Jan Sterling Picture
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Jan Sterling (1921–2004)


One of Hollywood's more talented and watchable stars on screen was sullen, strikingly stick-thin 50s actress Jan Sterling who didn't quite reach the top echelon of stardom but certainly ensured audiences of a real good time with her sexy pout and flashy style in soaps, film noir and saucy comedy. Jan was born Jane Sterling Adriance in Manhattan in 1921 to a well-to-do family... See full bio »

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Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins See more awards »

Known For


Filmography

Hide HideActress (89 titles)
1988 Baby Boom (TV series)
Barbara
Christmas '88 (1988) … Barbara
 
1985 Riptide (TV series)
Ruth Davis
Fuzzy Vision (1985) … Ruth Davis
 
1982 Dangerous Company (TV movie)
Ray's Mother
 
1981 First Monday in October
Christine Snow
 
1981 The Incredible Hulk (TV series)
Stella Verdugo
Interview with the Hulk (1981) … Stella Verdugo
 
1980 My Kidnapper, My Love (TV movie)
Geegee's Mother
 
1980 Three's Company (TV series)
Judge Sheffield
And Justice for Jack (1980) … Judge Sheffield
 
1979 Backstairs at the White House (TV mini-series)
Mrs. Lou Hoover
Episode #1.3 (1979) … Mrs. Lou Hoover
Episode #1.4 (1979) … Mrs. Lou Hoover (credit only)
Episode #1.1 (1979) … Mrs. Lou Hoover (credit only)
Episode #1.2 (1979) … Mrs. Lou Hoover
 
1976 Little House on the Prairie (TV series)
Laura Colby Ingalls
Journey in the Spring: Part 1 (1976) … Laura Colby Ingalls
 
1976 Having Babies (TV movie)
Mrs. Fontreil
 
1976 Sammy Somebody
 
1974 Kung Fu (TV series)
Mary Jenkins
This Valley of Terror (1974) … Mary Jenkins
 
1973 The Movie Quiz (TV series)
Price-Team Member
Episode dated 2 July 1973 (1973) … Price-Team Member
 
1971 The Virginian (TV series)
Mary Beth Stanton
Jump-Up (1971) … Mary Beth Stanton
 
1971 Medical Center (TV series)
Florence Brent
Crossroads (1971) … Florence Brent
 
1970 Bracken's World (TV series)
Harriett Moran
Money Men (1970) … Harriett Moran
 
1969-1970 Guiding Light (TV series)
Mildred Foss
 
1969 The Minx
Louise Baxter
 
1969 The Name of the Game (TV series)
Elsa Roarke
Good-bye Harry (1969) … Elsa Roarke
 
1968 The Angry Breed
Gloria Patton
 
1968 Mannix (TV series)
Anne Marion
The Falling Star (1968) … Anne Marion
 
1967 The Incident
Muriel Purvis
 
1967 The Road West (TV series)
Sarah Meagen
Eleven Miles to Eden (1967) … Sarah Meagen
 
1966 Run for Your Life (TV series)
Clara Mallory
The Cruel Fountain (1966) … Clara Mallory
 
1963-1965 Burke's Law (TV series)
Devora Cato / Vera Selby
Who Killed the Jackpot? (1965) … Vera Selby
Who Killed Alex Debbs? (1963) … Devora Cato
 
1964 American in Paris (TV movie)
Gloria Miles
 
1964 The Doctors and the Nurses (TV series)
Claire Lucas
Where Park Runs into Vreeland (1964) … Claire Lucas
 
1963 Breaking Point (TV series)
Nurse Murdoch
Millions of Faces (1963) … Nurse Murdoch
 
1961-1963 The Dick Powell Theatre (TV series)
Chris / Selena Royce
Luxury Liner (1963) … Selena Royce
Doyle Against the House (1961) … Chris
 
1962 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (TV series)
Beatrice Bartel
The Tender Poisoner (1962) … Beatrice Bartel
 
