Sian Barbara Allen, recognized for her Golden Globe-nominated performances in series such as “The Waltons” and “L.A. Law,” passed away on Monday at the age of 78 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, due to Alzheimer’s disease. For more information, see here and here.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Allen had an extensive television career, appearing in shows like “Gunsmoke,” “Cagney & Lacey,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “Hawaii Five-0,” “Columbo,” and “The Rockford Files.” She also became the first woman to write a script for the series “Baretta” in 1978, according to People.
Born on July 12, 1946, in Reading, Pennsylvania, Allen was raised by her mother and grandmother. She attended the Pasadena Playhouse on a scholarship, which launched her acting career. She also studied under Peggy Feury at the Mark Taper Forum’s Journeyman program before becoming one of the last contract players at Universal Studios.
Allen gained recognition with her role in the 1972 film “You’ll Like My Mother,” alongside Patty Duke and Richard Thomas. Her performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination in 1973. During filming, she began a relationship with co-star Richard Thomas, later appearing in “The Waltons” in two episodes in 1973 as John-Boy’s love interest, Jenny Pendleton, as noted here.
Post-“You’ll Like My Mother,” Allen appeared with Bette Davis in “Scream, Pretty Peggy.” Her filmography also includes “Billy Two Hats” with Gregory Peck and Jack Warden, and “The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case” featuring Anthony Hopkins.
“Sian was most often cast in roles in which her characters showed great vulnerability and uncommon empathy, which won her a legion of fans all over the world,” her obituary states. Allen’s theater work included her role as Emily Webb in “Our Town” at the Williamstown Theater Festival in 1976, a part so significant to her that she named her daughter Emily after the character.
Receiving the Key to the City of her hometown was a significant achievement for Allen. After her final on-screen role in “L.A. Law” in 1990, she stepped back from Hollywood to focus on politics and family. Alongside her husband, Peter Gelblum, and daughter, Emily, she volunteered for Jackie Goldberg’s 1993 Los Angeles city council campaign. Her family said she was a “staunch supporter of Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers” and never crossed a picket line.
Allen was also known for her poetry, leaving behind “boxes of writing.” Her daughter described her mother as passionate about literature, music, and comfort foods.
Allen leaves behind her daughter Emily Fonseca, two sisters, a nephew, her ex-husband Peter Gelblum, several cousins, and her grandson Arlo Fonseca, “who made her laugh more than anyone could dream.” Donations in her memory can be made to the AuthoraCare Collective Hospice of Burlington or local groups fighting oppression.
Allen’s contributions to television include her performances and her pioneering role as a female television writer. Her script for “Baretta” marked a significant step for women in the television industry during the 1970s.
Her passing signifies the conclusion of a career focused on artistic expression and social justice, leaving a legacy that spans decades in American film and television.