Jan Shepard, Actress Known for 'King Creole' and TV Westerns, Dies at 96

The prolific actress, who starred alongside Elvis Presley and appeared in over 30 TV Westerns, passed away from pneumonia on January 17 in Burbank, California.

Jan Shepard, born Josephine Angela Sorbello in 1928, was a Pennsylvania native who moved to Los Angeles in 1949 to pursue acting.
She co-starred with Elvis Presley in 'King Creole' (1958) as his on-screen sister and later appeared in 'Paradise, Hawaiian Style' (1966).
Her television career spanned two decades, with guest roles in iconic Westerns like 'Gunsmoke,' 'Rawhide,' and 'The Virginian,' as well as a major role in the soap opera 'The Clear Horizon.'
Shepard also appeared in cult films such as 'Attack of the Giant Leeches' (1959) and 'Third of a Man' (1962), the latter addressing mental illness.
She is survived by her son, Brandon Boyle, and extended family, following a long marriage to actor Ray Boyle, who passed away in 2022.