Nancy Kulp was a famous actress. You might know her as Miss Jane Hathaway from The Beverly Hillbillies. She had a long career in TV, movies, and theater. People often ask about her money. How much was she worth? How did she earn it? This article tells you all about Nancy Kulp’s wealth, her estate, and how she made her money. I’m Carrie S. Johnson, and I’ve spent seven years writing about people’s net worth.
Who Was Nancy Kulp?
Nancy Kulp was born on August 28, 1921, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Her family wasn’t rich. Her dad, Robert Kulp, sold things as a traveling salesman. Her mom, Marjorie Kulp, was a teacher and later a school principal. Nancy was their only child. She loved books and acting even as a kid.
She went to college at Florida State College for Women, now called Florida State University. She got a degree in journalism in 1943. Later, she studied English and French at the University of Miami. During World War II, she joined the U.S. Navy. She worked as a lieutenant and got a special award called the American Campaign Medal. After the war, she moved to Hollywood. That’s where her acting career began.
How Did Nancy Start Acting?
Nancy didn’t plan to act at first. In 1951, she moved to Hollywood to work at MGM, a big movie company. She helped with publicity, like writing about movies. But two important people, director George Cukor and casting director Billy Gordon, saw she could act. They told her to try it. That year, she got her first movie role in The Model and the Marriage Broker.
In the 1950s, Nancy played small parts in movies. You might have seen her in Shane (1953), Sabrina (1954), or A Star Is Born (1954). She also acted on TV. She played Pamela Livingstone on The Bob Cummings Show from 1955 to 1959. Her funny voice and great acting made people notice her. These early jobs helped her earn money and build her career.
Her Big Success: The Beverly Hillbillies
Nancy became a star in 1962. She got the role of Miss Jane Hathaway on The Beverly Hillbillies. This TV show was a big hit. It ran on CBS for nine years, from 1962 to 1971. Nancy played a smart, funny bank secretary. She was in 246 episodes, and people loved her character.
The show made Nancy a lot of money. Back then, TV actors didn’t earn as much as today. Sources say Nancy made about $1,000 to $2,000 per episode at first. Later, as the show got more popular, she earned more. In today’s money (2025), that’s like $8,500 to $17,000 per episode. Being on the show for so long was her biggest way to make money.
Nancy was so good as Miss Jane that she got an Emmy nomination in 1967. That showed how talented she was. The show also gave her residuals. These are payments actors get when a show plays again on TV, DVDs, or streaming. Even years later, these payments added to her wealth.
Other Acting Jobs
Nancy didn’t just act in The Beverly Hillbillies. She was in lots of other TV shows and movies. Here are some of her roles:
- Pamela Livingstone in The Bob Cummings Show (1955–1959). She played a neighbor who loved birds.
- An English maid in I Love Lucy (1956).
- Wilhelmina Peterson in the movie The Night of the Grizzly (1966).
- The voice of Frou-Frou, a horse, in Disney’s The Aristocats (1970).
- Guest roles on The Love Boat (1978) and Sanford and Son (1975–1976).
- Aaronetta Gibbs in a Broadway play called Morning’s at Seven (1980–1981).
These jobs showed Nancy could play many kinds of characters. She was always funny and memorable. Each role added a little more to her bank account, but The Beverly Hillbillies was her biggest money-maker.
Other Ways Nancy Made Money
Nancy didn’t only earn money from acting. She was smart with her cash. Here are other ways she built her wealth:
Writing a Book
In 1989, Nancy wrote a book called Miss Jane’s Guide to Life. It shared her ideas about life and her time as an actress. The book wasn’t a huge hit, but it made her some money. It also helped people remember her.
Smart Investments
Nancy saved her money wisely. Some reports say she bought real estate, like a house in Studio City, Los Angeles. That house sold for $2 million in 2024, but Nancy didn’t own it then. Still, it shows she picked good properties. Her investments helped her money grow.
Teaching and Speaking
After The Beverly Hillbillies, Nancy taught acting at Juniata College in Pennsylvania. She also worked as an artist-in-residence. These jobs gave her a steady paycheck. She also spoke at events about her Hollywood days. People paid to hear her stories, which added to her income.
