Jean Allison Dies: TV And Film Character Actor For 30+Years Was 94

Bruce Haring

March 9, 2024 at 1:12 p.m.·1 min read

Veteran television actress Jean Allison, best known for roles in shows like Bonanza, Gunsmoke, and Perry Mason, has died at 94. Her family’s obituary said she died Feb. 28 in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, but no cause was given.

Allison, a character actress, built a long resume in popular TV. She appeared in episodes of Charlie’s Angels, The Detectives, Emergency!, Hawaiian Eye, Starsky & Hutch, The Waltons and many others.

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Born on Oct. 24, 1929, she grew up in Tarrytown, New York. She eventually attended Adelphi College on Long Island and later studied acting under Sanford Meisner.

She was spotted while appearing in a stage performance of the drama Teach Me How to Cry, which led to her debut in an episode of the CBS anthology General Electric Theater in 1957.

Allison also appeared in such films as Edge of Fury, (1958) The Devil’s Partner (1960), The Steagle (1971), Bad Company (1972) and Hardcore (1979).

Allison married three times, including to fellow character actor/director Lee Philips, boxing trainer Jerry Boyd, and Phil Toorvald, with whom she raised three children.

She is survived by her three children, Erin, Sven and Tina.

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