Jess Walton

Jess Walton, born Mary Jesse Walton, is an American actress known for her roles in various television shows and soap operas. She gained fame for her portrayal of Kelly Harper in the CBS soap opera Capitol and as Jill Abbott on the long-running CBS soap opera, The Young and the Restless. Walton was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, but grew up in Toronto, Canada, where she attended Loretto Abbey Catholic Secondary School. At the age of 17, she left home and joined a Toronto theater company. In 1969, she moved to Hollywood and signed with Universal Studios. Throughout the 1970s, Walton appeared in guest roles on popular shows like Medical Center, Kojak, and The Rockford Files. Additionally, she co-starred in the films The Strawberry Statement, The Peace Killers, and Monkeys in the Attic. Walton's personal life included a brief marriage to actor Bruce Davison from 1972-1973.