Jan Sterling

Biography

Jan Sterling (born Jane Sterling Adriance; April 3, 1921 – March 26, 2004) was an American actress. At her most active in films during the 1950s, she received a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in The High and the Mighty (1954) as well as an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress nomination. Her best performance is often considered to be opposite Kirk Douglas, as the opportunistic wife in Billy Wilder's 1951 Ace in the Hole.

Known For

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Bonanza

Mannix

Little House on the Prairie

The Virginian

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

Climax!

Climax!

All Movies (41)

• Dangerous Company1982 · as Ray's Mother
• First Monday in October1981 · as Christine Snow
• My Kidnapper, My Love1980 · as Letty Fairlain
• Having Babies1976 · as Mrs. Fontreil
• Sammy Somebody1976
• The Minx1969 · as Louise Baxter
• The Angry Breed1968 · as Gloria Patton
• The Incident1967 · as Muriel Purvis
• American in Paris1964 · as Gloria Miles
• Love in a Goldfish Bowl1961 · as Sandra Slide
• Kathy O'1958 · as Celeste Saunders
• High School Confidential!1958 · as Arlene Williams
• The Female Animal1958 · as Lily Frayne
• Slaughter on 10th Avenue1957 · as Madge Pitts
• Clipper Ship1957 · as Helen Ott
• The Harder They Fall1956 · as Beth Willis
• 19841956 · as Julia of the Outer Party
• Man with the Gun1955 · as Nelly Bain
• Female on the Beach1955 · as Amy Rawlinson
• Women's Prison1955 · as Brenda Martin
• The Human Jungle1954 · as Mary Abbott
• Return from the Sea1954 · as Frieda
• The High and the Mighty1954 · as Sally McKee
• Alaska Seas1954 · as Nicky Jackson
• Pony Express1953 · as Denny Russell
• The Vanquished1953 · as Rose Slater
• Split Second1953 · as Dorothy 'Dottie' Vale
• Sky Full of Moon1952 · as Dixie Delmar
• Flesh and Fury1952 · as Sonya Bartow
• Rhubarb1951 · as Polly Sickles
• Ace in the Hole1951 · as Lorraine
• The Mating Season1951 · as Betsy
• Union Station1950 · as Marge Wrighter
• Gunfire1950 · as Flo
• The Costume Designer1950 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Skipper Surprised His Wife1950 · as Rita Rossini
• Mystery Street1950 · as Vivian Heldon
• Caged1950 · as Gita "Smoochie" Kovsky
• Appointment with Danger1950 · as Dodie
• Johnny Belinda1948 · as Stella McCormick
• Tycoon1947 · as Dancer at Fiesta (uncredited)

All TV Shows (38)

• Backstairs at the White House1979 · as Lou Hoover
• The Incredible Hulk1977
• Three's Company1977 · as Judge Sheffield
• Little House on the Prairie1974 · as Laura Colby Ingalls
• Kung Fu1972 · as Mary Jenkins
• The Brian Keith Show1972
• Medical Center1969 · as Florence Brent
• The Name of the Game1968 · as Elsa Roarke
• Mannix1967 · as Anne Marion
• The Jackie Gleason Show1966
• Run for Your Life1965 · as Clara Mallory
• Burke's Law1963 · as Devora Cato
• Burke's Law1963 · as Vera Selby
• Breaking Point1963
• Vacation Playhouse1963
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962 · as Self
• The Alfred Hitchcock Hour1962 · as Beatrice Bartel
• The Virginian1962 · as Mary Beth Stanton
• Adventures in Paradise1959 · as Topaz Harmony
• Riverboat1959 · as Lorna Langton
• Bonanza1959 · as Dianne Jordan
• Naked City1958 · as Myrtle Tiloff
• Suspicion1957 · as Georgiana
• Alfred Hitchcock Presents1955 · as Fran Holland
• Alfred Hitchcock Presents1955 · as Wanda Ferlini
• Climax!1954 · as Dinah Lake
• Climax!1954 · as Audrey Caldwell
• Letter to Loretta1953 · as Lucia
• The Oscars1953 · as Self
• General Electric Theater1953 · as Gloria Miles
• Schlitz Playhouse of Stars1951
• Lux Video Theatre1950 · as Lee
• Lux Video Theatre1950 · as Chris Hunter
• Lux Video Theatre1950 · as Julia
• Lux Video Theatre1950 · as Mary Ford
• Lux Video Theatre1950 · as Maggie
• Lux Video Theatre1950
• The Marshal of Gunsight Pass—