Sian Barbara Allen

Sian Barbara Allen (July 12, 1946 – March 31, 2025) was an American actress who mainly appeared on television throughout the 1970s. A native of Reading, Pennsylvania, Allen studied at the Pasadena Playhouse before appearing in her first screen role on the series O'Hara, U.S. Treasury in 1971. She went on to appear in numerous television series in the ensuing years, including recurring appearances on The Waltons, Gunsmoke, and Ironside.

She starred in several television films, including Scream, Pretty Peggy (1973) and The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case (1976). In addition to her television credits, Allen starred in two feature films: the thriller You'll Like My Mother (1972) and the Western Billy Two Hats (1974). For her performance in You'll Like My Mother, Allen was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year.

Early life and education With James Garner and David Morick in the 1974 The Rockford Files episode "Tall Woman in Red Wagon" Allen was born on July 12, 1946. She studied at the Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena, California, between 1964 and 1965.

Career Allen appeared in the horror film You'll Like My Mother (1972), starring Patty Duke, Rosemary Murphy and Richard Thomas. For this role, Allen was nominated for the 1973 Golden Globe Award as Most Promising New Actress.

She later appeared in two episodes of the popular TV series The Waltons (1973) as Jenny Pendleton, an early love interest of John-Boy Walton (reuniting her with Thomas, who played John-Boy and with whom she had appeared in You'll Like My Mother the previous year). She played the title role of a mansion's housekeeper in the 1973 ABC Movie of the Week, Scream, Pretty Peggy, which starred Bette Davis.

Allen appeared on television series and miniseries such as Captains and the Kings; The Incredible Hulk; Ironside; The Rockford Files; In 1976, she portrayed Anne Morrow Lindbergh in the television movie The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case, based on the real-life Lindbergh baby kidnapping and murder.

A consistently busy actress through the 1970s, after giving birth to her daughter in 1982, Allen focused on family life and was only seen in a total of four acting appearances between 1980 and 1990. Allen's last role was in an episode of L.A. Law in 1990, after which she retired from acting.

Always interested in writing, Allen wrote a single episode of Baretta in 1978 (her only writing credit for film or television). From the 1980s onward, and especially after retiring from acting, Allen concentrated on writing and publishing poetry and short fiction.

Personal life and death Allen married Peter Burr Gelblum in 1979; they had a daughter, Emily. The marriage ended in 2001. She had two sisters, Mrs. Hannah Davie and flash fiction author, editor and teacher Meg Pokrass.

Allen died from Alzheimer's disease in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on March 31, 2025, at the age of 78.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1971 O'Hara, U.S. Treasury Sheridan Lee Episode: "Operation: Time Fuse" 1971 Alias Smith and Jones Sister Grace Episode: "Six Strangers at Apache Springs" 1971 Gunsmoke Allie Dawson 3 episodes 1972 The Scarecrow Amelia Reddington Television film 1972 The Bold Ones: The Lawyers Lauren Hazelwood Episode: "In Sudden Darkness" 1972 Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law Meredith Carson Episode: "Shine a Light on Me" 1972 The F.B.I. Bridy Nolan Episode: "The Set-Up" 1972 The Family Rico Nora Television film 1972 You'll Like My Mother Kathleen Nominated – Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress 1972 Bonanza Teresa Burnside Episode: "Ambush at Rio Lobo" 1973 Love, American Style Jane Segment: "Love and the Happy Family" 1973 Columbo Shirley Blaine Episode: "Lovely but Lethal" 1973 The Waltons Jenny Pendleton Episodes: "The Love Story", "The Thanksgiving Story" 1973 Scream, Pretty Peggy Peggy Johnson Television film 1974 Billy Two Hats Esther Spencer 1974 Kojak Lyndsey Walker Episode: "Down a Long and Lonely River" 1971–1974 Marcus Welby, M.D. Various 3 episodes 1972–1974 Ironside Susan Todd / Jane Spencer 3 episodes 1974 The Rockford Files Sandra Turkel Episode: "Tall Woman in Red Wagon" 1974 Lucas Tanner Donna Episode: "A Question of Privacy" 1974 Adam-12 Sparky Episode: "Something Worth Dying For: Part 1" 1975 Eric Marilyn Porter Television film 1976 The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case Anne Morrow Lindbergh Television film 1976 Police Story Dana Vernon Episode: "The Other Side of the Badge" 1976 Captains and the Kings Cara Leslie Miniseries 1976 Smash-Up on Interstate 5 Barbara Hutton Television film 1977 Kingston: Confidential Cynthia Marlowe Episode: "The Cult" 1977 Hawaii Five-O Kati Parisa Episode: "East Wind − Ill Wind" 1978 Baretta Ellen Episode: "The Appointment" 1978 W.E.B. Angelica Hutton Episode: "To Angelica with Love" 1978 Sword of Justice Emily Lang Episode: "Aloha, Julie Lang" 1979 The Incredible Hulk Kathy Allen Episode: "The Quiet Room" 1981 Darkroom Brenda Episode: "Make-Up" 1984 Falcon Crest Mrs. Perkins − Adoption Agency Clerk (uncredited) Episode: "Lord of the Valley" 1988 Cagney & Lacey Rhoda Duggan Episode: "A Fair Shake: Part 2" 1990 L.A. Law Diane Campbell Episode: "Whatever Happened to Hannah?"

Awards and nominations Year Association Category Nominated work Result 1973 Golden Globe Award Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress You'll Like My Mother