Kate MacDonald in the ABC sitcom 'Growing Pains' and Hattie Durham in the 'Left Behind' Film Series

Chelsea Noble | Biography

Wife of Actor Kirk Cameron

• By Reena Chikanbanjar
• Update : September 03, 2021

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American actress Chelsea Noble is best known for her role as Kate MacDonald in the ABC sitcom Growing Pains and Hattie Durham in the Left Behind film series.

Noble is the wife of her Growing Pains co-star and popular actor Kirk Cameron.

Who is Chelsea Noble?

Chelsea Noble is an American television and film actress. She made her television acting debut in 1988, appearing in the ABC series Full House. She later appeared in television series such as Days of Our Lives, Who’s the Boss?, Cheers, and Bookers before landing a significant role on the American sitcom Growing Pains in 1989. She would then appear in TV movies such as A Little Piece of Heaven (1991), Star Struck (1994), Your Lucky Dog (1998), and Growing Pains: Return of the Seavers (2004). 

Noble’s film credits include Instant Karma (1990), The Willies (1990), and Left Behind film series such as Left Behind: The Movie (2000), Left Behind II: Tribulation Force (2002), and Left Behind III: World at War (2005). 

Early Age 

Nancy Mueller, alias Chelsea Noble, was born on 4 December 1964 in Buffalo, New York. She has one brother named David. She and her brother are both adopted. They were raised by parents Irene and Fred Mueller. After graduating from Maryvale High School, Noble attended SUNY Geneseo in Geneseo, New York from 1983 to 1987. During her college years at SUNY Geneseo, Noble was a member of the Alpha Clionian (Phi Kappa Pi) sorority and played women’s rugby.

Early Acting Career

Noble began her acting career in 1988 when she was cast in Jeff Franklin’s family comedy-drama series Full House. She appeared in the role of Samantha in two episodes of the series. The same year, she portrayed the role of Kristina Andropolis in nine episodes of the NBC romantic drama series Days of Our Lives. She then appeared in the role of Cynthia in two episodes of the ABC family drama series Who’s the Boss? in 1988 and 1989.

In 1989, Noble guest-starred in an episode titled ‘Send in the Crane’ of the NBC comedy-drama series Cheers as Laurie Marlowe. That year, she also guest-starred in one episode titled ‘Bete Noir’ of the Fox crime drama series Booker, appearing in the role of Taryn McKay. 

Eventually, she rose to fame after she started appearing in a recurring role of Katherine “Kate” MacDonald in the comedy/family sitcom Growing Pains, which aired on ABC from 1985 to 1992. Noble appeared in 22 episodes of the sitcom between 1989 and 1992. 

Growing Pains follows the mishaps of a Seaver family. The series starred Alan Thicke as psychiatrist Dr. Jason Seaver, Joanna Kerns as journalist Maggie Malone Seaver. Kirk Cameron, Jeremy Miller, Tracey Gold, and Ashley Johnson also appeared in the series as children of the Seaver family. Created by Neal Marlens, the series ran for seven seasons from September 1985 to April 1992.

After the hit show, she guest-starred in television series such as Doogie Howser, M.D., Route 66, and Heaven Help Us in 1993 and 1994. From 1995 through 1996, Noble played the main role of Elizabeth Waters in The WB comedy series Kirk, created by Ross Brown. Kirk ran for two seasons for 31 episodes from August 1995 to November 1996. The following year, she guest-starred as Danielle in one episode titled ‘The English Patient’ of the NBC comedy series Seinfeld, co-created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld. 

TV Movies

Noble appeared in her first TV movie role in the crime family drama A Little Piece of Heaven, in which she played the role of Carrie Lee. The TV movie was written by Betty Goldberg and directed by Mimi Leder. It premiered on 2 December 1991 on NBC. She then portrayed the role of Robyn Call in the 1994 romantic comedy TV movie Star Struck, which premiered on 30 October 1994 on CBS. It was directed by Jim Drake and co-written by Jimmy Zeilinger and Scott Posner.

Noble then appeared as Alison Taylor in The Disney Channel fantasy-comedy movie You Lucky Dog, which premiered on 27 June 1998. Later, she appeared in the role of Kate Seaver in the comedy TV movie Growing Pains: Returns of the Seavers, the second reunion TV movie of the popular sitcom Growing Pains. In the reunion TV movie, the Seaver parents sell their house and plan to retire. The TV movie premiered on 16 October 2004 on ABC.

Film Appearances

Noble made her film debut, appearing as Penelope in the 1990 romantic drama film Instant Karma, directed by Roderick Taylor and co-written by Bruce A. Taylor and Dale Rosenbloom. The same year, she appeared in the role of an anchorwoman in Brian Peck’s fantasy comedy-drama film The Willies. 

In 2000, she got a breakout role of Hattie Durham in the Christian apocalyptic thriller film Left Behind: The Movie. Later, Noble would reprise her role of Hattie Durham in the Left Behind film series Left Behind II: Tribulation Force in 2002 and Left Behind III: World at War in 2005. The film series is based on The New York Times best-selling Christian novel series, penned by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, under the same title. 

