Tisha Sterling

Contents

Patricia Ann "Tisha" Sterling (born December 10, 1944)[1] is a retired American actress. She is the only daughter of actor Robert Sterling and actress Ann Sothern.

Life and career

Sterling was born at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles, California.[1] Her parents divorced when she was three years old.[2]

Sterling started acting in the 1960s with an appearance on her mother's television series The Ann Sothern Show. She later appeared in episodes of The Donna Reed Show; The Long, Hot Summer; Bonanza; Batman episodes 43 and 44 as Legs, the daughter of Ma Parker (played by Shelley Winters); The Name of the Game; The Bold Ones: The Lawyers; Hawaii Five-O; Columbo; The New Adventures of Perry Mason and Get Smart.

She appeared in the feature films Village of the Giants (1965), Coogan's Bluff (1968), and Norwood (1970).

In 1987, Sterling played a younger version of her mother's character (in flashbacks) in The Whales of August. She had previously played a younger version of her mother's character in Crazy Mama (1975). Following that role, she appeared in two other films. Sterling made her last onscreen appearance in Breakfast of Champions (1999), opposite Bruce Willis.

Personal life

Sterling has since retired from acting, and works as a florist in Ketchum, Idaho (where her mother lived for many years until her death in 2001) with her daughter, Heidi Bates Hogan.[3] Sterling was married to Lal Baum (1937–1987), the great-grandson of author L. Frank Baum, from 1965 until 1970.[4][5][6] Baum died of cancer on July 21, 1987.[7] She is a Roman Catholic.[8]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1965Village of the GiantsJean
1968The Name of the Game Is Kill!Nan Terry
1968Journey to ShilohAirybelle Sumner
1968Coogan's BluffLinny Raven
1970NorwoodMarie
1971The Sandpit GeneralsDora
1974Sonic BoomLori TruckShort
1975Crazy MamaYoung Sheba Stokes
1976The Killer Inside MeAmy Stanton
1982Burned at the StakeKaren Graham
1987The Whales of AugustYoung Tisha
1992Dark HorseOfficer Ross
1999Breakfast of ChampionsBeatrice Keedsler

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1964Alfred Hitchcock HourRachel"Change of Address"
1965Dr. KildareSheila Winfield"Lullaby for an Indian Summer"
1965Mr. NovakMyra"The Firebrand"
1965The Donna Reed ShowTeresa"Pop Goes Teresa"
1965The Long, Hot SummerSusan Beauchamp"The Homecoming", "A Time for Living", "A Stranger to the House"
1965Slattery's PeopleCindy Markham"Of Damon, Pythias, and Sleeping Dogs"
1966Vacation PlayhouseElsie Stanhope"Frank Merriwell"
1966BatmanLegs"The Greatest Mother of Them All", "Ma Parker"
1966T.H.E. CatPhoebe"Curtains for Miss Winslow"
1967Get SmartMiss U.S.A."The Girls from KAOS"
1967The Road WestTassie"Eleven Miles to Eden"
1967Run for Your LifeTia"It Could Only Happen in Rome"
1968BonanzaLaura Jean Pollard"Star Crossed"
1968It Takes a ThiefMadame Trish Marcu"Birds of a Feather"
1969The Name of the GameNiobe Redsmith / Alice Ward"Love-In at Ground Zero", "The Bobby Currier Story"
1969The Bold Ones: The New DoctorsCasey Woods"What's the Price of a Pair of Eyes?"
1969–1971InsightMary"Exit", "A Man Called Don"
1970The Bold Ones: The New DoctorsJoan McPartland"This Will Really Kill You"
1970Night SlavesAnnie Fletcher / NaillilTV film
1970The ImmortalJulie Dudley / Nancy Dudley"Paradise Bay"
1971The Bold Ones: The LawyersJoyce Hyland"The Hyland Confession"
1971The VirginianMelissa"Flight from Memory"
1971Bearcats!Beth Parkinson"Powderkeg"
1971A Death of InnocenceBuffie CameronTV film
1972The Sixth SenseAnnette Gordon"Lady, Lady, Take My Life"
1972Medical CenterDr. Maggie Craig"Confession"
1972Night GalleryFern"The Return of the Sorceror"
1972Another Part of the ForestBirdieTV film
1972IronsideWanda Bolen"Who'll Cry for My Baby"
1973SnatchedRobin WoodTV film
1973Hawaii Five-OEadie Scott"Little Girl Blue"
1973ColumboLinda Johnson"Candidate for Crime"
1973The New Perry MasonSusan Oriel"The Case of the Jailed Justice"
1974The Wide World of MysteryKimberly"Death Is a Bad Trip"
1974BetrayalGretchen Addison / Adele MurphyTV film
1975CaribeSue Mallory"The Assassin"
1976Kiss Me, Kill MeMaureen CoyleTV film
1976SerpicoJenny"Strike!"
1976Police WomanCelia"Bait"
1977McMillan & WifeAnna Meridio"Coffee, Tea, or Cyanide"
1977In the Glitter PalaceGrace MayoTV film
1981Charlie's AngelsMary"Angel on the Line"
1986The Young and the RestlessConnieGuest role (3 episodes)

References

  1. 1.[1.2]Hubler, Richard G. (June 1959). "A belle named Sothern". Coronet. p. 44. Retrieved March 8, 2024. "Sterling enlisted to fight in World War II. They were divorced in 1949. But this time there was a major compensation for Ann. 'From him I had my divine issue, my daughter Trish.' The baby, christened Patricia Ann Sterling, was born on December 10, 1944."
  2. 2.Lisanti, Tom (20 May 2015). Fantasy Femmes of Sixties Cinema: Interviews with 20 Actresses from Biker, Beach, and Elvis Movies. McFarland. pp. 271–282. ISBN 978-1-4766-0116-8. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  3. 3.Kerstetter, Andy (9 November 2016). "Taking an honest look". Idaho Mountain Express Newspaper. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  4. 4."People in the News". The Daily Home News. July 26, 1965. p. 15. ProQuest 2266789537. Actress Tish Sterling, 20, daughter of actor Robert Sterling and his former wife, actress Ann Sothern, was married in Las Vegas, Nev., Saturday to Lal Baum, 27, a Los Angeles real estate broker.
  5. 5.Manners, Dorothy (September 5, 1969). "Play Returns Spur Business". The Solano-Napa News Chronicle. p. 10. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  6. 6."Tisha Sterling Takes Beauty in Stride". The Montana Standard. September 25, 1970. p. 9A. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  7. 7."Obituaries". The Hollywood Reporter. July 24, 1987. p. 9. ProQuest 2594598811. Actor Lal Baum, who also produced and directed, died July 21 of cancer in Westwood. He was 50. Baum's acting credits included 'All in the Family' for television and the feature film 'High Chaparell.' He also produced and directed the documentary, 'Run Up Pike's Peak.' Survivors include a daughter, Heidi, and his mother, Maxine Baum.
  8. 8.An Interview with Ann Sothern and Tisha Sterling, Hugh Downs, 1978