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Linda Stirling

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Linda Stirling
Stirling in Zorro's Black Whip (1944)
Born
Louise Schultz

(1921-10-11)October 11, 1921
Long Beach, California, U.S.
DiedJuly 20, 1997(1997-07-20) (aged 75)
Studio City, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actress
  • model
  • showgirl
Years active1943–1959
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1946; died 1990)​
Children2
Parent(s)Mr. and Mrs. Alex Schultz

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.

Early years

The 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

In 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]

From Zorro's Black Whip (1944), Linda Stirling and George J. Lewis.

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

After her career as an actress ended, and her children had grown, Stirling enrolled at UCLA, eventually earning a BFA, an MA, and finally a PhD in English literature at the age of 50. With her degree in hand, Stirling began a new career as a teacher of college English and Drama in the 1960s at Glendale College[3] in Glendale, California between 1967 and 1990.

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

In 1946, she married Republic screenwriter Sloan Nibley. They had two sons.[5]

Death

Stirling died of cancer in Studio City, Los Angeles, California in 1997.[6][7]

Recognition

Stirling was one of the original winners of the Golden Boot Awards in 1983 for her contributions to western cinema.[8]

Filmography

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"
The Adventures of 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

  1. ^ a b Boggs, Johnny D. (2011). Jesse James and the Movies. McFarland. ISBN 9780786484966. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  2. ^ 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. Open access icon
  3. ^ a b c Landesman, Fred (2007). The John Wayne Filmography. McFarland. p. 85. ISBN 9781476609225. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Mayer, Geoff (2017). Encyclopedia of American Film Serials. McFarland. p. 268. ISBN 9781476627199. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  7. ^ Galloway, Doug (August 13, 1997). "Linda Stirling Nibley - Variety". variety.com. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  8. ^ "The Golden Boot Awards". b-westerns.com. Archived from the original on February 28, 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
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