Linda Stirling (born Louise Schultz;[1] October 11, 1921 – July 20, 1997) was an American showgirl, model, and actress. In her later years, she had a second career as a college English professor for more than two decades. She is most famous for her roles in movie serials.
Linda Stirling | |
|---|---|
_still_1_(cropped).jpg) Stirling in Zorro's Black Whip (1944) | |
| Born | Louise Schultz October 11, 1921 Long Beach, California, U.S. |
| Died | July 20, 1997 (aged 75) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1943–1959 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent(s) | Mr. and Mrs. Alex Schultz |
Early years
editThe daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alex Schultz,[2] Stirling was born in Long Beach, California.[3] She attended Burnett Grammar School, George Washington Junior High School, and Long Beach Polytechnic High School.[2]
She began studying drama when she was 12, and she eventually studied for two years at Ben Bard's Academy of Dramatic Arts.[4] She also was active in the Long Beach Players' Guild.[2]
Stirling worked as a model for photographers and acted in summer stock theater.[3]
Film
editIn the book In the Nick of Time: Motion Picture Sound Serials, William C. Cline wrote, "Of the characteristics necessary in a heroine, Linda Stirling possessed all — presence, wholesomeness, beauty and versatility — and any single one would have been sufficient in her case."[5]
_still_1.jpg)
Stirling's first role was as a model in The Powers Girl in 1943 and her first role in a serial was the title character in The Tiger Woman (1944). She was featured as the heroine in Zorro's Black Whip (1944).[1]
After her marriage, she essentially retired from films to raise a family, although she later appeared in occasional episodes of television shows, beginning in 1952.[4]
Later years
editAfter her career as an actress ended, and her children had grown, Stirling earned her Bachelor's and her Master's degree at UCLA.[6][3] With her degree in hand, Stirling began a new career as a teacher of college English and Drama in the 1960s at Glendale College in Glendale, California between 1967 and 1992.[6]
In her later life, Stirling sought to distance herself in the classroom from her Hollywood past, but still remained active on the film convention circuit until the last years of her life. She also appeared in a 1990 documentary on Republic Pictures, the studio where she did the bulk of her work.
Personal life
editIn 1946, she married Republic screenwriter Sloan Nibley. They had two sons.[5]
Death
editStirling died of cancer in Studio City, Los Angeles, California in 1997.[6][7]
Recognition
editStirling was one of the original winners of the Golden Boot Awards in 1983 for her contributions to western cinema.[8]
Filmography
edit| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1943 | The Powers Girl | Model | Alternative title: Hello Beautiful |
| 1944 | The Tiger Woman | Tiger Woman / Rita Arnold | Alternative title: Perils of the Darkest Jungle |
| The San Antonio Kid | Ann Taylor | ||
| Strangers in the Night | Rosemary in Portrait | Uncredited | |
| Sheriff of Sundown | Lois Carpenter | ||
| Vigilantes of Dodge City | Carol Franklin | ||
| Zorro's Black Whip | Barbara Meredith / The Black Whip | Serial | |
| 1945 | The Topeka Terror | June Hardy | |
| Sheriff of Cimarron | Helen Burton | ||
| Manhunt of Mystery Island | Claire Forrest | Alternative title: Captain Mephisto and the Transformation Machine | |
| Santa Fe Saddlemates | Ann Morton | ||
| The Purple Monster Strikes | Shelia Layton | Alternative titles: D-Day on Mars The Purple Shadow Strikes | |
| Dakota | Entertainer | Uncredited | |
| The Cherokee Flash | Joan Mason | ||
| Wagon Wheels Westward | Arlie Adams | ||
| 1946 | The Madonna's Secret | Helen North | |
| Passkey to Danger | Model | Uncredited | |
| The Invisible Informer | Eve Rogers | ||
| The Mysterious Mr. Valentine | Janet Spencer | ||
| Rio Grande Raiders | Nancy Harding | ||
| The Crimson Ghost | Diana Farnsworth | ||
| The Magnificent Rogue | Model | Uncredited | |
| That Brennan Girl | Minor Role | Uncredited Alternative title: Tough Girl | |
| 1947 | Jesse James Rides Again | Ann Bolton | |
| The Pretender | Flo Ronson | ||
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1954 | The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse | Helen Blayne | 1 episode: "The Woman on the Bus" |
| Adventures of the Falcon | 1 episode | ||
| 1954–1955 | The Public Defender | Betty | 2 episodes |
| The Adventures of Kit Carson | Various roles | 3 episodes | |
| 1955 | The Man Behind the Badge | Nettie Perry | 1 episode |
| Medic | Ellen McClure | 1 episode | |
| 1956 | Cavalcade of America | 1 episode | |
| The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp | Joan Laramie | 1 episode | |
| The Millionaire | Martha | 1 episode | |
| 1957 | On Trial | 1 episode | |
| 1959 | The Real McCoys | Mrs. Baker | 1 episode, (final appearance) |
References
edit- ^ a b Boggs, Johnny D. (2011). Jesse James and the Movies. McFarland. ISBN 9780786484966. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
- ^ a b c "Teacher's Tip Big Boost in Linda Stirling's Film Climb". Long Beach Independent. California, Long Beach. March 18, 1945. p. 24. Retrieved June 17, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c Landesman, Fred (2007). The John Wayne Filmography. McFarland. p. 85. ISBN 9781476609225. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
- ^ a b Magers, Boyd; Fitzgerald, Michael G. (2004). Westerns Women: Interviews with 50 Leading Ladies of Movie and Television Westerns from the 1930s to the 1960s. McFarland. pp. 222–227. ISBN 9780786420285. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
- ^ a b Cline, William C. (1997). In the Nick of Time: Motion Picture Sound Serials. McFarland. pp. 87–88. ISBN 9780786404711. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
- ^ a b c Mayer, Geoff (2017). Encyclopedia of American Film Serials. McFarland. p. 268. ISBN 9781476627199. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
- ^ Galloway, Doug (August 13, 1997). "Linda Stirling Nibley - Variety". variety.com. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
- ^ "The Golden Boot Awards". b-westerns.com. Archived from the original on February 28, 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
External links
edit
- Linda Stirling at IMDb
- Linda Stirling at B-Westerns.com
- Linda Stirling Article at Todd Gault's Serial Experience
- WW2 Glamour Girl Parade Archived May 29, 2017, at the Wayback Machine at The Barracks Wall: World War Two Pin-ups