Television star to visit Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE - Jess Walton, famous for her role on "The Young and the Restless" as Jill Foster Abbott, is coming to visit Moses Lake on Saturday.

Walton will be at The Steakhouse at Moses Pointe for an autograph and picture signing Saturday from noon until 1:30 p.m. for lunch guests, and from 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. for dinner guests.

The Steakhouse at Moses Pointe is located at 4524 Westshore Dr..

"When we came up to visit Larry (Pierce) in the fall last year, that was the first time I had ever set foot in Washington," says Walton. "It was really, really beautiful country and the people were fabulous."

Walton is coming to visit Pierce, owner of Moses Pointe. The two have been friends for more than 20 years, says Walton.

"Everyone in the country knows who she is and she's a total sweetheart," Pierce says. "She's the complete opposite of who she plays on TV and there's 450 million people a day who watch her show worldwide," says Pierce. "She's just coming to do a little Valentine's Day thing."

Walton's acting career began when she was 17 years old and she has been on popular shows including "Starsky and Hutch," "The Six Million Dollar Man" and "Gunsmoke," as well as "The Young and The Restless," where she won two Daytime Emmy Awards.  

"Each genre I enjoyed, but I started out in theater and that's where my heart is," Walton says. "This soap opera thing was so convenient for raising a family. You don't work long hours and you don't work too far from home, I love it."

Although she has been a major character on "The Young and The Restless" since 1987, Walton says her work all depends on her story line in the show.

When asked what advice she had for aspiring actors and actresses, Walton says studying is key.

"A lot of people want to just become stars and that doesn't work unless you are someone like Paris Hilton," says Walton. "If you are really interested in acting, take lessons." 

Walton says she likes the Pacific Northwest very much and would like to retire here with her son and his family.

"I am from Canada, so I love the woods," Walton says. "I've loved the city so much, but we're coming to retiring age and looking at retiring in the Pacific Northwest. We could have a farm and looking into owning horses. I did a lot of riding when I was a young girl and I love nature, I've always loved being out with nature. When I retire maybe I'll just commute back and forth. It's exciting to do a big change like this." 

Walton currently lives in California with her husband, John James, who the founder of the Grief Recovery Institute. In the past, Walton answered phones for the institute's hotline. 

"It was my way to give back until we found that it was better for me to go on celebrity game shows, win money for the institute and then donate it," says Walton. "I find that we can give in every area of our lives to other people." 

Walton says she is excited to meet fans and is always happy to visit the Moses Lake area.

"I love the people who watch the show and have watched it for years, they follow the show and follow my character, and the boundaries are down, so I am really excited to be there," says Walton.

For more information, call 509-764-2275 extension 4.