Early life

Nancy Valen was born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in Hallandale, Florida. By the time she was 12 years old, she was spending summers modeling in New York City and studied acting at Uta Hagen's HB Studios. After graduating from a performing arts high school in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Valen won a theatrical scholarship to the University of Florida. She ultimately declined the scholarship in favor of continuing her professional career in Miami. Meanwhile, she attended Broward Community College, where she studied theatre and paid for her tuition by modeling and acting, appearing in two episodes of Miami Vice.

After one year of college, Valen went to New York to pursue a theatrical career. Within one month of being in New York, she landed a series regular role on the daytime drama Ryan's Hope. Valen stayed with Ryan's Hope for two years before moving to Los Angeles to pursue other interests.

Career

Acting

Valen made her film debut in Porky's Revenge (1985), followed by a role in The Heavenly Kid with Richard Mulligan and Jane Kaczmarek. In 1989, Valen co-starred alongside Patrick Dempsey in the film, Loverboy. She also had a small role opposite Kirk Cameron in the film Listen to Me. Her other film appearances include Seven Sundays alongside Molly Ringwald; directed by Academy Award-winning director, Jean-Charles Tacchella.

In addition to films, Valen has also appeared in various television series. In 1990, she guest starred in an episode of Saved by the Bell as the brand new school nurse at Bayside High, Jennifer. That same year, she co-starred in NBC's short-lived musical series Hull High under the direction of Kenny Ortega. After the series premiere, TV Guide proclaimed her "the most agreeably watchable new star on TV". Valen has also guest starred on 23 series including Hardball, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Friends, Spin City, Boy Meets World, Miami Vice, and Murder She Wrote.

Valen has also hosted several infomercials for the Bun and Thigh Roller, Slam man, Thin 'n Sexy Body Wrap, Kevin Trudeau's Debt Cures "They" Don't Want You To Know About, Time Life The Heart of Classic Rock, and the Instyler.

Valen has appeared as a guest on Leno, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Day L.A. and on the covers and pages of magazines and newspapers including American Women, FHM, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment Weekly, and The Los Angeles Times Calendar.

Producing

Valen, alongside Craig J. Nevius, formed Windmill Entertainment. Among the television programs she has produced include Living in TV Land, Chasing Farrah, William Shatner in Concert, and Let's Kill Scott Baio.

As an Executive Producer/reality series creator, Valen has partnered with a wide variety of companies including Whoop Inc., Renegade83, 44 Blue, Target, and Intuitive Entertainment. Currently Nancy is partnered with Authentic Entertainment on the series WHEN STAMIE MET TRACY. The series follows two former L Word stars as they raise their three children with their extended modern family. In addition, Valen works with Jarrett Creative Group in partnership with the Biography Channel for the networks’ highest rated series, Celebrity Ghost Stories and the hit series, Celebrity Close Calls.

In the scripted world, Valen has partnered with VH1, ABC, FOX Television and Emmy award winning producer, Tony To. Valen is in development and is a Co-Executive Producer on ACTION HEROES INC. for ABC/Fox Studios. The action-comedy movie franchise stars William Shatner, Robert Wagner and Lee Majors as three former TV heroes turned real life detectives.

Personal life

Since October 1994, Valen has been married to Nels Van Patten (son of actor Dick Van Patten).

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1985	Porky's Revenge!	Ginger
1985	Heavenly Kid, TheThe Heavenly Kid	Melissa
1989	Big Picture, TheThe Big Picture	Young Sharon
1989	Loverboy	Jenny Gordon
1989	Listen to Me	Mia
1992	Final Embrace	Candy Vale / Laurel Parrish
1993	Little Devils: The Birth	Lynn
1994	Seven Sundays	Nicky
1998	Black Thunder	Mela
2003	Written in Blood	Mary Ramson
2007	Wager, TheThe Wager	Tanya Steele

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1985	Miami Vice	Lana	Episode: "The Home Invaders"
1986	Ryan's Hope	Melinda Weaver	1 episode
1988	Charles in Charge	Tammy	Episode: "Barbelles"
1989	Murder, She Wrote	Selina Williams Waverly	Episode: "Night of the Tarantula"
1989	Baywatch	Hallie	Episode: "Panic at Malibu Pier"
1990	Hull High	Donna Breedlove	Main role (8 episodes)
1990	Saved by the Bell	Jennifer	Episode: "From Nurse to Worse"
1991	Young Riders, TheThe Young Riders	Samantha Edgars	Episode: "Color Blind"
1991	Full House	Lisa Green	Episode: "Take My Sister, Please"
1992	Murder, She Wrote	Lily Roland	Episode: "Danse Diabolique"
1992	Perry Mason: The Case of the Fatal Framing	Mala Sikorski	TV film
1993	Silk Stalkings	Sylvia DeCastro	Episode: "Team Spirit"
1994	Silk Stalkings	Dr. Jillian Dupree	Episodes: "Natural Selection: Parts 1 & 2"
1994	Fortune Hunter	Madison Reynolds	Episode: "The Cursed Dagger"
1994	Walker, Texas Ranger	Laura	Episodes: "Something in the Shadows: Parts 1 & 2"
1994	Hardball	Jennifer	Episode: "Pilot"
1994	Boy Meets World	Ms. Kelly	Episode: "Pairing Off"
1995	Friends	Lorraine	Episode: "The One with the Candy Hearts"
1996-1997	Baywatch	Samantha Thomas	Main role (22 episodes)
1997	Viper	Bianca Carson	Episode: "Whistle Blower"
1998	Dune 2000	Fremen Kari (voice)	Video game
1999	Love Boat: The Next Wave, TheThe Love Boat: The Next Wave	Leslie	Episode: "Other People's Business"
2001	Black Scorpion	Det. Angela Archer / Angel of Death	Episode: "Kiss of Death"
2002	Spin City	Ashley	Episode: "Sex, Lies and Video Date"

[ Source: Wikipedia ]