- Born
- Died
- Birth nameBetty Jean Bierce
- Nickname
- Poni Adams
- Height5′ 3″ (1.60 m)
- Jane turned down a full scholarship to study violin at Juilliard, opting to spend four years studying acting at the Pasadena Playhouse. She got her acting start in radio, working on Lux Radio Theatre and the Whistler. Her first brief marriage to a Navy pilot ended when he was killed in action during World War II. Shortly after marrying Tom Turnage, she retired from acting, returning briefly to television roles in the early '50s when her husband was sent to Korea.
- IMDb mini biography by: David Bassler <dbassler@richmond.infi.net>
- SpousesThomas Turnage(July 14, 1945 - December 11, 2000) (his death, 2 children)John Custer Harold Smith(July 27, 1940 - September 15, 1943) (his death)
- Best remembered as sympathetic hunchbacked nurse Nina in House of Dracula (1945).
- Universal supposedly nicknamed her "Poni" because of her horseback riding abilities, but the truth was she was given that name while working as a model for Conover just because it was different.
- Once signed with the Harry Conover Modeling Agency before being discovered for pictures.
- Husband Thomas Turnage was a decorated Major General with the Army, who earned the Distinguished Service Medal and Bronze Star. He later served as the last administrator for the Veterans Administration before the VA became a cabinet department during Ronald Reagan's presidential term.
- Her first husband, Ens. J. C. H. Smith, was a US Navy pilot during World War II, in which he was killed in action on September 15, 1943.
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