Beverly Garland, a talented actress, was born in Santa Cruz, California, and began her acting career by studying dramatics under Anita Arliss, sister of renowned stage and screen star George Arliss. She initially acted in a little theater in Glendale, Arizona, before relocating to Phoenix, where she continued her acting endeavors.
Garland's early career also included radio work and appearances in a few risqué shorts, before making her feature film debut in a supporting role in the 1949 film D.O.A. She went on to have a successful career in television, with notable roles in Scarecrow and Mrs. King and My Three Sons, as well as guest appearances on numerous shows, including The Guardian, Weakest Link, 7th Heaven, and Port Charles.
In addition to her television work, Garland was also a successful businesswoman, operating the Beverly Garland Holiday Inn in North Hollywood with the assistance of her children. Her husband, Fillmore Crank, a land developer, built two hotels that bore her name.
Throughout her career, Garland received numerous accolades, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1983 and induction into the Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2001, in recognition of her 50 years in show business. She also holds the distinction of being television's first policewoman, starring in the 1957 series Decoy, and the first actress to star in a television dramatic series.
After the death of her husband in 1999, Garland continued to operate the hotel and remained active in the entertainment industry until her own passing at the age of 82 on December 5, 2008, in her home in the Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California.
