Jo Ann Sayers TV Schedule

Jo Ann Sayers was a beautiful and talented young actress of the late '30s. Born Miriam Lucille Lilygren in Seattle, she was a natural performer as a child, dancing as well as taking up the violin and the piano. Her initial career goals were more serious than acting, however, as she attended the University of Washington with the intention of eventually earning a law degree.

Acting and dramatics beckoned, however, and she was soon approached by a talent agent; she got a screen test that led her to Hollywood in the second half of the 1930s, in short subjects and also in roles of varying sizes in feature films at Columbia and MGM. These included a test for the role of Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With the Wind, a co-starring part in Young Dr. Kildare (1938) and good part The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1939), an uncredited role in The Women (1939), and a decent-sized role in the Boris Karloff chiller The Man With Nine Lives (1940). Her biggest and best role, however, was her last, in the Paramount-made The Light of Western Stars (1940), as the headstrong heroine who helps put the cowpoke played by Victor Jory on the path to sobriety and righteousness.

On Broadway, she co-starred with Shirley Booth in My Sister Eileen. She retired from the Broadway stage after marrying, but later appeared in summer theater productions and did some broadcast work as well.