Noble told Deseret News in February 2001 that she was excited about the novel even before she and her husband were approached for becoming a part of the Left Behind film series. She also had pondered that the book has to be made into a movie. Shortly after that, her husband got the script of the Left Behind film. 

Nearly a decade later, Noble starred in the role of Maddie Miller in the 2014 independent film called Mercy Rule, alongside Kirk Cameron. The film was written by N.D. Wilson and directed by Darren Doane.

‘Left Behind: The Movie’

In Left Behind: The Movie follows an airline pilot Rayford Steele (played by Brad Johnson) who has been called in for an emergency flight from Chicago to London. Despite having a wife and two children, it was revealed that Rayford is having an affair with fellow flight attendant Hattie Durham (Noble). During the flight, several passengers mysteriously disappear which creates chaos among the remaining passengers. Rayford and his crew try to control the situation. They eventually learn that true believers of Christ are mysteriously vanishing from all over the world. Rayford was then forced to turn the plane back to Chicago. Upon returning home, Rayford also finds out that his wife and son also disappeared in the vanishing. After learning that millions of people have mysteriously disappeared from the world, Rayford, his daughter Chloe Steele (played by Janaya Stephens), a television journalist Cameron “Buck” Williams (played by Kirk Cameron), pastor Bruce Barners (played by Clarence Gilyard Jr.), and other work together to find the answer to the mystery of those left behind in the world. In the end, Buck learns that the Antichrist will soon take power.

Left Behind: The Movie was adapted from the 1995 novel titled ‘Left Behind: A Novel of the Earth’s Last Days’ co-written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. The movie was directed by Vic Sarin and written for the screen by Alan B. McElroy, Paul Lalonde, and Joe Goodman. 

‘Left Behind II: Tribulation Force’

Left Behind II: Tribulation Force is based on the second book of the ‘Left Behind’ novel series, titled ‘Tribulation Force: The Continuing Drama of Those Left Behind.’

The film unfolds how those who are left behind face chaos in the world because of war, famine, and plagues. In the film, television journalist Buck Williams and those left behind eventually learn the truth about the new leader of the new Global Community Nicolae Carpathia (played by Gordon Currie), the only person who has answers, hope, and plans to restore peace and order. But he does not come to save the world.

Rather, a small group of rebels spread the truth that Nicolae is Antichrist. Pastor Bruce Barners, who had an in-depth understanding of biblical prophecy helps demystify the present and future events that the world will face in the next seven years, known as The Tribulation. Later, Bruce, Rayford Steele, Buck Williams, and Chloe Steele together form the Tribulation Force to fight against the foes of God during the seven most chaotic years in the world. 

Left Behind II: Tribulation Force was directed by Bill Corcoran and its screenplay was co-written by John Patus and Paul Lalonde. 

‘Left Behind III: World At War’

The third film of the Left Behind film series was also based on the 1996 novel titled ‘Tribulation Force: The Continuing Drama of Those Left Behind.’ It follows Nicolae Carpathia who has managed to unite the world in peace and order. American President Gerad Fitzhugh avoids an assassination attempt and soon discovers a threatening underground world. The Tribulation Force tries to uncover the mystery. The film was directed by Craig R. Baxley and the screenplay of the film was penned by Paul and Peter Lalonde and André van Heerden. Additional dialogue was written by Jean Brincko, Pau Duran, and John Patus.

Noble’s Character in ‘Left Behind’ Film Series

In the Left Behind film series, Noble played the role of a flight attendant named Harriet “Hattie” Durham. Hattie Durham initially works as the senior flight attendant for Rayford Steele, but she becomes upset when Rayford starts developing faith in Christ. She then runs to Nicolae Carpathia, the only man who had all the answers. Hattie becomes the personal assistant. She also becomes a lover of Nicolae. An Antichrist Nicolae would later lure Hattie into the deceptive web of lies.

Husband Kirk Cameron and Children

Noble met actor Kirk Cameron on the set of Full House when he was visiting his younger sister Candace Cameron Bure, who was one of the main casts of the show. 

Noble and Cameron would later appear on Growing Pains as a reel couple. They also have co-starred in several other television series, TV movies, and films.

The couple began dating in real life and later married on 20 July 1991 in Cheektowaga, New York. They together have six children — four adopted and two biological. They adopted their first four children after five years of getting married. Their four adopted children are a son Jack Cameron (born 1996), a daughter Isabella Cameron (born 1998), a daughter Ahna Cameron (born 1999), and a son Luke Cameron (born 2000). The pair gave birth to their first biological child, a daughter Olivia Rose Cameron on 18 July 2001. Two years later, they welcomed their biological son James Thomas Cameron on 13 April 2003.

The Firefly Foundation

Together with her husband Cameron, Noble founded a charitable organization called The Firefly Foundation headquartered in Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1995, the organization sponsors camping trips for seriously ill and terminally ill children and their families to provide some quality time for those families.

Net Worth

According to Celebritynetworth, Chelsea Noble's estimated net worth is $10 million.

Did You Know?

In the fantasy romantic drama film Fireproof (2008 ), Noble doubled for the lead cast Erin Bethea in the kissing scene. She did so because her husband, Kirk Cameron, believed that he should not kiss any woman other than his wife.