Kristine Miller, Hollywood Starlet of the 1940s, Dies at 90

After being discovered by famed producer Hal Wallis, she appeared opposite Lizabeth Scott in the film noir classics 'I Walk Alone' and 'Too Late for Tears.'

Kristine Miller, a Hollywood starlet who appeared opposite film noir legend Lizabeth Scott in the 1940s classics I Walk Alone and Too Late for Tears, has died. She was 90.

Miller died in late 2015 in a hospital in Monterey, Calif., a family spokesman, who did not want to reveal the exact date, told The Hollywood Reporter. Her husband was television entrepreneur William H. Schuyler, who died in December 2013.

Miller had top billing in Jungle Patrol (1948), in which she played an entertainer of the troops who survives an attack during World War II. She also appeared as a mistress in Barbara Stanwyck’s Sorry, Wrong Number (1948) and as Donna Reed’s roommate in From Here to Eternity (1953).

In I Walk Alone (1948), Miller portrayed a socialite and the girlfriend of Kirk Douglas who famously smacks Burt Lancaster across the face, and in Too Late for Tears, she played the neighbor and sister-in-law of the shady Scott, whom she suspects has committed murder. (She was right.)

Later, Miller starred as Margaret “Jonesy” Jones in the 1950s Republic Pictures syndicated TV series Stories of the Century, about railroad detectives. It won an Emmy for best Western or adventure series.

Miller was born Jacqueline Olivia in Buenos Aires, where her father worked as a Standard Oil executive. In 1938, she, her mother (an opera singer) and her sister came to San Francisco, later settling in Los Angeles.

After appearing in high school productions, she attracted the attention of legendary producer Hal Wallis, who signed her to a contract at Paramount Pictures in July 1946 and changed her name for the screen.

Miller also appeared with Scott in Desert Fury (1947) and Paid in Full (1950), and her film résumé includes Shadow on the Wall (1950) and The Steel Fist (1952).

She also guest-starred on the TV shows Wagon Train, Father Knows Best, Dennis the Menace, The Donna Reed Show, The Millionaire and Tales of Wells Fargo.

Miller married Schuyler in 1953 and left show business in the early 1960s. Her husband headed sales for KTVU-TV in the Bay Area, and they moved to the Monterey Peninsula in 1968 as founders and co-owners of the CBS affiliate KMST. The Schuylers later founded other stations in Sacramento, Calif.; Boise, Idaho; and another one back in Monterey.

Schuyler received a lifetime achievement award and was inducted into the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame in 1986.

Survivors include their daughter Elizabeth. A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. on Feb. 13 at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church in Carmel, Calif.

Twitter: @mikebarnes4