was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, had been an active parishioner of the Church of the Nazarene, was active within the Hollywood Republican Committee, had been accoladed as the 1958 Deb Star, was a chairwoman for her local charters of the American Red Cross and the March of Dimes, and she was married to Lt. Paul Payne from 1962 until his death (their union produced no children). After withdrawing from acting in 1967, she became an ordained minister and spent the remainder of her life active with religious and charitable causes, until her death from the complications of pancreatic cancer.
Actress. She is best remembered for her portrayal of the vivacious Abigale Prentice in "Blue Hawaii" (1961). Born Nancy Driver, while working as a secretary in a lawyers office, she was encouraged by her peers to pursue a career in modeling due in part to the popularity of her looks. After relocating to New York City, New York, she signed with the Forbes Agency and became a popular cover girl for "Glamour", "Vogue," "Harper's Bazaar," and "Mademoiselle". Following the completion of her theatrical training at the Neighborhood Playhouse, she made her theatrical debut in "Ankles Aweigh", where she was discovered by a talent scout who brought her out to California for several screen and vocal tests. Upon being reviewed by director, Jack Arnold, he was so impressed by her dark good looks, poise, and charm, that he arranged for her to begin a career in the film industry beginning with her appearing under his supervision per a leading role in "Monster on the Campus" (1958). From there, she would go on to enjoy a successful career as a character actress in film and television; often typecast as young wives, faithful friends, nurses, retail clerks, debutantes, playgirls, chorines, attractive neighbors, love interests, femme fatales, singers, and businesswomen. She appeared in such feature films as "Bells Are Ringing" (1960), "The Green Helmut" (1961), and "The Singing Nun" (1966). On television, she became a household name appearing in various guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "Tightrope," "77 Sunset Strip," "The Monkees," "Gunsmoke," "He & She," "Mr. Terrific," and "Get Smart". In addition, she toured the nation appearing as a leading lady in such stage productions as "The Philadelphia Story," "Dinner at Eight," "Blithe Spirit," "The Boys from Syracuse," "My Sister Eileen," "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs," "My Fair Lady," "The Glass Menagerie," "A Streetcar Named Desire," "The Mousetrap," and "Enchantment". During her career, she was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, had been an active parishioner of the Church of the Nazarene, was active within the Hollywood Republican Committee, had been accoladed as the 1958 Deb Star, was a chairwoman for her local charters of the American Red Cross and the March of Dimes, and she was married to Lt. Paul Payne from 1962 until his death (their union produced no children). After withdrawing from acting in 1967, she became an ordained minister and spent the remainder of her life active with religious and charitable causes, until her death from the complications of pancreatic cancer.
Bio by: Lowell Thurgood
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