 Actor Jared Martin who also worked in the movie said in 2007 that she was dating the producer and noted how in their scenes together "all the close-ups were for her".Although authorship of the screenplay for "Free Willy" is credited to her late husband, Walton-Walker's listing as a "Film School Advisor" for Watkins Film School in Nashville, Tennessee credits her as author.Walton-Walker was married to writer Keith A. Walker from 1975 until his death from cancer in December, 1996.