We read the news in disbelief, as they announced the death of Deborah Walley, a few months ago. She will be greatly missed throughout the world, both as an actress, and as a person.

As the daughter of the famous figure skating parents, Nate and Edythe Walley, she traveled with the Ice Capades as a youth. Her first public appearance was in Madison Square Garden in New York City when she was only three.

Visions of Deborah bring memories of the cute, perky star of the 60s, who first stole our hearts as Gidget, in Gidget Goes Hawaiian.

She was such a hit that she was voted Photoplay Magazine's Most Popular Actor of the Year in 1961.
 

She made a giant leap into the Elvis world with her unforgettable portrayal of Les, the drum playing tom-boy in Spinout.

Deborah Walley has worn several hats in the entertainment field, including actress, model, writer, producer and director.

She was very interested in children's works and was the co-founder of Pied Piper Productions, a non-profit theater company, that brought live theater to schools.

She wrote and developed many stories over the years for others, as well as her own company, Swiftwind Productions.

In 1990, she wrote and produced the award winning children's story The Vision of Seeks-to-Hunt-Great. The story of a young Indian who risks his life to follow his vision of embracing a mountain lion.

In 1991 she co-founded Swifwind Theater Company in Sedona, Arizona.

In 1993 she published the wonderful children's book, Grandfather’s Good Medicine.

She was also the founder of the Sedona Children’s Theatre.

HER MOVIES INCLUDED:

Gidget Goes Hawaiian 1961
James Darren, Michael Callan and an all-star cast
Bon Voyage! 1962
Fred MacMurry and Jane Wyman
Summer Magic 1963
Hayley Mills and Burl Ives
The Young Lovers 1964
Peter Fonda and Nick Adams
Sergeant Deadhead 1965
Eve Arden, Frankie Avalon and Ceasar Romero
Ski Party 1965
Frankie Avalon, Dwayne Hickman and Yvonne Craig
Beach Blanket Bingo 1965
Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello
Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine 1965
Frankie Avalon, Vincent Price and Dwayne Hickman
Spinout 1966
Elvis and Shelley Fabares
The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini 1966
Boris Karloff, Tommy Kirk and Nancy Sinatra
It’s a Bikini World 1967
Tommy Kirk
The Bubble 1967
Michael Cole and Johnny Desmond
Benji 1974
Patsy Garrett, Peter Breck and of course the loveable Benji