Olive Sturgess obit

Olive Anderson

Los Angeles, California

October 8, 1933 - February 19, 2025

 

She was not on the list.

R.I.P to the 1950s film and television actress Olive Sturgess, on February 19, 2025, aged 91, who rose to fame when she was signed to Universal-International Pictures after a successful screen test with Clint Eastwood (Olive is pictured with him right here with Deni Crayne). From there, she made her career primarily on television acting in a swathe of popular westerns.

By the early 1960s, Olive had become one of Hollywood’s busiest actresses, with guest spots on a plethora of popular TV westerns, including “The Rebel” (she dated the lead Nick Adams for a while), “Bonanza”, and “Maverick”. In an episode of “Wagon Train” (episode “Wagons Ho!”; the fourth season opener), opposite Mickey Rooney as her husband to be (she wore the wedding dress Elizabeth Taylor wore in “Father of the Bride”).

In addition, she was partnered with Michael Landon in a comedy pilot called “The Tender Years”, about the romantic tribulations during their first year of marriage, but it failed to find a network as was shelved. Her longest running role was as the model Carol Henning in 12 episodes of the situation comedy “The Bob Cummings Show” (1956-59), for NBC.

Born in Ocean Falls, British Columbia, Canada, in October 1933, her cousin was the actress Joan Benham. Olive was signed to Warner Bros. in 1954 and was quickly put to work taking horseback riding lessons, fencing, learning how to shoot guns, voice and dancing lessons.

She started out on TV, before making her film debut in “Lady Godiva of Coventry” (1955), starring Maureen O’Hara and George Nader. Her other film credits include “The Kettles in the Ozarks” (1956); “The Raven” (1963), with veterans Vincent Price, Peter Lorre and Boris Karloff, and “Requiem for a Gunfighter” (1965), with Rod Cameron.

Olive was offered a prominent role in NBC’s “Flipper” but was pregnant with her first child by musician and percussionist Dale Anderson, whom she married in 1964. Her last two acting roles were in “Ironside” with Raymond Burr in 1969 and the ABC police drama, “The Rookies” (1973-74). She was widowed in 2003. For many years she lived in Pacific Palisades, California.

Actress

Kate Jackson, Georg Stanford Brown, Sam Melville, and Michael Ontkean in The Rookies (1972)

The Rookies

6.8

TV Series

Nurse

June

1973–1974

2 episodes

 

Raymond Burr and Barbara Sigel in Ironside (1967)

Ironside

6.9

TV Series

Nurse

Mary Connell

1968–1969

2 episodes

 

Noel Harrison and Stefanie Powers in The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. (1966)

The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.

6.6

TV Series

Emily Doe

1966

1 episode

 

Rod Cameron and Stephen McNally in Requiem for a Gunfighter (1965)

Requiem for a Gunfighter

6.2

Bonnie Young

1965

 

Bonanza (1959)

Bonanza

7.3

TV Series

Nancy

Mary Ann Wilson

1962–1965

2 episodes

 

Dr. Kildare (1961)

Dr. Kildare

7.0

TV Series

Nurse Hollis

1965

1 episode

 

James Drury, Doug McClure, and John McIntire in The Virginian (1962)

The Virginian

7.6

TV Series

Laura Carter

1964

1 episode

 

Bea Benaderet, Edgar Buchanan, Frank Cady, Linda Henning, Jeannine Riley, Pat Woodell, and Higgins in Petticoat Junction (1963)

Petticoat Junction

7.0

TV Series

Elsie Barton

1964

1 episode

 

Destry (1964)

Destry

7.4

TV Series

Sally

1964

1 episode

 

Angela Cartwright, Rusty Hamer, Sherry Jackson, Marjorie Lord, and Danny Thomas in The Danny Thomas Show (1953)

The Danny Thomas Show

7.1

TV Series

Diana Masters

1963

1 episode

 

Wide Country (1962)

Wide Country

8.0

TV Series

Bibsy

1963

1 episode

 

Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff, and Vincent Price in The Raven (1963)

The Raven

6.5

Estelle Craven

1963

 

Sebastian Cabot, Anthony George, and Doug McClure in Checkmate (1960)

