Sharon Douglas (born Rhoda-Nelle Rader; October 16, 1920 – June 18, 2016) was an American film and radio actress, most active in the 1940s and 1950s.

Early life

The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L.M. Rader, Douglas was born in

Stephens County, Oklahoma Stephens County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2010 census, the population was 45,048. Its county seat is Duncan. The county was created at statehood, partly from the Chickasaw Nation in Indian Territory and par ...

. (A newspaper article about her high school graduation gives her first name as Rhodanelle.) She graduated from Las Cruces Union High School in

Las Cruces, New Mexico Las Cruces (; "the crosses") is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New Mexico and the seat of Doña Ana County. As of the 2020 census the population was 111,385. Las Cruces is the largest city in both Doña Ana County and southern Ne ...

Career

She moved to Hollywood in 1939, struck up a friendship with

Hedda Hopper Hedda Hopper (born Elda Furry; May 2, 1885February 1, 1966) was an American gossip columnist and actress. At the height of her influence in the 1940s, her readership was 35 million. A strong supporter of the House Un-American Activities Committ ...

, and became her

protégé Mentorship is the influence, guidance, or direction given by a mentor. A mentor is someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person. In an organizational setting, a mentor influences the personal and p ...

, with regular appearances on Hopper's popular 1940s radio show. Her stage name was chosen in tribute to her mother's Scottish ancestry. Hopper had NBC hire Douglas to play

Lana Turner Lana Turner ( ; born Julia Jean Turner; February 8, 1921June 29, 1995) was an American actress. Over the course of her nearly 50-year career, she achieved fame as both a pin-up model and a film actress, as well as for her highly publicized pe ...

in a radio biography of her early life, and later introduced her to the RKO movie mogul

Howard Hughes Howard Robard Hughes Jr. (December 24, 1905 – April 5, 1976) was an American business magnate, record-setting pilot, engineer, film producer, and philanthropist, known during his lifetime as one of the most influential and richest people in t ...

, who took her personally under his wing, pitching her as a rival to Jane Greer. Douglas's earliest roles in film were bit parts, but in 1942 was offered a lead role in ''

A Gentleman After Dark ''A Gentleman After Dark'' is a 1942 crime/drama film starring Brian Donlevy and Miriam Hopkins. Plot We pick up the story when the editor of the ''New York Chronicle'' sits on New Year's Eve 1923 awaiting news on the theft of legendary Mrs. Reg ...

'', opposite

Brian Donlevy Waldo Brian Donlevy (February 9, 1901 – April 6, 1972) was an American actor, noted for playing dangerous tough guys from the 1930s to the 1960s. He usually appeared in supporting roles. Among his best-known films are ''Beau Geste'' (193 ...

. Other good parts followed, but radio was where Douglas "really found her métier", in long-running serials such as 1944's ''The Gallant Heart'', and the 132-week World War II run of ''

The Life of Riley ''The Life of Riley'' is an American radio situation comedy series of the 1940s that was adapted into a 1949 feature film, a 1950s television series, and a 1958 comic book. Radio The radio program initially aired on the Blue Network (later kn ...

'', starring William Bendix and a "monumental success". She portrayed Babs, Riley's daughter, in the program. Other roles on television included Bobby's girlfriend in ''The Remarkable Miss Tuttle'', Millie Anderson in ''

A Day in the Life of Dennis Day ''A Day in the Life of Dennis Day'' is an American old-time radio situation comedy. It was broadcast on NBC from October 3, 1946, to June 30, 1951. It is also sometimes referred to as ''The Dennis Day Show'' (not to be confused with the televisio ...

'', Mabel in ''Joan Davis Time'', Virginia Brickel in ''My Mother's Husband'', and Terry Burton in ''The Second Mrs. Burton''. Her other work in radio included '' The Abbott and Costello Show''.Terrace, Vincent (1999). ''Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows''. McFarland & Company, Inc.; . P.5.

Personal life

On July 30, 1946, Douglas married Lebanese-American producer

Edward Nassour Edward Nassour (April 7, 1911 – December 15, 1962) was an American film producer, businessman, and special effects animator. He was the brother and business partner of William Nassour (1903–1987). Biography Edward Nassour was born in Colorado ...

in Hollywood, California. They had four children together. In 1962, he committed suicide by stabbing himself in the heart with a steak knife. Douglas had two other short marriages, both of which ended in divorce.

Death

Douglas died on June 18, 2016, aged 95. The location was not disclosed. She was survived by her children.

Filmography

*''

'' (1942) *'' Wedtime Stories'' (short, 1943) *''

The Navy Way ''The Navy Way'' is a 1944 American war film directed by William Berke concentrating on US Navy recruit training with many sequences filmed at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. The film had its premiere at the Genesee Theatre in nearby Wauke ...

'' (1944) *''

Fog Island ''Fog Island'' is a 1945 American mystery-suspense film directed by Terry O. Morse. The film stars B movie horror film regulars George Zucco and Lionel Atwill. It was based on the 1937 play ''Angel Island'' by Bernadine "Bernie" Angus. Plot ...

'' (1945) *'' Our Hearts Were Growing Up'' (1946) *''

Pretty Maids All in a Row ''Pretty Maids All in a Row'' is a 1971 American sexploitation film that is part black comedy, part sex comedy, and part murder mystery. Starring Rock Hudson, Angie Dickinson, and Telly Savalas, it was released on April 28, 1971. Roger Vadim dire ...

'' (1971) *'' The Daughters of Joshua Cabe'' (1972) *'' The Vendetta'' (1974) *''

The F.B.I. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. Operating under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice, t ...

'' (1974) *'' Jimmy B. & André'' (1980)

Radio

*'' The Second Mrs. Burton'' (1941–43) *''

The Gallant Heart ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' (1944) *''

'' (WW2) *''

The Sky’s the Limit ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' (1949) *'' The Abbott & Costello Show'' (1949–52)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Douglas, Sharon 1920 births 2016 deaths 20th-century American actresses American people of Scottish descent Actresses from New Mexico Actresses from Oklahoma American film actresses American radio actresses American television actresses People from Stephens County, Oklahoma People from Las Cruces, New Mexico Place of death unknown 21st-century American women