Actress, Singer. She will be best remembered for playing the role of 'Catherine Bennett' in the film-noir crime adventure, "Black Angel" (1946, in which she also performed the songs, "I Want To Be Talked About" and "Time Will Tell"). The film which was directed by Roy William Neill, which was written for the screen by Roy Chanslor and based on the novel by Cornell Woolrich, and which also starred Dan Duryea, Peter Lorre, Broderick Crawford, and Constance Dowling, tells the story of when When Kirk Bennett is convicted of a singer's murder, his wife tries to prove him innocent...aided by the victim's ex-husband. She was featured in a major part of the film and her role was originally intended for actress Ava Gardner but she dropped out shortly after the casting announcement was released. She is also best remembered for her role as 'Jenny Morgan' in the episode entitled, "The Visitor," of the classic western television series, "The Rifleman," which originally aired on January 6, 1960, and which also starred Chuck Connors and Johnny Crawford. She was born as Dorothy June Smith in Harrod, Ohio, to Reverend Willis Eugene Smith (1888-1973), and his wife Sybil Aradella Irwin Smith (1895-1973), on July 17, 1920. She was educated locally and later moved to New York City, New York, where she began working as a model for Harpers' Bazaar. She also appeared on Broadway in New York City, New York, and in summer theatre in Keene, New Hampshire. While there she met actress Lauren Bacall and was urged by her friends and talent scouts to move to Hollywood, California, to pursue an acting career. She took a screen test and was promptly signed to a contract by Universal Studios, later moving on to Columbia Studios where she was cast in a string of mostly B movie westerns and crime melodramas. She made her actual film debut playing the role of 'Carol Sterling Crump' in the film comedy, "Honeymoon Lodge" (1943), which was directed by Edward C. Lilley, and which also starred David Bruce, Harriet Nelson, and Rod Cameron. She is also credited for having appeared in two short films, "Three Bears" (1938), and "The Selfish Giant" (1939), both for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in London, England. Besides, "Three Bears" (1938), "The Selfish Giant" (1939), "Honeymoon Lodge" (1943), and "Black Angel" (1946), her many other film credits include, "Sing A Jingle" (1944), "Ladies Courageous" (1944), "The Climax" (1944), "Can't Help Singing" (1944), "Here Come The Co-Eds" (1945), "That's The Spirit" (1945), "Song Of Idaho" (1948), "The Challenge" (1948), "Trapped By Boston Blackie" (1948), "Shed No Tears" (1948), "The Arkansas Swing" (1948), "The Creeper" (1948), "The Lone Wolf And His Lady" (1949), "Zamba" (1949), "Mark Ryan, Detective" (1949), "In A Lonely Place" (1950), "Counterspy Meets Scotland Yard" (1950), "Secrets Of Monte Carlo" (1951), "Colorado Sunset" (1952), 'Night Without Sleep" (1952), "The WAC From Walla Walla" (1952), "Clipped Wings" (1953), "Marry Me Again" (1953), and "City Of Shadows" (1955). During this time she also returned to the stage appearing in "The Man On a Stick" (1957), at the Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena, California. Her last film role was playing the role of 'Mrs. Leonard' in the western film, "The Miracle Of The Hills" (1959), which was directed by Paul Landres, which was written for the screen by Charles Hoffman, and which also starred Rex Reason, Nan Leslie, and Betty Lou Gerson, tells the story of a minister who arrives at a run-down mining town to take over the church there. He finds he has his work cut out for him, especially when an earthquake causes a flood in the mineshaft and traps some of the local children. Although this was her last film, she did, however, continue in the occasional stage play and in several television roles until her retirement from acting. Besides, the episode entitled, "The Visitor," of the classic western television series, "The Rifleman," which originally aired on January 6, 1960, her many other television credits include, "Racket Squad," "Biff Baker, U.S.A." "Boston Blackie," "Young Jeweler's Showcase," "I'm The Law," "Footlights Theater," "The Abbott And Costello Show," "Adventures Of The Falcon," "Schlitz Playhouse," "Father Knows Best," "Stage 7," "Damon Runyon Theater," "The Man Behind The Badge," "The Lone Wolf," "Screen Directors Playhouse," "Passport To Danger," "Medic," "Private Secretary," "Tales Of The 77th Bengal Lancers," "Dr. Christian," "The Ford Television Theatre," "Blondie," "The George Sandes Mystery Theater," "The O. Henry Playhouse," "Captain David Grief," "Dr. Hudson's Secret Journal," Zane Grey Theatre," "Trackdown," "The Gale Storm Show: Oh! Susanna," "Matinee Theatre," "Studio One," "M Squad," "Wanted: Dead Or Alive," "Markham," "Millionaire," "Tightrope," "The Lineup," "Grand Jury," "One Step Beyond," "Johnny Midnight," "Richard Diamond, Private Detective," "Riverboat," "The Barbara Stanwyck Show," "Peter Gunn," "Assignment: Underwater," "Checkmate," "The Loretta Young Show," "The Untouchables," "The Brothers Brannagan," "Have Gun-Will Travel," "Lock Up," "King Of Diamonds," "Perry Mason," "Target: The Corruptors," "Hawaiian Eye," "Tales Of Wells Fargo," "Route 66," "McKeever And The Colonel," "Dr. Kildare," "The Lieutenant," "Mr. Novak," "The Great Adventure," "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour," "The Adventures Of Ozzie And Harriet," "The Andy Griffith Show," "Honey West," "Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea," "The Fugitive," "That Girl," "The Virginian," "Family Affair," "Ironside," "Judd For The Defense," "The Ghost And Mrs. Muir," "Bewitched," "Bright Promise," "Mayberry R.F.D.," "The F.B.I.," "The Smith Family," "The Delphi Bureau," "The Streets Of San Francisco," "Kung Fu," and her last role playing 'Ursula Harrison' in the episode entitled, "The Election," of the classic television series, "Maude," which originally aired on November 1, 1976, and which also starred Bea Arthur and Bill Macy. She retired acting shortly thereafter. In her later years, she suffered from arthritis and Parkinson's disease. She passed away in Aurora, Ohio, on November 20, 2008, at the age of 88. She was cremated through the All Veterans Burial and Cremation in Aurora, Colorado, and her ashes were scattered on Arapahoe Lake in Colorado. She was married to William Mueller Sterling (1918-2002), from March 10, 1944, until his death on July 20, 2002. The couple had three children together including William Thayer Sterling, Tina Sterling, and the singer Mindy Sterling, who should not be confused with the actress of the same name.