Checkmate

7.4

TV Series

Felice O'Neill

1962

1 episode

 

Don Collier, Judy Lewis, and Bruce Yarnell in Outlaws (1960)

Outlaws

7.3

TV Series

Ruthie Durant

1962

1 episode

 

Thriller (1960)

Thriller

8.2

TV Series

Evie Bishop

Beth Pettit

1960–1961

2 episodes

 

James Garner and Jack Kelly in Maverick (1957)

Maverick

8.0

TV Series

Phoebe Albright

Phyllis Hulett

1960–1961

2 episodes

 

Audie Murphy in Whispering Smith (1961)

Whispering Smith

7.4

TV Series

Meg Phillips

1961

1 episode

 

Westinghouse Preview Theatre (1961)

Westinghouse Preview Theatre

TV Series

Laurie Stewart (as Olive Sturges)

1961

1 episode

 

Bringing Up Buddy (1960)

Bringing Up Buddy

7.8

TV Series

Allie

1961

1 episode

 

Ty Hardin in Bronco (1958)

Bronco

7.1

TV Series

Virginia Munger

1961

1 episode

 

Clu Gulager and Barry Sullivan in The Tall Man (1960)

The Tall Man

7.3

TV Series

May McBean

1960–1961

3 episodes

 

Jack Benny in The Jack Benny Program (1950)

The Jack Benny Program

8.5

TV Series

Miss Johnson - Woman on Bench

1961

1 episode

 

Nick Adams in The Rebel (1959)

The Rebel

7.8

TV Series

Charity Brunner

Jeannie

1959–1961

2 episodes

 

Robert Conrad, Anthony Eisley, Poncie Ponce, and Connie Stevens in Hawaiian Eye (1959)

Hawaiian Eye

7.6

TV Series

Nina McKay

1960

1 episode

 

Mr. Garlund

TV Series

Stella

1960

1 episode

 

John McIntire in Wagon Train (1957)

Wagon Train

7.5

TV Series

Melanie Evans

Cathy Burns

1960

2 episodes

 

The Man and the Challenge (1959)

The Man and the Challenge

8.4

TV Series

Sylvia Honig

1960

1 episode

 

Johnny Midnight (1960)

Johnny Midnight

7.6

TV Series

Ann Rawlins

1960

1 episode

 

Philip Carey in Philip Marlowe (1959)

Philip Marlowe

7.3

TV Series

Barbara

1960

1 episode

 

Shelley Fabares, Donna Reed, Carl Betz, and Paul Petersen in The Donna Reed Show (1958)

The Donna Reed Show

7.4

TV Series

Alice Burke

Carol Berke

1959–1960

2 episodes

 

Robert Fuller and John Smith in Laramie (1959)

Laramie

7.7

TV Series

Caroline Clark

1960

1 episode

 

The Bob Cummings Show (1955)

The Bob Cummings Show

7.7

TV Series

Carol Henning

Carol Helm

1956–1959

14 episodes

 

Hal Baylor, Hans Conried, and Chuck Hicks in Schlitz Playhouse (1951)

Schlitz Playhouse

7.5

TV Series

Judy Collins

1959

1 episode

 

Buckskin (1958)

Buckskin

7.8

TV Series

Mary MacNamara

1959

1 episode

 

Lawman (1958)

Lawman

8.1

TV Series

Wanda

1959

1 episode

 

Have Gun - Will Travel (1957)

Have Gun - Will Travel

8.4

TV Series

Helen Martin

1959

1 episode

 

Clint Eastwood, Paul Brinegar, and Sheb Wooley in Rawhide (1959)

Rawhide

7.9

TV Series

Sally Devereaux

1959

1 episode

 

Ronald Reagan in General Electric Theater (1953)

General Electric Theater

6.7

TV Series

Effie Weber

1959

1 episode

 

Rory Calhoun in The Texan (1958)

The Texan

7.6

TV Series

Mary Lou Martin

1959

1 episode

 

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (1958)

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

7.8

TV Series

Gloria

1959

1 episode

 

John Bromfield in U.S. Marshal (1958)

U.S. Marshal

7.4

TV Series

Pat Latimer

1959

1 episode

 

George Nader in The Further Adventures of Ellery Queen (1958)

The Further Adventures of Ellery Queen

7.4

TV Series

Alice Anthony

1958

1 episode

 

Marsha Hunt and John Rodney in Studio One (1948)

Studio One

7.5

TV Series

Shirley Gibson

1958

1 episode

 

Sugarfoot (1957)

Sugarfoot

7.4

TV Series

Olive Turner

1958

1 episode

 

Panic! (1957)

Panic!

