On August 28, 1921, Nancy Kulp was born. She is best known for her part as Miss Jane Hathaway on the TV show “The Beverly Hillbillies.” As an actor, writer, and comedian, she had a wide range of roles and was in over ninety movies and TV shows. Nancy Kulp net worth of about $1 million when she died of cancer at age 69 in 1991. She had earned this money through her long work as an actress and other professional activities. They were only married for a short time, from 1951 to 1961, and they did not have any children.
Even though she was famous, Kulp later taught acting and had a less busy life until she died in Palm Desert, California.
Quick Bio
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Nancy Jane Kulp |
| Birth Date | August 28, 1921 |
| Birth Place | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Death Date | February 3, 1991 |
| Death Place | Palm Desert, California, USA |
| Known For | Actress best known as Miss Jane Hathaway on The Beverly Hillbillies |
| Education | Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Florida State College for Women (1943); graduate studies in English and French at University of Miami |
| Military Service | U.S. Naval Reserve lieutenant junior grade during World War II |
| Career Highlights | Over 90 film and TV appearances; Emmy nomination for The Beverly Hillbillies role; roles on The Bob Cummings Show, Broadway, and various films |
| Political Activity | Ran unsuccessfully for U.S. House of Representatives (1984) in Pennsylvania |
| Other Roles | Actress, writer, comedian, teacher, linguist, political candidate |
| Marital Status | Married Charles Malcolm Dacus (1951–1961) |
| Net Worth (estimated) | Approximately $1 million at the time of death |
| Personal Notes | Kept private about her personal life; publicly acknowledged her lesbianism late in life |
Nancy Kulp Net Worth in 2025
At the time of her death in 1991, Nancy Kulp was worth about $1 million. She was best known for her part as Miss Jane Hathaway on The Beverly Hillbillies. Her main source of wealth came from her successful acting career, which included over ninety roles in movies and TV shows, as well as other business activities. Kulp died of cancer in Palm Desert, California, at the age of 69.
Comparative Net Worth: Beverly Hillbillies Co-Stars
| Actor | Role | Estimated Net Worth at Death / Current | Key Income Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buddy Ebsen | Jed Clampett | Multi-million, notably higher | Lead sitcom salary, film roles, commercial work |
| Irene Ryan | Granny | Moderate million-range | TV salary, guest roles, endorsements |
| Raymond Bailey | Mr. Drysdale | Estimated moderate | Supporting role salary, residuals |
| Max Baer Jr. | Jethro Bodine | Multi-million | Lead role salary, casinos, producing |
| Nancy Kulp | Miss Jane Hathaway | Approx. $1 million (estimate) | Supporting role salary, TV residuals, appearances |
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Business Ventures and Income Sources
Most of Nancy Kulp’s businesses and sources of income came from her work in entertainment, with some politics and educational work added in later. The main thing that brought her money was:
- Career: Kulp was a very busy character actress who was in over 90 movies and TV shows. Her most famous part was as Miss Jane Hathaway on The Beverly Hillbillies (1962–1971). She was also in movies like “The Parent Trap” and “The Three Faces of Eve,” and from the 1950s to the 1980s, she was in a lot of TV shows. Her steady work in movies and TV shows was the main source of her income and net worth.
- Theater and Broadway: In addition to work on the big screen, she did work on Broadway in shows like Morning’s at Seven from 1980 to 1981, which brought in extra money.
- Activities in politics: She ran as a Democrat for the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania’s 9th district in 1984 but lost. She had worked on different projects for the Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee before this. These political activities probably didn’t bring in a lot of money for her, but they were part of her work as a whole.
- Teaching: After she retired, Nancy Kulp worked as an artist-in-residence and taught acting at Juniata College in Pennsylvania. This helped her make money.
- Other Jobs: Before she became an actress, Kulp worked in marketing at MGM Studios. She also served on the Screen Actors Guild board, but that was more of a volunteer job. The public doesn’t know about any other big business deals or investments she made.
After looking at everything, Nancy Kulp mostly made money from acting (on screen and in the theater), some teaching jobs later on, and some politics and publicity work. At the time of her death, her estimated net worth was about $1 million, mostly from steady income from show business.
Real State Ownership and Properties
The house that Nancy Kulp lived in was a famous piece of real estate in Studio City, California. This house is said to be in a good spot and have a single floor. It has both modern updates and classic charm. It has big living areas inside and outside with views of the mountains, a big deck outside, mature trees for privacy, and extras like a charging station for electric cars. The property is on a large, mostly flat lot that has permission for possible additions like a casita, office, or yoga studio. People want to live in this neighborhood because it’s close to restaurants, shops, and nature parks.
This Studio City home was built in 1946 and has been updated a lot since Nancy Kulp lived there. It was recently offered for rent or sale for just under $2 million. No records show that she owned any other important properties that were known to the public, so this house seems to be the only one that is linked to her name.
Personal Life
The private parts of Nancy Kulp’s life were pretty complicated and kept to herself. Charles Malcolm Dacus and she got married in 1951, but they were only married for ten years before they split up in 1961. After that, she never got married again. Nancy Kulp later came out as a lesbian, even though she married a guy. She had kept this a secret for most of her life because of the social stigma at the time. Some of her close friends said she was having relationships with women, and she made hints about her sexuality in conversations.
She first lived on a farm in Connecticut after she retired. Later, she moved to Palm Springs, California, and spent her time volunteering with groups like the Humane Society of the Desert. People knew that she kept her personal life quiet and focused on her work and charity work instead. She died in Palm Desert, California, in 1991 from cancer at the age of 69.
