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‘She was a good one’: Jan Shepard, star who worked with Elvis Presley in old Hollywood films, dies at 96

Jan 27, 2025

American actress Jan Shepard has died at the age of 96.

The late star, who hailed from Pennsylvania and was born Josephine Angela Sorbello, died on January 17 in California, according to an online obituary.

According to the obituary, she died from “pneumonia brought on by respiratory failure”.

The sad news of her death has also been reported by major US outlets.

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Jan Shepard

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Her son Brandon Boyle confirmed the news of her death to The Hollywood Reporter and confirmed her cause of death.

“She was a good one and will be dearly missed,” he said in a statement to the outlet.

He confirmed she died at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California.

Fans will know the late star from the 1958 film King Creole, which starred the late king of rock and roll, Elvis Presley.

She starred as Mimi Fisher in the film, Presley’ on-screen sister. The pair also appeared together in 1966’s Paradise, Hawaiian Style.

But according to her IMDb profile, she has more than 89 acting credits to her name.

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Elvis Presley with Carolyn Jones, Delores Hart, Liliane Montevecchi and Jan Shepard from the 1958 movie King Creole.

Her acting debut was in 1952’s Fireside Theatre but she went on to be a TV Western star and have some big films by her name, including Attack of the Giant Leeches.

She was also known for The Clear Horizon and Dr. Christian.

But she reportedly had a close sibling-like bond with Elvis as they worked together and before his death.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, she said in an interview for the 1999 book Westerns Women: ”The first time, I found him to be just the cutest kid around, a big teddy bear, a lot of fun.”

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She was married to American actor Ray Boyle, who died in 2022. They married back in 1954.

The late actress is survived by her son and grandchildren and her nephew, it has been reported.

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