- She passed away at 73
- Remembering actress Sara Lane
- Lane was best known for playing "Elizabeth" in 'The Virginian'
Sara Lane's foray into the world of show business commenced in 1966 when she secured the role of "Elizabeth Grainger", an orphaned Wyoming frontier girl, in the long-running NBC western series 'The Virginian' (1962). Opposite her co-stars James Drury and Doug McClure, she graced the screen in approximately 105 episodes, leaving her mark on the show until the penultimate season concluded in 1970.
From child prodigy to Hollywood starlet
Born with blonde hair and striking blue eyes, Sara, whose birth name was Susan Russell Lane, hailed from New York. Remarkably, her journey into the world of entertainment began at a tender age when, as a nine-month-old toddler, she appeared in a soap advertisement and an educational film about caring for infants. Later, her family relocated to California, where she attended Santa Monica High School. At the age of 12, she even featured in a television commercial promoting vitamin pills. However, her big break came when producer/director William Castle spotted her picture in a newspaper, covering her participation as a semi-finalist in a Miss Los Angeles Teen beauty contest. This led to a successful audition and a prominent role in the Joan Crawford thriller 'I Saw What You Did' (1965), where she portrayed one of two teenage telephone pranksters who found themselves in a perilous situation.
Sara's approach to acting as a profession was characterized by reticence. Her primary motivation was to earn sufficient income to pursue her passions, which included creating clothing, crafting jewelry, and raising quarter horses (of which she owned two). In 1966, she was signed by Frank Price, the future head of Universal TV, to play the female lead in the fifth season of 'The Virginian.' Her equestrian skills played a pivotal role in securing the role, and her experience on horseback allowed her to perform many of her own stunts.
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Wine and rebrand
In the mid-1970s, Sara continued her career, now billed as Russell Lane, appearing in several low-budget productions that have since faded into obscurity. However, after retiring from the film industry in 1977, she embarked on a new venture with her husband. Seven years later, they co-founded 'Havens Winery' in Napa Valley, which over time garnered a solid reputation for producing exceptional red wine blends. In 2010, the business was acquired by the Smith-Anderson Wine Group, marking the culmination of Sara Lane's multifaceted journey through life and entertainment.
