Jess Walton currently stars as Jill Abbott on The Young and the Restless, a role she has had since 1987! Along with the popular soap, Walton has worked on other projects — like the TV movie Christmas With a View, as well as primetime shows like The Six Million Dollar Man, S.W.A.T., Starsky and Hutch, and many others.
Not only that, but she also was a pivotal member of the cast of the CBS soap Capitol. From her acting mentor to the rockstars she got close to, here are five fast facts you need to know about The Young and the Restless star, Jess Walton.
In The Beginning
Walton was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, but she was raised in Toronto, Canada. She attended Loretto Abbey Catholic Secondary School, but she decided to leave home at the age of 17 to join a local theater company. Her first job was being a claims adjuster at Ontario Hospital Services Commission in Canada.
Acting Mentor
Walton got the role of Jill Abbott on YR in 1987. While this opportunity was incredible for a number of reasons, it also allowed Walton to work with her mentor, Jeanne Cooper, who played Jill’s rival, Katherine Chancellor. Walton and Cooper became very good friends and stayed close until Cooper’s passing in May 2013.
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Close To Rockstars
After moving to California, Walton began dating a music manager who worked for Joni Mitchell and Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young. While dating this manager, she spent a lot of time with the artists. In fact, one of the houses on Joni Mitchell’s album cover for Ladies of the Canyon is Walton’s!
Twice Married
Walton married her first husband, Oscar-nominated actor Bruce Davison, back in 1972. Davison starred in Willard and the X-Men franchise. However, the couple split the following year. She married her current husband, John James, a grief recovery author, in 1980. They have a son Cole, she has a step-daughter, Allison, and a grandson.
Mother-Son Acting Team
Walton and her real-life son, Cole, actually worked together on a play back in 2003. They portrayed a mother and son in the show Raw Comedy, Nothing Half Baked. The Young and the Restless (YR) airs weekdays on CBS. Check your local listings for airtimes.
Video Credit: Daytime Confidential
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