Actress Sian Barbara Allen, a staple of 1970s television, has died at the age of 78.
Sian Barbara Allen, who starred in popular shows such as The Waltons, died of Alzheimer’s disease on Monday in Chapel Hill, NC, according to an online obituary.
Her sister confirmed her death via a post on Facebook, writing, ‘My wonderful sister, actress Sian Barbara Allen died peacefully today after a long illness. This loss is too hard.’
The versatile actress was a well-known face on television beginning in 1971 with her appearance on Alias Smith and Jones.
Sian Barbara Allen later had appearances on Gunsmoke, The F.B.I. and the popular Love, American Style.
Her performance as a mentally challenged young woman in 1972’s You’ll Like My Mother earned her a Golden Globe nomination in 1973 for Most Promising New Actress.
While working on that film, she fell in love with her co-star, Richard Thomas and they were together for several years, according to IMDB.
She was on two episodes of The Waltons in 1973, playing Jenny Pendleton, a young woman who shared a sweet love story with Thomas’ John-boy in two episodes of the family drama.
That same year she starred with the legendary Bette Davis in the made for TV thriller Scream, Peggy Scream, as a young woman hired to look after Davis, unaware that the previous caretaker has been murdered.