Jan Sterling American actress Date of Birth: 03.04.1921 Country: USA

1. Biography of Jan Sterling
2. Personal Life and Later Years

Biography of Jan Sterling

Jan Sterling was an American actress. She was born Jane Sterling Adriance in New York City, into a fairly wealthy family. After attending various private schools for a period of time, she traveled to Europe with her family. In London and Paris, she received education from the best private tutors, and eventually enrolled in Fay Compton's dramatic school in London.

Early in her career, Sterling returned to Manhattan as a teenager and performed under various versions of her name, such as "Jane Adriance" and "Jane Sterling." She made her breakthrough on Broadway in the production of "Bachelor Born," and went on to star in successful shows like "Panama Hattie," "Over 21," and "Present Laughter." In 1947, she made her film debut in "Tycoon" under the name "Jane Darian." It was rumored that Ruth Gordon advised her to choose a permanent stage name, and thus she settled on "Jan Sterling."

In the 1950s, Sterling was most active in the film industry. She received a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in "The High and the Mighty" in 1954. She was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for the same role. However, her career slowed down in the 1960s, although she continued to perform in television productions and theater.

Personal Life and Later Years

Sterling was married to John Merivale, but their marriage ended in divorce. After the death of her second husband, actor Paul Douglas, in 1959, her career began to decline. In the 1970s, she began a romance with Sam Wanamaker. For nearly two decades, Sterling remained out of the public eye, until she made a comeback appearance at the Cinecon film festival in 2001. She faced various health issues and injuries, including diabetes, a hip fracture, and a series of strokes.

Sterling's only child, Adams Douglas, passed away in 2003. She herself died a year later at the age of 82. She was laid to rest in the Garden of Actors at Churchyard Cemetery in London.