8.1

TV Series

Babysitter

1958

1 episode

 

Cheyenne (1955)

Cheyenne

8.0

TV Series

Kathy Donovan

1958

1 episode

 

Raymond Burr in Perry Mason (1957)

Perry Mason

8.3

TV Series

Fran Celane (as Olive Sturgis)

1957

1 episode

 

Dale Robertson in Tales of Wells Fargo (1957)

Tales of Wells Fargo

7.9

TV Series

Mary Lambert

1957

1 episode

 

Goodyear Playhouse (1951)

Goodyear Playhouse

7.6

TV Series

Hannah

1957

1 episode

 

The Alcoa Hour (1955)

The Alcoa Hour

7.2

TV Series

Hannah

1957

1 episode

 

Strange Stories

8.3

TV Series

1956

1 episode

 

Wire Service (1956)

Wire Service

6.9

TV Series

Addie Palmer

1956

1 episode

 

West Point (1956)

West Point

6.9

TV Series

Connie

1956

1 episode

 

Matinee Theatre (1955)

Matinee Theatre

6.7

TV Series

Priscilla Mullins

1955–1956

3 episodes

 

Crusader (1955)

Crusader

7.6

TV Series

Lisa Foster

1956

1 episode

 

Lux Video Theatre (1950)

Lux Video Theatre

7.3

TV Series

Johanna

Rhoda Cooper

1955–1956

2 episodes

 

Producers' Showcase (1954)

Producers' Showcase

7.1

TV Series

Emily McKee

1956

1 episode

 

Karin Booth and Charles McGraw in Casablanca (1955)

Casablanca

6.3

TV Series

Susette

1956

1 episode

 

Greer Garson and Florenz Ames in Telephone Time (1956)

Telephone Time

7.0

TV Series

Fran

1956

1 episode

 

Judy Garland in Ford Star Jubilee (1955)

Ford Star Jubilee

7.0

TV Series

Mrs. Lockwood

1956

1 episode

 

Arthur Hunnicutt, Marjorie Main, and Una Merkel in The Kettles in the Ozarks (1956)

The Kettles in the Ozarks

6.4

Nancy Kettle

1956

 

Red Skelton in The Red Skelton Hour (1951)

The Red Skelton Hour

8.1

TV Series

Elaine - Sally's sister

1956

1 episode

 

Front Row Center (1955)

Front Row Center

7.2

TV Series

Mary

Rosemary Hoyt

Mildred Miller

1955–1956

3 episodes

 

The People's Choice (1955)

The People's Choice

7.9

TV Series

Linda

1955

1 episode

 

Lady Godiva of Coventry (1955)

Lady Godiva of Coventry

5.5

Girl (uncredited)

1955

 

Frank McHugh and Marvin Miller in The Millionaire (1955)

The Millionaire

7.8

TV Series

Midge Millar

1955

1 episode

 

Shower of Stars (1954)

Shower of Stars

7.3

TV Series

Mia Caroll

1955

1 episode

 

Studio 57 (1954)

Studio 57

7.2

TV Series

Kathy Gresham

1955

1 episode

 

Leave It to Harry

Short

1954

 

Archive Footage

Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster (2021)

Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster

7.6

Estelle Craven (archive footage)

2021

 

Richard Matheson Storyteller: The Raven (2003)

Richard Matheson Storyteller: The Raven

6.6

Video

Estelle Craven (archive footage, uncredited)

2003

 

Corman's Comedy of Poe (2003)

Corman's Comedy of Poe

6.9

Video

Estelle Craven (archive footage, uncredited)

2003

 

Creepy Classics (1987)

Creepy Classics

6.9

Video

Estelle Craven (archive footage)

1987