365 Days of Columbo: July 12th

Happy birthday to Sian Barbara Allen

Born on July 12, 1946, in Reading, Pennsylvania, she studied at the Pasadena Playhouse before making her screen debut on the series O'Hara, U.S. Treasury in 1971.

Columbo fans will remember her as the sweet, naive, corporate spy who fed Viveca Scott secrets and intel in Lovely but Lethal.

Beyond Columbo

Allen is best known for her work on television throughout the 1970s. She made recurring appearances on popular TV series such as The Waltons, Gunsmoke, and Ironside. She also starred in several television films, including Scream, Pretty Peggy (1973) and The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case (1976).

In addition to her television credits, Allen starred in two feature films: the thriller You'll Like My Mother (1972) and the Western Billy Two Hats (1974). Her performance in You'll Like My Mother earned her a Golden Globe nomination for New Star of the Year.

Allen also appeared in two episodes of the popular TV series The Waltons (1973) as Jenny Pendleton, an early love interest of John-Boy Walton. This reunited her with Richard Thomas, who played John-Boy and with whom she had appeared in You'll Like My Mother the previous year.

Her Columbo character was murdered by Viveca Scott with a poisoned cigarette.

After a successful acting career, Allen retired from acting after marrying and giving birth to a daughter. She channelled her creativity into writing. She is the older sister of flash-fiction author, editor, and teacher Meg Pokrass. 

She passed away March 31st, 2025 in Chapel Hill, NC.