A native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Nancy Kulp majored in journalism at Florida State University and made her way to Hollywood in 1951. Although she had hopes of a career in television journalism, Kulp quickly began taking acting roles, which led to guest roles on "Perry Mason," "I Love Lucy" and "The Red Skelton Show," among others. Though she appeared in a number of feature films, including "The Three Faces of Eve," "The Parent Trap" and "Who's Minding The Store?" before becoming Jane Hathaway on "The Beverly Hillbillies," Kulp's most prominent role was bird-watcher Pamela Livingstone on "Love That Bob."

Following her Emmy-nominated role on "The Beverly Hillbillies," Kulp appeared on "CHiPs" and "Sanford and Son" as well as in the Broadway production of "Morning's at Seven." Kulp revisted the hills of Beverly in the 1981 made-for-TV movie "The Return of the Beverly Hillbillies" along with Buddy Ebsen and Donna Douglas. Her final role as an actress was in the form of a voice-over in the 1982 film "Computers are People Too." In 1984, Kulp unsuccessfully ran for the Ninth Congressional District's seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, blaming her defeat on a commercial for her opponent, which starred Buddy Ebsen. After her failed foray into politics, she served as an Artist in Residence at Juniata College in Pennsylvania. Nancy Kulp died of cancer in 1991.