Diane Jergens obit

 Actress Diane Jergens has died

She was not on the list.

She was best known to film viewers as 'Jennie Hardesty,' daughter of Jimmy Stewart's character on the 1959 film "The F.B.I. Story." Born Dianna Irgens, she made her acting debut in the film "Ginger" in 1946. After a few bit parts, she was a member of the singing revue, Jimmy McHugh and His Singing Starlets in the early 1950s. Besides "The F.B.I. Story," she went on to appear in numerous films during her career such as "High School Confidential!," (1958) "Island of Lost Women," (1959) and "Escape to Paradise." (1960) She made her "small screen" debut on the television series "Four Star Playhouse" in 1954. Her later television credits would include such shows as "Dragnet," "The Bob Cummings Show," "Wagon Train," "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color," "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet," and "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis." She retired from acting in the mid-1960s and later managed both a gold mining museum and a saloon with her second husband Randy Sparks.

Jergens was the daughter of Norman C. Irgens, an alderman in Minneapolis, Minnesota and his wife. In 1944, at age 8, she auditioned for two film studios in Hollywood and was asked to return to make a film. In 1950, the family moved to Hollywood. When Jergens was 16, she was a member of the Heidt Steppers dancing troupe, which was part of the Horace Heidt Show. Soon after Jergens graduated from Hollywood High School, she performed as a singer on tour with composer Jimmy McHugh.

She was featured in such 1950s films as The FBI Story with James Stewart and Desk Set starring Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. Her other films included leading roles in High School Confidential and Island of Lost Women. On television, she portrayed Francine Williams on The Bob Cummings Show in the 1955–1956 season, and she had a recurring role on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. She also appeared on other TV shows such as Dragnet, The Danny Thomas Show, The Addams Family, and 77 Sunset Strip.

Jergens was married to actor Peter Brown between 1958 and 1960. In 1962, she wed musician and songwriter Randy Sparks. They had four children, Kevin Ray Sparks, Melinda Anne Sparks & Cameron Michael Sparks (twins), and Amanda Hamilton Sparks.

 

Actress (46 credits)

 1966 The Addams Family (TV Series)

Trivia

- Lurch's Grand Romance (1966) ... Trivia

 1963 Vacation Playhouse (TV Series)

Annie

- Three Wishes (1963) ... Annie

 1959-1962 The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (TV Series)

Eloise McInerney / Bernadine / Betsy / ...

- How to Cheat an Honest Man (1962) ... Eloise McInerney

- The Gigolo (1961) ... Bernadine

- The Chicken Corporal (1961) ... Betsy

- Greater Love Hath No Man (1959) ... Pearl Arnold

 1962 77 Sunset Strip (TV Series)

Debbie Fraser

- Dress Rehearsal (1962) ... Debbie Fraser

 1962 Follow the Sun (TV Series)

Penny Baxter

- Not Aunt Charlotte! (1962) ... Penny Baxter

 1961 Espionage: Far East

 1961 Teenage Millionaire

Barbara 'Bambi' Price

 1961 The McGonigle (TV Movie)

Nina Dale

 1961 The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (TV Series)

Edith Peterson

- The Shooting Starts (1961) ... Edith Peterson

 1955-1961 The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (TV Series)

Susan / Nancy / Susie / ...

- A Question of Suits and Ties (1961) ... Diane

- Dave's Golf Story (1961) ... Susan

- David Picks Up the Tab (1956) ... Nancy

- The Kappa Sigma Party (1956) ... Nancy

- A Beautiful Day (1956) ... Susie Jackson (uncredited)

 1960-1961 The Magical World of Disney (TV Series)

Marybelle Yancey / Maybelle Yancey / Maybelle Yancy

- Daniel Boone: The Promised Land (1961) ... Marybelle Yancey

- Daniel Boone: The Wilderness Road (1961) ... Maybelle Yancey

- Daniel Boone: The Warrior's Path (1960) ... Maybelle Yancy (credit only)

