Judy Ann Nugent was born on August 22, 1940, in Los Angeles, California.

A few bit parts in films were followed by her landing a regular role in television's first family sitcom, The Ruggles (1949–1952).

Two of her roles were as Jet Maypen for the Walt Disney Presents: Annette serial on The Mickey Mouse Club and as little Ann Carson, the little blind girl who flew around the world with Superman, on the Adventures of Superman.

As she reached adulthood, her parts were mainly guest appearances on television shows, including the ABC/Warner Brothers Television series 77 Sunset Strip and Sugarfoot, as well as Willie Carson in the Rawhide episode Incident of the Night Horse.

On March 18, 1961, Nugent married actor Buck Taylor,[7] but reportedly began annulment proceedings within less than a month.