Jan Sterling

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Born Jane Sterling Adriance on April 3, 1921 in New York, NY

Died March 26, 2004 in Woodland Hills, CA

Jan Sterling was a blond beauty featured in film noir movies of the 1940s, '50s and '60s.

She appeared in more than 40 motion pictures from 1948 to 1980, sometimes in starring roles but more often as a significant supporting character.

Her appearance as a terrified airline passenger in the 1954 film "The High and the Mighty" won her a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress.

In "The High and the Mighty," the airline passenger she played was a call girl.

"I was the original 'happy hooker,' " Sterling said decades later. "I've played her in 10 of my 42 movies, and I've played her on television and on the stage."

She also appeared in dozens of television shows, including multiple appearances on "The Guiding Light" in 1969 and 1970.

One of her most memorable roles was that of the wife of a spelunker trapped in a cave in the 1951 Billy Wilder film "Ace in the Hole," which was re-released later as "The Big Carnival." Sterling's character helped an unscrupulous reporter, played by Kirk Douglas, milk the story by proclaiming her heartbreak to the news media.

Her first important Hollywood role was as the wife of a man who rapes a deaf mute in the critically acclaimed 1948 film "Johnny Belinda."

Films that followed included "Union Station" with William Holden in 1950; "The Mating Season" with Gene Tierney in 1951; "Pony Express" with Rhonda Fleming and Charlton Heston in 1953; "Man With the Gun" with Robert Mitchum in 1955; George Orwell's "1984" with Edmond O'Brien in 1956; and "The Incident" with Martin Sheen in 1967.

In 1968, she received the first annual achievement award of the Century Club, composed of members of the American Jewish Congress.

The award recognized her service in radio and television programs produced for the women's conference of the Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles.

Her last film appearance was in "First Monday in October" with Walter Matthau and Jill Clayburgh in 1981.

Sterling was married twice: to actor John Merrivale from 1941 to 1948 and to actor Paul Douglas from 1950 until his death in 1959.

— Eric Malnic in the Los Angeles Times March 27, 2004

Year	Category	Work
1954	Best Supporting Actress	The High and the Mighty	Nomination

One thought about Jan Sterling

“

At first, I'm Georges Tritter, from France, and I met Jan Sterling several times in London, between 1991 and 2002, before she had to go back to be cared in California.She was a fabulous person, women,and of course actress,she did let me know so many things about Hollywood,and allowed me to be among a 200 Stars Evening,18th december 1994,which was the greatest event in my whole life.During this evening, I could meet so many "oldies",and I was amazed by Sylvia Sidney, Jane Russell, Luise Rainer, Lizabeth Scott, Jane Powell,and so many more.Jan Sterling's favorites movies remained "Ace in the Hole","The Incident","The High and the Mighty",and she loved to do"First Monday in October" her last motion picture.I adored her, and I was so sad about her death, and the fact that the Academy forgot her in its 2005 Memorial.Yes, Jan Sterling deserves a star on the walk of fame....I'll never forget her,
and Jan had three very important points in her life,her son Adams who died 2003,London and Sam Wanamaker.
I'm so happy to write these lines about her,thanks!

George

” — George, June 15, 2010 at 11:49 p.m.

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