1962 Kraft Mystery Theater (TV series)
In Close Pursuit (1962)
 
1961 Naked City (TV series)
Myrtle Tiloff
The Tragic Success of Alfred Tiloff (1961) … Myrtle Tiloff
 
1961 King of Diamonds (TV series)
Shelia Bradford
Stop Johnny King! (1961) … Shelia Bradford
 
1959-1961 Wagon Train (TV series)
Annie Griffith / Selena Hartnell
The Selena Hartnell Story (1961) … Selena Hartnell
The Annie Griffith Story (1959) … Annie Griffith
 
1961 Love in a Goldfish Bowl
Sandra Slide
 
1961 Adventures in Paradise (TV series)
Topaz Harmony
Errand of Mercy (1961) … Topaz Harmony
 
1958-1961 Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV series)
Fran Holland / Wanda Ferlini
The Last Escape (1961) … Wanda Ferlini
On the Nose (1958) … Fran Holland
 
1960 Bonanza (TV series)
Dianne Jordan
The Blood Line (1960) … Dianne Jordan
 
1960 The Untouchables (TV series)
Francie McKay
Kiss of Death Girl (1960) … Francie McKay
 
1960 G.E. True Theater (TV series)
Gloria Miles
At Your Service (1960) … Gloria Miles
 
1960 Alcoa Theatre (TV series)
Dr. Mary Cartwright
Chinese Finale (1960) … Dr. Mary Cartwright
 
1960 Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (TV series)
Guest Cast
In Close Pursuit (1960) … Guest Cast
 
1959 Riverboat (TV series)
Lorna Langton
Strange Request (1959) … Lorna Langton
 
1959 Lux Playhouse (TV series)
Alice Vincent
Stand-In for Murder (1959) … Alice Vincent
 
1958 Kathy O'
Celeste Saunders
 
1958 High School Confidential!
Arlene Williams
 
1958 Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre (TV series)
Martha
A Guilty Woman (1958) … Martha
 
1958 Kraft Theatre (TV series)
Jackie
Run, Joe, Run (1958) … Jackie
 
1958 Suspicion (TV series)
Georgiana
Comfort for the Grave (1958) … Georgiana
 
1958 The Female Animal
Lily Frayne
 
1958 Pursuit (TV series)
Allison Smith
The House at Malibu (1958) … Allison Smith
 
1956-1957 Climax! (TV series)
Audrey Caldwell / Dinah Lake
Mask for the Devil (1957) … Audrey Caldwell
The Shadow of Evil (1956) … Dinah Lake
 
1957 Slaughter on Tenth Avenue
Madge Pitts
 
1957 The Loretta Young Show (TV series)
Lucia
Rummage Sale (1957) … Lucia
 
1957 Playhouse 90 (TV series)
Helen Ott
Clipper Ship (1957) … Helen Ott
 
1955-1957 Lux Video Theatre (TV series)
Chris Hunter / Julia / Lee / …
The Great Lie (1957) … Maggie
Rebuke Me Not (1956) … Mary Ford
She Married Her Boss (1956) … Julia
The Unfaithful (1956) … Chris Hunter
 
