Sally (or Sara or Sarah) Jane Cairns (December 7, 1919 – February 9, 1965) was an American film actress. She appeared in over 15 films between

1940 A calendar from 1940 according to the Gregorian calendar, factoring in the dates of Easter and related holidays, cannot be used again until the year 5280. Events Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix. January *January ...

and

1944 Events Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix. January * January 2 – WWII: ** Free French General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny is appointed to command French Army B, part of the Sixth United States Army Group in Nor ...

Early years

The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William P. Cairns, she studied at California High School (Pennsylvania) in

California, Pennsylvania California is a borough on the Monongahela River in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, and part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area since 1950. The population was 5,479 as of the 2020 census and was estimated at 5,453 in 2021. Cali ...

. As a youngster, she performed with the Stone House Players community theater group. In 1939 she had her first lead with the group.

Career

Cairns sang with the Ted Waldron Orchestra. During her junior year at

Duquesne University Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit ( or ; Duquesne University or Duquesne) is a private Catholic research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened as the Pittsbu ...

, she won the local '' Gateway to Hollywood'' acting competition, beating out over 500 applicants. She finished second in the national competition, losing to

Gale Storm Josephine Owaissa Cottle (April 5, 1922 – June 27, 2009), known professionally as Gale Storm, was an American actress and singer. After a film career from 1940 to 1952, she starred in two popular television programs of the 1950s, ''My Littl ...

. Upon arriving in Hollywood in 1940, Cairns made her film debut with cowboy star

Addison Randall Addison Byron Owen Randall (May 12, 1906 – July 16, 1945) was an American film actor, chiefly in Westerns. He often used a pseudonym for his film work, chiefly Jack Randall, though he played roles as Allen Byron and Byron Vance too. Earl ...

in ''

Covered Wagon Trails ''Covered Wagon Trails'' is a 1940 American Western film directed by Raymond K. Johnson, starring Jack Randall, Sally Cairns and Lafe McKee. Cast * Jack Randall as Jack Cameron * Sally Cairns as Carol Bradford * Lafe McKee as John Bradfo ...

''. Modern television viewers will recognize Cairns for her roles in two

Three Stooges The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy team active from 1922 until 1970, best remembered for their 190 short subject films by Columbia Pictures. Their hallmark styles were physical farce and slapstick. Six Stooges appeared ...

films from the 1940s. She was Moe Howard's dancing partner who manages to lose her skirt in ''

Three Smart Saps ''Three Smart Saps'' is a 1942 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 64th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring ...

''. Cairns also appeared as Tizzy in the film ''

Back from the Front ''Back from the Front'' is a 1943 short film, short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 70th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictur ...

''. Thanks to the popularity of the Stooges, Cairns is seen almost daily worldwide due to the films' constant television broadcasts. Her last studio affiliation was with

RKO Pictures RKO Radio Pictures Inc., commonly known as RKO Pictures or simply RKO, was an American film production and distribution company, one of the "Big Five" film studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. The business was formed after the Keith-Albee-Orphe ...

Death

Cairns died of

colorectal cancer Colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as bowel cancer, colon cancer, or rectal cancer, is the development of cancer from the colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine). Signs and symptoms may include blood in the stool, a change in bowel m ...

on February 9, 1965, at age 45.Reighter, Frank. ''The Three Stooges Journal'', 2011. She is buried at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Pomona, California.

Personal

Cairns was married twice, first to Thomas Piper on May 26, 1940. Her second marriage was to Harold Lewis, a second unit director and production manager. They had a daughter, Deanne, born in 1946.

References

External links

* 1919 births 1965 deaths Deaths from cancer in California Deaths from colorectal cancer American film actresses Actresses from Pennsylvania Duquesne University alumni 20th-century American actresses Burials in California {{US-film-actor-1910s-stub