RIP Jean Allison

 

Jean Allison Toorvald

October 24, 1929 – February 28, 2024

Jean Allison Toorvald, age 94, of Rancho Palos Verdes, California passed away on Wednesday, February 28, 2024.

 Neptune Society

Jean Marie Allison was born on October 24, 1929 in New York City. She was an American actress. She graduated from Marymount High School, Tarrytown, N.Y. and then from Adelphi College, NY. She married another Adelphi graduate, Lee Philips (actor, director) and were later divorced amicably. After studying with Sanford Meisner, she married F.X. Toole (the writer of “Million Dollar Baby” (2004) under the pseudonym used for Jerry Boyd), in Mexico City where daughter Erin was born. They later divorced amicably.

She did the play, “Teach Me How To Cry”, written by Patricia Joudry and was spotted by an agent, Doovid Barskin, who signed her. In 1960 she met the perfect man, Phil Toorvald, a Stanford University senior studying electrical engineering. She had two children with Phil in quick succession, Sven and Tina, raised another girl (adopted), and then raised that girl's two daughters.

Jean's first feature part had been in 1952 in the film “Edge of Fury” (1958) where she had met first-time cameraman Jack Couffer. Fifty years later, after each had survived the loss of long time spouses they now share their lives together in retirement.

Jean appeared in numerous films and television series throughout the 1950s to the 1980s.

Allison made her debut on television in the mid-1950s and was credited with a host of minor roles and appearances as guest star in dozens of episodes of television series.

Her last appearance on television was in 1984 on the series Highway to Heaven.

Allison died in Rancho Palos Verdes, California on February 28, 2024, at the age of 94.

ALLISON, Jean (Jean Marie Allison)

Born: 10/24/1929, New York City, New York, U.S.A.

Died: 2/28/2024, Rancho Palos Verdes, California, U.S.A.

 

Jean Allison’s westerns – actress:

The Californians (TV) – 1958, 1959 (Millie, Rosie Kerrigan)

Have Gun – Will Travel (TV) – 1958 (Nora Borden)

Maverick (TV) – 1958 (Madame Higgins)

The Restless Gun (TV) – 1958 (Beth)

The Rough Riders (TV) – 1958 (Jan)

Trackdown (TV) – 1958 (Eileen Day)

Bronco (TV) – 1959, 1960 (Flora Waters, Susan McSween)

Law of the Plainsman (TV) – 1959 (Helen Jakowsky, Rosa)

Lawman (TV) – 1959 (Beth Hunter)

Rawhide (TV) – 1959 (Melissa Calvin)

Shotgun Slade (TV) – 1959 (Ellen Oliver)

Sugarfoot (TV) – 1959 (Rachel Dubrowski)

U.S. Marshal (TV) – 1959 (Millie Thompson, Ruth Lacey)

Wagon Train (TV) – 1959 (Angela Kingdom)

The Alaskans (TV) – 1960 (Rose Stevenson, Yukon Kate)

Bonanza (TV) – 1960 (Sally Byrnes)

Johnny Ringo (TV) – 1960 (Lydia Hackett)

Riverboat (TV) – 1960 (Tracy Paxton)

Tales of Wells Fargo (TV) – 1960 (Francine)

Tate (TV) – 1960 (Della)

Tombstone Territory (TV) – 1960 (Hope Jensen)

The Westerner (TV) – 1960 (Margie Lee Kennedy)

Bat Masterson (TV) – 1961 (Lorna Stevens)

The Life and Times of Wyatt Earp (TV) – 1961 (Minna Marlin)

Outlaws (TV) – 1961 (Edith Elsworth)

The Rifleman (TV) – 1961 (woman)

Wanted: Dead or Alive (TV) – 1961 (Carol Frazer, Madge Nelson)

Laramie (TV) – 1962, 1963 (Amelia Holby, Sarah Hodding)

Gunsmoke (TV) -1970, 1974 (Martha, Martha Vail)

Bad Company – 1972 (Mrs. Dixon)

Hec Ramsey (TV) – 1973 (Grace Lambert)

How the West Was Won (TV) – 1978 (Mrs. Stillman)