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Sara Lane (1949–2023), actress in The Virginian

by Linnea Crowther

Sara Lane was an actress best known for playing Elizabeth Grainger on “The Virginian.”

Acting career and beyond

Lane came from an acting family and began being featured in commercials as a baby. Her career took off in her teens after she appeared in a Miss Los Angeles pageant and a producer saw her photo in the newspaper. He hired her for the Joan Crawford film “I Saw What You Did.” That led to Lane’s four-season role in “The Virginian,” playing the teenaged Elizabeth Grainger for seasons five through eight. After “The Virginian,” Lane appeared in just three more movies, credited as Russell Lane: “Schoolgirl in Chains,” “The Trial of Billy Jack,” and “Billy Jack Goes to Washington.” After her retirement from acting, Lane and her husband co-founded the Havens Winery in Napa.

Tributes to Sara Lane

Ms. Sara Lane (Elizabeth Grainger),How lucky I am to have been your big brother(Stacey) at Shiloh Ranch on The…

Posted by Don Quine on Saturday, March 4, 2023

R.I.P., SARA LANE (March 12, 1949 – March 3, 2023), actress best known for her recurring role of Elizabeth Grainger on…

Posted by Laura Wagner on Monday, March 6, 2023

Full obituary: The Hollywood Reporter

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