Actress. Adopted when she was six weeks old, her parents took her to live in California, in 1927. She began her acting profession while still in high school, on stage at the Bliss Hayden Theatre. She was signed to a Warner Brothers contract in 1941 and billionaire Howard Hughes bought her contract from Warner Brothers for $50,000, signing her to his RKO Pictures. She made her screen debut in “Young Widow” (1946), followed by “Vendetta” (1950). In the following years, she became freelance at other studios, appeared in films to include “The Great Sioux Uprising” (1953), “It Came from Beneath the Sea” (1955), “Escort West” (1958), “California” (1963), “Will to Die” and many more. Her many television credits included “Fireside Theatre”, “State Trooper”, “Cheyenne”, “Perry Mason” and “Bonanza”. In 1966, she married director Paolo Cossa, whom she remained with until his death in 1992. She died of cancer at age 74.
Actress. Adopted when she was six weeks old, her parents took her to live in California, in 1927. She began her acting profession while still in high school, on stage at the Bliss Hayden Theatre. She was signed to a Warner Brothers contract in 1941 and billionaire Howard Hughes bought her contract from Warner Brothers for $50,000, signing her to his RKO Pictures. She made her screen debut in “Young Widow” (1946), followed by “Vendetta” (1950). In the following years, she became freelance at other studios, appeared in films to include “The Great Sioux Uprising” (1953), “It Came from Beneath the Sea” (1955), “Escort West” (1958), “California” (1963), “Will to Die” and many more. Her many television credits included “Fireside Theatre”, “State Trooper”, “Cheyenne”, “Perry Mason” and “Bonanza”. In 1966, she married director Paolo Cossa, whom she remained with until his death in 1992. She died of cancer at age 74.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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