Showbiz

Perry Mason actress Olive Sturgess ᴅᴇᴀᴅ at 91: She also worked with Jack Nicholson and Roger Moore

Perry Mason actress Olive Sturgess ᴅᴇᴀᴅ at 91: She also worked with Jack Nicholson and Roger Moore

Hollywood pinup actress Olive Sturgess has died at the age of 91. 

The movie and TV star’s family confirmed on Thursday that the Perry Mason star had pᴀssed over a week earlier on February 19. 

The peтιтe beauty, who was friends with Clint Eastwood, Jack Nicholson and Roger Moore, was known for starring on The Bob Cummings Show in the 1950s.

And she was also on many of the top TV shows of her day.

Sturgess had appearances on the small screen shows West Point, Panic! and The Donna Reed Show.

And she could also be seen on Hawaiian Eye, The Danny Thomas Show, Petticoat Junction, Dr. Kildare and Ironside.

Hollywood pinup actress Olive Sturgess has died at the age of 91. The movie and TV star's family has confirmed the she pᴀssed on February 19. Seen in 1960

Hollywood pinup actress Olive Sturgess has died at the age of 91. The movie and TV star’s family has confirmed the she pᴀssed on February 19. Seen in 1960

The peтιтe blonde beauty, who was friends with Clint Eastwood, Jack Nicholson and Roger Moore , was known for starring on The Bob Cummings Show in the 1950s

The peтιтe blonde beauty, who was friends with Clint Eastwood, Jack Nicholson and Roger Moore , was known for starring on The Bob Cummings Show in the 1950s

Sturgess also made plenty of Westerns.

The soft-spoken star appeared on Tales of Wells Fargo, Cheyenne, Sugarfoot, U.S. Marshal, Rawhide and Have Gun — Will Travel.

And she lit up popular series like Lawman, Laramie, The Rebel, The Tall Man, Bronco, Whispering Smith, Maverick, Wide Country, Destry, The Virginian and Bonanza.

Her movie career was varied and interesting as well. 

She co-starred with Vincent Price, Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre and Jack Nicholson in the Roger Corman 1963 cult horror spoof The Raven. 

After she made the film she commented on how ‘talented’ she thought the young and dashing Nicholson was as she predicted big stardom for him. 

Olive, who was 5ft2in, was born in Canada but moved to California in 1954 where she pursued her acting career.

When working at the Beverly Hills Playhouse she met Hank Garson, a well-known writer of radio shows at CBS. 

The actress with her co-star Rod Cameron in the 1965 film Requiem For A Gunfighter

The actress with her co-star Rod Cameron in the 1965 film Requiem For A Gunfighter 

She co-starred with Vincent Price, Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre and Jack Nicholson in the Roger Corman 1963 cult horror spoof The Raven

She co-starred with Vincent Price, Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre and Jack Nicholson in the Roger Corman 1963 cult horror spoof The Raven

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That led to her appearing on such TV programs as Matinee Theatre, Studio 57, The Millionaire, The People’s Choice and The Red Skelton Hour.

She signed a contract with Universal-International and then was placed on several high-profile TV shows.

Sturgess was married to musician Dale Anderson. She gave up her career to raise her daughter Amy.

Olive’s last acting role in the ABC police drama The Rookies in 1974.

Her cousin was English actress Joan Benham, who best known for her portrayal of Lady Prudence Fairfax in the ITV period drama series Upstairs, Downstairs. Joan died in 1981 at age 63.

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