Jess Walton (born February 18, 1949) is an American actress, best known for her role as Jill Foster Abbott on the American soap opera, The Young and the Restless.

Early life

Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Walton left home at the age of 17 and joined a Toronto theater company. She attended the prestigious Loretto Abbey in Toronto. In 1969, she moved to Hollywood, and became part of the music and arts crowd there.

Walton briefly dated one of the managers for Joni Mitchell and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and for a time, she associated with them and other musicians, including Laura Nyro and Neil Young. In an interview, Walton recalled a memorable occasion where Nyro taught Walton and Mitchell how to belly dance. Walton says that one of the houses featured on Joni Mitchell's Ladies of the Canyon cover belonged to her.

In the 1970s, after signing with Universal Studios, she guest-starred on Kojak as a high-priced call girl. She also appeared on The F.B.I. and in the motorcycle movie The Peace Killers.

In 1980, Walton entered rehabilitation after coming to terms with a drug and alcohol addiction.


Television

After her recovery, she portrayed the role of Kelly Harper on the soap opera Capitol, until the show was cancelled in 1987.

Walton is perhaps best known for her portrayal of Jill Foster Abbott on the soap opera The Young and the Restless. She assumed the role in 1987, after prior portrayer Brenda Dickson left after an acrimonious fallout with producers. She is the fourth actress to play the part on a contract basis. Walton has been lauded for her portrayal of Jill, and is the only actress to win an Daytime Emmy Award for her work as Jill Foster Abbott. To date Walton has won two Daytime Emmy awards for her work on The Young and the Restless.

* The Young and the Restless - Jill Abbott (June 1987 to Present)
* Capitol - Shelly Granger/Kelly Harper (1984-1987)
* The Hunted Lady - Kate (1977)
* The Streets Of San Francisco, In Case Of Madness - Lois Flynn (1976)
* Six Million Dollar Man - Taneha (1975)
* You'll Never See Me Again - Vicki Bliss (1973)
* The Peace Killers - Kristy (1971)
* The Strawberry Statement - Student (1970)
* Gunsmoke