The entertainment industry is reflecting on the legacy of actress and model Judy Pace, who died on March 11 at the age of 82. Known for her work in television and film during the 1970s, Pace built a respected career with roles in popular productions and left behind a family that continues to be connected to the performing arts.
Pace gained recognition for her role as Vickie Fletcher in the television drama Peyton Place. Her screen credits also included the acclaimed sports drama film Brian’s Song and the legal drama series The Young Lawyers. Across television and film, her performances contributed to a career that spanned several decades.
She is survived by her two daughters, Shawn and Julia Pace Mitchell. The family confirmed that Pace passed away peacefully in her sleep. While Shawn pursued a legal career, Mitchell followed her mother into the entertainment industry and established herself as a familiar face on television.
Julia Pace Mitchell’s Television Career
Mitchell began acting in the early 2000s, making guest appearances on television series including Strong Medicine and Law & Order. Her early work helped launch a career that would soon expand into film and daytime television.
In 2009, she appeared in the biographical crime drama Notorious alongside actors Jamal Woolard, Anthony Mackie, Naturi Naughton, and Angela Bassett.
A year later, Mitchell secured a significant role on the long-running CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless. She portrayed Sofia Dupre, a character introduced as a Berlin-based professional engaged to Malcolm Winters. Mitchell appeared in 114 episodes across two seasons before departing the series in 2012. She later made a brief return to the show in 2019.
Recent Work in Film and Television
Following her time on daytime television, Mitchell continued to build her acting portfolio with roles across various projects. She appeared in the 2022 survival thriller Fall, which featured performances from Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Mason Gooding, Grace Caroline Currey, and Virginia Gardner.
Her television work also includes a role as Ms. Patty in the drama series All the Queen’s Men, where she appeared between 2021 and 2023. Additional appearances include the sitcom spinoff Young Sheldon and the 2024 film A Thousand Faces.
Away from the screen, Mitchell married businessman Stephen L. Hightower II in 2011.
A Family Rooted in Acting
Mitchell’s connection to the entertainment world extends through both sides of her family. Her father, Don Mitchell, was a well-known television actor recognized for his role as Mark Sanger in the drama series Ironside and the television film The Return of Ironside. His career also included appearances in the horror film Scream Blacula Scream, the television drama Medical Story, and the disaster film Short Walk to Daylight.
Don Mitchell and Judy Pace were married from 1972 until their separation in 1986. Mitchell died in December 2013 at the age of 70.
Together, the careers of Judy Pace, Don Mitchell, and Julia Pace Mitchell highlight a family legacy closely tied to television and film, spanning multiple generations of performers.
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Source: Owink
