Sheila Ryan (born Katherine Elizabeth McLaughlin, June 8, 1921 â€"
November 4, 1975) was an American actress who appeared in more than 60
movies.Born in Topeka, Kansas, Ryan went to Hollywood in 1939 at the
age of 18. Her acting career began when she tried out for a role on a
program at television station W6XAO (later KCBS) in Los Angeles,
California. An article in a contemporary magazine reported, "She
proved to be a perfect television type and was given a role at
once."At age 19, Ryan was selected by a group of Hollywood directors
as one of 13 "baby stars of 1940." She was signed by 20th Century Fox
in 1940 and was credited in her early films as Bettie McLaughlin.
Adopting the name Sheila Ryan, she starred in the crime drama Dressed
to Kill the following year.Ryan appeared in other memorable films,
including two Laurel and Hardy movies, Great Guns (1941) and
A-Haunting We Will Go (1942), and the Busby Berkeley musical The
Gang's All Here (1943). Ryan also was featured in several Charlie Chan
and Michael Shayne mysteries. By the late 1940s, however, her career
waned and she began appearing mostly in B movies, especially
low-budget westerns.
November 4, 1975) was an American actress who appeared in more than 60
movies.Born in Topeka, Kansas, Ryan went to Hollywood in 1939 at the
age of 18. Her acting career began when she tried out for a role on a
program at television station W6XAO (later KCBS) in Los Angeles,
California. An article in a contemporary magazine reported, "She
proved to be a perfect television type and was given a role at
once."At age 19, Ryan was selected by a group of Hollywood directors
as one of 13 "baby stars of 1940." She was signed by 20th Century Fox
in 1940 and was credited in her early films as Bettie McLaughlin.
Adopting the name Sheila Ryan, she starred in the crime drama Dressed
to Kill the following year.Ryan appeared in other memorable films,
including two Laurel and Hardy movies, Great Guns (1941) and
A-Haunting We Will Go (1942), and the Busby Berkeley musical The
Gang's All Here (1943). Ryan also was featured in several Charlie Chan
and Michael Shayne mysteries. By the late 1940s, however, her career
waned and she began appearing mostly in B movies, especially
low-budget westerns.
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