The names Nancy Kulp and Miss Jane Hathaway are forever linked like peanut butter and jelly. Miss Hathaway, secretary to banker Mr. Drysdale, was Kulp's celebrity-producing role on the hugely popular series "The Beverly Hillbillies" (1962-1971).
A journalism major in college, Kulp served in the Navy during part of World War II, then found a publicity job in Hollywood. Her name at birth was spelled Culp, but she altered the spelling so as not to conflict with fellow actor Robert Culp.
Her early movie work included roles in "Shane," "The Caddy," and "Sabrina"; and her early TV work, "I Love Lucy," "The Red Skelton Show," "The Bob Cummings Show," The Jack Benny Program," "Perry Mason," and "The Twilight Zone."
As Miss Hathaway, she was a skinny, man-hungry nose-in-the-air, uptight spinster. Her erudition and clipped accent was just the right contrast to the Clampets' untutored rural innocence. Her fluttery performance when in the presence of the muscular Jethro Clampet was especially hilarious.
Later, she appeared in such shows as "Sanford and Son" and "The Brian Keith Show." In the 1980s, she ran unsuccessfully for Congress. At age 67, she came out openly as lesbian.
Kulp died of cancer in 1991 at age 69.
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