She was born in Santa Monica, California, to parents Harry and Constance (née Glazebrook) Norton.

[4] Norton posed nude for a 1985 issue of Playboy in a bid to shed her "goody-goody Waltons image".

An avid athlete, Norton has participated in competitive horse jumping and skydiving, in addition to skiing and tennis.

Norton frequently showcased her athletic skills on Battle of the Network Stars in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

[7] “Meet the Bunch”; “Good-bye Chewy”; “You want to sell what?” “A Tale of two zooms”, “Stay the F**K Home!”; “Shut up and ACT!!