1957 The Kaiser Aluminum Hour (TV series)
Brenda Stevens
Whereabouts Unknown (1957) … Brenda Stevens
 
1956 Celebrity Playhouse (TV series)
Lil Brown
I'll Make the Arrest (1956) … Lil Brown
The Go-Between (1956)
 
1956 The Harder They Fall
Beth Willis
 
1956 Front Row Center (TV series)
Ruth Merrill
Hawk's Head (1956) … Ruth Merrill
 
1956 1984
Julia of the Inner Party
 
1956 Chevron Hall of Stars (TV series)
Reverse English (1956)
 
1955 Man with the Gun
Nelly Bain
 
1955 Female on the Beach
Amy Rawlinson
 
1955 The Star and the Story (TV series)
Paula Vaughan
Desert Story (1955) … Paula Vaughan
Ferry to Fox Island (1955)
 
1955 Stage 7 (TV series)
Marge
A Note of Fear (1955) … Marge
 
1955 Women's Prison
Brenda Martin
 
1954 The Ford Television Theatre (TV series)
Ann
Trip Around the Block (1954) … Ann
 
1954 The Human Jungle
Mary Abbott
 
1954 Return from the Sea
Frieda - Waitress
 
1954 The High and the Mighty
Sally McKee
 
1954 Alaska Seas
Nicky Jackson
 
1953 The Vanquished
Rose Slater
 
1953 Pony Express
Denny Russell
 
1953 Split Second
Dottie Vale
 
1952 Sky Full of Moon
Dixie Delmar
 
1952 Flesh and Fury
Sonya Bartow
 
1951 Rhubarb
Polly Sickles
 
1951 Appointment with Danger
Dodie
 
1951 Pulitzer Prize Playhouse (TV series)
 
1950 Union Station
Marge Wrighter
 
1950 Gunfire
Flo - Saloon Girl (uncredited)
 
1950 Mystery Street
Vivian Heldon
 
1950 The Skipper Surprised His Wife
Rita Rossini
 
1950 Caged
Jeta Kovsky aka Smoochie
 
1947 Tycoon
Dancer at Fiesta (uncredited)
 
Show ShowSoundtrack (1 title)
1954 The Human Jungle (performer: "It Ain't Gonna Be You")
 
Show ShowSelf (15 titles)
1968 The Woody Woodbury Show (TV series)
Herself
Episode dated 6 February 1968 (1968) … Herself
 
1968 Talking Pictures (TV movie)
Herself
 
1964 Made in America (TV series)
Herself - Panelist (1964)
 
1964 The Price Is Right (TV series)
Herself
Episode dated 14 September 1964 (1964) … Herself
 
1963 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (TV series)
Herself - Guest
Episode dated 30 July 1963 (1963) … Herself - Guest
 
1963 The Plot Thickens (TV movie)
Herself
 
1961 The Jackie Gleason Show (TV series)
Herself - Panelist
Episode #1.1 (1961) … Herself - Panelist
 
1960 About Faces (TV series)
Herself
Episode dated 13 May 1960 (1960) … Herself
 
1959-1960 The Jack Paar Tonight Show (TV series)
Herself
Episode #3.115 (1960) … Herself
Episode #2.136 (1959) … Herself
 
1957 Person to Person (TV series documentary)
Herself
Episode #4.20 (1957) … Herself
 
1956 Lux Video Theatre (TV series)
Herself - Intermission guest
Indiscreet (1956) … Herself - Intermission guest
 
1955 The George Gobel Show (TV series)
Herself
Episode #2.10 (1955) … Herself
 
1955 The 27th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Herself - Nominee/Co-Presenter
 
1954 This Is Your Life (TV series)
Herself
William Wellman (1954) … Herself
 
1954 The Buick-Berle Show (TV series)
Herself - Actress
Episode #6.14 (1954) … Herself - Actress
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (3 titles)
2005 11th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (TV special)
Herself (Memorial Tribute)
 
1979 Little House Years (TV movie)
Laura Colby Ingalls
 
1950 The Costume Designer (documentary short)
Herself
 

Related Videos

Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Season 3: Episode 20 -- A woman (Jan Sterling) has problems staying away from the race track and it threatens her marriage. With Karl Swenson. Caged -- Trailer for this women in prison drama The High and the Mighty -- When a commercial airliner develops engine problems on a trans-Pacific flight and the pilot loses his nerve, it is up to the washed-up co-pilot Dan Roman to bring the plane in safely.
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Personal Details

Other Works:

(1962) Stage: Appeared (singing debut) in a US touring company of "Silk Stockings". See more »

Publicity Listings:

2 Articles  | See more »

Height:

5' 6" (1.68 m)
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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

You really have to be in Hollywood or New York to be thought of for parts. Then, too, I can't play the roles I once could and I'm not old enough for many of the others. I've lived in London for many years and I couldn't work here, either, because I did not have a work permit until very recently...And my almost total lack of ambition and the fact that I enjoy my life now very much... See more »

Trivia:

She was omitted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from the "In Memoriam" tribute during the telecast of the 77th Annual Academy Awards ceremony, although she once has been nominated for an Oscar in 1955 for her supporting performance in The High and the Mighty. See more »

Star Sign:

Aries