 1961 The Americans (TV Series)

Sally

- Reconnaissance (1961) ... Sally

 1959-1961 Wagon Train (TV Series)

Sally Miller / Prudence Steele

- The Prairie Story (1961) ... Sally Miller

- The Steele Family Story (1959) ... Prudence Steele

 1960 The Jim Backus Show (TV Series)

Teenager

- Uncle Chester (1960) ... Teenager

 1960 Tales of Wells Fargo (TV Series)

Stephanie Carrie

- A Study in Petticoats (1960) ... Stephanie Carrie

 1960 Escape to Paradise

Kathy Hughes

 1959 The FBI Story

Jennie Hardesty

 1959 Lux Playhouse (TV Series)

Kathy Cartwright

- Mirror, Mirror (1959) ... Kathy Cartwright

 1959 Island of Lost Women

Urana

 1958 High School Confidential!

Joan Staples

 1958 Man Without a Gun (TV Series)

Ellen

- Night of Violence (1958) ... Ellen

 1958 Sing Boy Sing

Pat Barry

 1956-1957 Matinee Theatre (TV Series)

Meg March

- Time for Action (1957)

- Little Women (1956) ... Meg March

- And Then There Were Three (1956)

 1957 Desk Set

Alice

 1955-1957 Lux Video Theatre (TV Series)

Trudy / Millicent Blaisdell / Nancy Hewitt / ...

- It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1957) ... Trudy

- Has Anybody Seen My Gal? (1956) ... Millicent Blaisdell

- The Two Dollar Bettor (1955) ... Nancy Hewitt

- One Foot in Heaven (1955) ... Eileen

 1956 Three Brave Men

Shirley Goldsmith

 1956 Teenage Rebel

Jane Hewitt

 1956 Friendly Persuasion

Elizabeth - Quaker Girl (uncredited)

 1956 The Unguarded Moment

Girl in Hall (uncredited)

 1955-1956 The Bob Cummings Show (TV Series)

Francine Williams

- Bob the Chaperone (1956) ... Francine Williams

- The Christmas Spirit (1955) ... Francine Williams

- Bob's One Day to Relax (1955) ... Francine Williams

- Bob Meets Fonda's Sister (1955) ... Francine Williams

- El Lobo Strikes Again (1955) ... Francine Williams

Show all 12 episodes

 1956 The People's Choice (TV Series)

Carol Jones

- Sock and the Proxy Marriage (1956) ... Carol Jones

 1956 The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (TV Series)

Diane

- Night of Vaudeville (1956) ... Diane

 1955-1956 TV Reader's Digest (TV Series)

Louise / Jill

- The Secret Weapon of Joe Smith (1956) ... Louise

- I'll Pick More Daisies (1955) ... Jill

 1956 Screen Directors Playhouse (TV Series)

Vocalist / Sue Stradler

- It's a Most Unusual Day (1956) ... Vocalist (uncredited)

- It's Always Sunday (1956) ... Sue Stradler

 1956 The Danny Thomas Show (TV Series)

Ellen King

- Who Can Figure Kids? (1956) ... Ellen King

 1956 The Life of Riley (TV Series)

Terry

- Junior Quits School (1956) ... Terry

 1956 The Benny Goodman Story

Velma - Benny's Giggly Date (uncredited)

 1955 Schlitz Playhouse (TV Series)

- Three Months to Remember (1955)

 1955 The Millionaire (TV Series)

Elaine Probst

- The Merle Roberts Story (1955) ... Elaine Probst

 1955 Daddy Long Legs

College Girl (uncredited)

 1955 So This Is Hollywood (TV Series)

- The Great Lover (1955)

 1954 Dragnet (TV Series)

Miriam Hunter

- The Big Rod (1954) ... Miriam Hunter

 1954 The Bob Mathias Story

Pat Mathias

 1954 Four Star Playhouse (TV Series)

Second Girl

- Interlude (1954) ... Second Girl

 1947 Beat the Band

Minor Role (uncredited)

 1946 Ginger

Diane (as Diane Irgens)