NS
Nancy Saunders
Actor
Died June 13, 2020 (94 years)
This pretty, blonde 1940s B-movie starlet was the daughter of newspaperman Leonard Sanders and showgirl Blanche Thompson (who also appeared in a few silent pictures). By her own account, she was born in Hollywood as Nancy Lou Sanders on June 29 1925, the day of the Santa Barbara earthquake. Curiously, being in the movies had not been her primary career choice when she was spotted dancing at the Cocoanut Grove nightclub by journeyman actor and talent scout Don Dillaway. Dillaway took an instant shine to Nancy and managed to arrange a screen test at RKO. She passed muster and was rewarded with a six-month contract (being an experienced equestrian from the age of eight also helped clinch the deal). Before long, she found herself on the cover of Life magazine -- along with Jane Greer and Martha Hyer -- as one of 'nine hopefuls'. After five pictures, RKO dropped her option and Nancy moved over to Columbia where she went on to appear in no less than thirteen pictures in 1947 alone. Many of these were horse operas, including half a dozen of the Durango Kid series with Charles Starrett, shot at the Columbia ranch in Burbank. Nancy also doubled for Rita Hayworth in The Lady from Shanghai (1947) (wearing a blonde wig) and The Loves of Carmen (1948) (dressed as a gypsy). She was Gerald Mohr's leading lady in The Lone Wolf in London (1947) and popped up in a few Three Stooges comedies which she later said to have really enjoyed being in. When her Hollywood career began to falter in the early 50s, Nancy found work as a tour booking agent with Air Cal Airlines. In 1996, she came out of retirement for occasional TV guest appearances. She was predeceased by her husband of 43 years, a sales rep for Seagram and Jim Bean.
- Biography By: I.S.Mowis
- Biography By: I.S.Mowis
Filmography
| 2011 | The Shunning · as Ella Mae Zook |
| 2011 | The Key Man · as Old Homeowner |
| 2003 | Two Soldiers · as Old Lady Killegrew |
| 1998 | Dawson's Creek (TV Series) · as Landlady |
| 1997 | Love-Struck · as Sr. Jean-Marie |
| 1995 | American Gothic (TV Series) · as Brenda |
| 1988 | America's Most Wanted (TV Series) · as 2009 |
| 1986 | Classic Comedy Teams · as Ex Girlfriend (segment "the Three Stooges") |
| 1985 | Stoogemania · as Bit Part |
| 1956 | The Adventures of Jim Bowie (TV Series) · as Rachel Mccullers |
| 1952 | Love Is Better Than Ever · as Pauline |
| 1952 | The Frontier Phantom · as Evans' Daughter |
| 1951 | Bonanza Town · as Anne Avery |
| 1950 | Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone · as Joanie |
| 1950 | Arizona Territory · as Doris Devin |
| 1949 | The Ghost Talks · as Lady Godiva (uncredited) |
| 1949 | Outlaw Country · as Jane Evans |
| 1948 | Whirlwind Raiders · as Claire Ross |
| 1948 | The Mating of Millie · as Bit |
| 1947 | It Had to Be You · as Nancy, The Model (uncredited) |
| 1947 | The Lone Wolf in London · as Ann Klemscott |
| 1947 | Her Husband's Affairs · as Nurse |
| 1947 | Brideless Groom · as Former Girlfriend |
| 1947 | The Woman on the Beach · as Girl At Party (uncredited) |
| 1947 | The Millerson Case · as Belle Englehart |
| 1947 | Law of the Canyon · as Mary Coleman |
| 1947 | A Likely Story · as Blonde On Train (uncredited) |
| 1947 | The Thirteenth Hour · as Donna |
| 1946 | The Locket · as Miss Wyatt |
| 1946 | Criminal Court · as Secretary |
| 1946 | The Secret of the Whistler · as Girl |
| 1946 | Lady Luck · as Manicurist |
| 1946 | The Bamboo Blonde · as Glamour Girl |