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

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

• Died: March 3, 2023 (Who else died on March 3?)
• Details of death: Died at her home in Napa, California of breast cancer at the age of 73.
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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

Full obituary: The Hollywood Reporter

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