Career Journey
From 1951 to 1952, Nancy Kulp lived in Los Angeles and worked in the marketing department for MGM. Director George Cukor told her to try acting, and in that same year, she made her movie debut in The Model and the Marriage Broker. Through the 1950s, she was in many movies and TV shows, such as Shane, Sabrina, and The Three Faces of Eve (1957); she was also in The Bob Cummings Show and the NBC comedy It’s a Great Life (1955–56).
She had parts on TV shows like “I Love Lucy,” “Perry Mason,” “The Twilight Zone,” and “My Three Sons.” Soon after her work on My Three Sons in 1962, Kulp got her big break when she was cast as the proper and efficient Miss Jane Hathaway on the CBS show The Beverly Hillbillies. She played this role for the show’s nine seasons, ending in 1971. For her work, she was nominated for an Emmy in 1967.
Now that The Beverly Hillbillies was over, Kulp kept acting in recurring parts on shows like The Brian Keith Show (1973) and Sanford and Son (1975). A Broadway part in Morning’s at Seven in 1980–81 was one of the roles she played in the theater. After that, she only appeared on TV occasionally. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, she had guest parts on The Love Boat and Quantum Leap.
Kulp did more than just play. He also got involved in politics by running unsuccessfully for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1984. She also taught acting later in life and did volunteer work before she died in 1991.
Physical Measurements
- Height: 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm)
- Body Type: Slim
- Eye Color: Blue
- Hair Color: Blonde
Struggles with Mental Health, Addiction & Homelessness
Not only was Nancy Kulp famous as an actor, but she also had big problems in her personal life. Because of how intolerant people were at the time, her marriage to Charles Malcolm Dacus was hard. After he found out she was gay, he abused her verbally and physically. Over ten years of problems made this marriage end in divorce. Nancy went through a lot of physical and emotional pain because of this relationship, but she decided to feel sorry for the other person instead of being angry. She also fought an unknown cancer in the early 1990s, which was very hard on her physically and emotionally until she died at age 69 in 1991.
There isn’t any public evidence that she struggled with addiction or homelessness, but her personal problems included a harsh marriage and the shame she felt because of her sexuality, which she had to deal with in secret while working. In later years, she found comfort in teaching, doing volunteer work, and taking care of animals, which helped her get through hard times. Heavy smoking and being around secondhand smoke on set may have made her sick later on.
Current Status
People still remember Nancy Kulp as a classic TV star, especially for her part as Miss Jane Hathaway on The Beverly Hillbillies. She died in 1991. In 2025, her impact is still felt by fans and people in the entertainment business. Kulp was known for more than just her acting job. She was also known for being tough, smart, and dedicated to causes like teaching and community service. Even though she stopped being famous a long time ago, she is still admired for going against social rules, living her true life, and inspiring others through it. People still look up to her after she’s gone because of the important things she did in TV, politics, and education.
Nancy Kulp died in 1991, so she no longer has a “status” as a living person. However, her legacy and influence on classic TV shows and progressive social ideals are still important today, in 2025.
Public Perception & Media Coverage
Nancy Kulp’s part as Miss Jane Hathaway on The Beverly Hillbillies made her famous and got her good reviews. Because of how smart, funny, and charming she was, her character became a sign of the show’s humor and the difference between life in the country and life in the city. People liked her because she was the perfect contrast to the Clampett family. She brought a professional and often funny sternness to the show that balanced out the more country characters.
Buddy Ebsen and the actors had great chemistry on screen, which was a big part of the show’s success. But off-screen, they had big personal and ideological differences that showed in their different worldviews and sometimes caused stress. In spite of these problems off-screen, both stayed professional, which helped the show stay famous and made Kulp a beloved figure in classic TV.
During and after her career, the media talked about her as a sharp, very smart actor who gave her roles a lot of depth and nuance. Some people found it funny how she looked, but people respected her for how hard she worked and how skilled she was. Many people still remember Kulp as a classic TV star who was both charming and smart, earning respect and love from both viewers and reviewers.
FAQs
What was Nancy Kulp’s net worth at death?
Nancy Kulp’s estimated net worth at death was around $1 million, mostly from acting, TV residuals, and public events.
Did Nancy Kulp have a child?
Sarah Kulp did not have any kids.
What happened to Nancy Kulp?
She was 69 years old when she died of cancer in Palm Desert, California, on February 3, 1991.
Who was Nancy Kulp’s husband?
From 1951 until they split up in 1961, she was married to Charles Malcolm Dacus.
Was Nancy Kulp in the military?
She did serve in World War II as a junior lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserve.
How old was Nancy Kulp when she died?
She was 69 years old.
What role made Nancy Kulp famous?
Many people know her from her part as Miss Jane Hathaway on The Beverly Hillbillies.
Did Nancy Kulp and Buddy Ebsen get along?
It was said that there was tension during her run for Congress in the 1980s because Ebsen loudly opposed her campaign.
Are Nancy Kulp’s estate records public?
No, the public does not know about her estate or probate data.
Where can I read more about Nancy Kulp?
Her Wikipedia page [Nancy Kulp – Wikipedia] is a broad source.
Conclusion
Nancy Kulp was a talented and interesting person with many sides to her personality. Her legacy goes far beyond her famous part as Miss Jane Hathaway on The Beverly Hillbillies. From her early years as a reporter to her honorable service in the military during World War II to her successful job on TV and her involvement in politics, Kulp showed that she was strong and flexible.
There aren’t many public financial records for her, but a close look at them shows that she was worth about $1 million when she died, mostly from acting, residuals, and public events. Her gifts to the history of television, along with her honorable personal life and work as an advocate, will be remembered for a long time.
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