Nancy Parsons was born in Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota, to Mary Margaret née Samsa and Charles Walter Parsons. She had two siblings, Mary Jean Parsons and Theresa Mae Macrae née Parsons. When she was seventeen, her father remarried Genevieve Stack and moved with the three girls to South Pasadena, California.
It was here that Nancy's passion for acting first emerged, when she appeared in the senior play and was subsequently awarded a full scholarship to the renowned Pasadena Playhouse, where she studied from 1960 to 1962. During her time at the playhouse, she had the opportunity to perform in a wide range of productions, including works by notable playwrights such as Edward Albee, Clifford Odets, Tennessee Williams, Max Bollinger, and William Shakespeare.
After graduating, Nancy married Alan Hipwell and gave birth to two daughters, Elizabeth Hipwell on November 3, 1964, and Margaret Hipwell on October 7, 1969. However, she eventually divorced her husband and returned to her acting career.
While completing her theatre degree at UCLA, Nancy won the prestigious Hugh O'Brien Award, which marked a significant turning point in her career. This award led to her meeting her lifelong friend and agent, Susan Smith. Throughout her career, Nancy received numerous accolades, including a Family Film Award for Best Actress in Porky's Revenge (1985),an Academy of Science Fiction and Fantasy nomination for Best Supporting Actress in Motel Hell (1980),a Dramalogue Award for the play "Dead End At Sunset," and a woman of the year award from the Alumni Association of her alma mater, The Pasadena Playhouse.
Despite her many career achievements, Nancy's greatest legacy is the inspiration she has left behind. She believed that art was the noblest of paths one could follow, requiring immense courage, stamina, and chutzpah. Nancy is survived by her daughters, Margot Hipwell, and her grandchildren, Cassidy Coulson, and Jasper Coulson, as well as her daughter Elizabeth Hipwell.