TV Residuals
The Beverly Hillbillies is still on TV and streaming today. Every time it plays, actors like Nancy got paid residuals. Even after she died in 1991, her estate kept earning from these reruns. Things like DVDs and merchandise, like posters, also brought in money.
How Much Was Nancy Kulp Worth?
When Nancy died in 1991, her net worth was about $1 million to $2 million. In 2025 money, that’s like $2 million to $4 million. Some websites say her worth was $10 million or even $120 million today, but those numbers don’t add up. They seem too high and don’t have good proof. The $1 million to $2 million range makes more sense based on trusted sources.
Nancy’s money came from acting, her book, investments, teaching, and residuals. She didn’t spend a lot. She lived a simple life, which helped her save her wealth.
What Happened to Her Estate?
Nancy passed away on February 3, 1991, in Palm Desert, California. She had cancer and was 69 years old. Her estate was private, but she gave a lot to charity. She cared about animals, education, and health. Groups like the Humane Society of the Desert and United Cerebral Palsy got money from her.
Her estate still earned money after her death. Residuals from The Beverly Hillbillies kept coming in. Her book sales also added a little. Nancy planned her money well, so her estate stayed strong.
How Nancy Made Her Money
Nancy’s wealth came from many places. Here’s how she earned it:
- TV Acting: Her role as Miss Jane Hathaway was her biggest job. She was in almost every episode of The Beverly Hillbillies. She also earned residuals from reruns.
- Movies: Small roles in films like Shane and The Aristocats paid her well.
- Theater: Acting in plays, like Morning’s at Seven on Broadway, added to her income.
- Book: Miss Jane’s Guide to Life made some money from sales.
- Investments: She put money into real estate and other things to grow her wealth.
- Teaching: Working at Juniata College gave her steady pay.
- Speaking: She got paid to talk about her career at events.
Nancy’s Personal Life
Nancy married Charles Malcolm Dacus in 1951. They split up in 1961 and had no kids. She didn’t marry again. She kept her private life quiet. Some reports say she was open about liking both men and women, but this didn’t change her career or money.
Nancy lived simply. She didn’t buy fancy things like some stars. She spent time on a farm in Connecticut and later lived in Palm Springs. Her simple life helped her save money and stay out of debt.
Her Work in Politics and Charity
In 1984, Nancy ran for Congress in Pennsylvania. She was a Democrat and wanted to help her community. She lost to a man named Bud Shuster. Her Beverly Hillbillies co-star Buddy Ebsen made an ad against her, calling her “too liberal.” Running for office cost her money, but it showed she cared about people.
Nancy also helped actors by serving on the Screen Actors Guild board. She worked for better pay and rights for actors. She gave money to charities, like ones for animals and health. This didn’t make her rich, but it made her respected.
Why Nancy’s Story Is Special
Nancy Kulp net worth isn’t just about money. Her $1 million to $2 million shows she had a great career. But her life was more than dollars. She played a smart, funny woman on The Beverly Hillbillies. That role inspired people, especially women, in Hollywood. Her character, Miss Jane, is still loved today.
Nancy’s story teaches us about money, too. She earned from many jobs, saved wisely, and gave to others. She didn’t waste her money on big houses or cars. Instead, she helped charities and planned for the future.
How Nancy’s Wealth Compares
Nancy’s $1 million to $2 million net worth was good for her time. Today, TV stars can make millions per episode. But in the 1960s and 1970s, her earnings were strong for a supporting actress. Her co-star Buddy Ebsen probably made more because he was the main star. Still, Nancy’s steady work and smart saving kept her comfortable.
Wrapping Up
Nancy Kulp’s net worth was about $1 million to $2 million when she died in 1991. That’s like $2 million to $4 million today. She earned it from acting, especially as Miss Jane Hathaway on The Beverly Hillbillies. She also made money from movies, theater, a book, investments, and teaching. Nancy lived simply and saved wisely. She gave a lot to charity, which made her legacy even bigger.
Disclaimer: This article is only for information. It is not advice about money, business, or life. All net worth numbers are best estimates and may not be exact. We use public sources, news, and research, but we cannot promise they are 100% right. This is not a promotional or affiliate article. We do not make money if you read, click, or buy anything.
