Sian Barbara Allen, the actor known for numerous television roles and her lead role in “Scream, Pretty Peggy” alongside Bette Davis, died Monday in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Allen’s death was confirmed to Variety with the cause of death being Alzheimer’s disease.
In the ’70s and ’80s, Allen had numerous roles in popular TV shows, including “The Waltons,” “Columbo,” “The Rockford Files,” “Hawaii Five-0,” “Gunsmoke,” “Marcus Welby, M.D.” and “The Incredible Hulk.” Allen also wrote the “Just for Laughs” episode of “Baretta” in Season 4.
In her film work, she starred alongside numerous stars, including Patty Duke, Rosemary Murphy and Richard Thomas in “You’ll Like My Mother” (1972), Bette Davis in “Scream Pretty Peggy” (1973) and Gregory Peck and Jack Warden in the Western “Billy Two Hats” (1974). She also played Anne Morrow alongside Anthony Hopkins in “The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case” (1976). Allen earned a Golden Globe nomination for Most Promising New Actress in 1973 for “You’ll Like My Mother.”
Bette Davis and Sian Barbara Allen in “Scream Pretty Peggy.”
Courtesy Everett Collection
Allen began her career after accepting a scholarship to the Pasadena Playhouse. She studied with Peggy Feury as a member of the Journeyman program and was eventually hired as one of Universal Studios’ last contract players. She landed her first on-screen credit in the series “O’Hara, U.S. Treasury” (1971).
After her last on-screen credit in “L.A. Law” Season 4 (1990), Allen left public life behind and focused on politics, family and creative writing.
Allen is survived by her daughter, Emily Fonseca, her two sisters, Hannah Davie and Meg Pokrass, her nephew, Miles Bond, cousins Marcy, Mike and Mark Reuben and grandson Arlo Fonseca.
Donations may be made to the AuthoraCare Collective Hospice of Burlington.
