It's a shame she died young.

What year was this? She was working up until 1970 including a movie where she was likely doing a lot of running in 1968(They ran for their lives). The abomination of a Movie that was Grotesque came out in 1988 and although older she didn't appear to have any physical issues then. She became a complete ghost after 1970 basically. But for whatever reason she was doing far less work as a whole after 1961 whether it was TV or Movies. Was it her own doing?

Saw her in an episode of The Millionaire from 1959.
What a beauty!

Sad that she passed away at quite a young age. She was lovely, and a very good actress. She was great as the bad girl in "The Restless Years" (1958) and as the love interest of George Peppard and George Hamilton in "Home From The Hill" (1960).

My cousin, Ruth, told me that Luana had a tough life, and she never really recovered from it. Hollywood can break you.
The Divine Genealogy Goddess

Have you ever seen her in Home From The Hill, with Mitchum, Hamilton, Peppard and Eleanor Parker? She was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in that one.
I wish I'd known that the Dragnet episode was on last night.
I just now recalled something: A few months after I got out of the serviceor maybe a year or two later, I don't recallI phoned Harrison Carroll, the Hollywood columnist at the Times and asked him whatever happened to her. He hemmed and hawed around and kept asking if I was a boyfriend of hers, then finally told me she'd contracted elephantiasis and her legs had become huge.
Whether that was the truth or not, I have no idea, but there were several years that she didn't work at all.
Have you seen my updated photo on my profile? Note the afghan socks!
Ron

Awesome story Ron!..I now see why you had to pass, and concur with your reasoning.
I just saw her last night on an episode of Dragnet, "The Bookie", (on ME TV) and she had a pretty good little part, as did her criminal boss, one of the better/best episodes from that over the top TV series, and I was curious about both of the actors, her and her boss..

Its easy to look back and see one's mistakes. On the other hand, what I didn't mention is that I found out that she was still married to her first husband at the time (undoubtedly separated) and that was way over my head. Secondly, she was much more mature than I was, and I think I sensed that. Thirdly, I was steadily dating a girl at the time. Of course, looking back at it now, I should have taken Luana to that party anyway. Who knows what might have happened? At that age I was a hell of a good-looking young man.
I remember seeing Luana at a restaurant in Lakewood one evening. She came in with her husband (this was right after graduation). He was in a tux and she was wearing a spectacular gown. To state that she was gorgeous is an understatement; I'd never seen her wearing any kind of makeup. That contributed to my lack of fortitude; I was awestruck.
Did you happen to know her?
Regards,
Ron
PS: I changed my picture to one that was taken of me about that time, shortly before I went into the service. I'll leave it there for a while.

Ron, what WERE YOU THINKING!

I met Luana when we were seniors in high school (Wilson, in Long Beach) but didn't know she'd been in movies. She wore next to no makeup but was extremely attractive and friendly, but also very mature for her age. Shortly after graduation I learned that she'd signed a contract with Disney and a few months later I bumped into her again. She asked me to take her to a party that Sal Mineo was throwing, a wrap party for completing Rebel Without a Cause, I believe. I demurred for reasons I won't go into here, but two years later I was in Frankfurt, Germany, in the Army, and watched her in the German version of Joe Dakota. To state that I regretted not taking her to that party is a gross understatement!
Then, in 1996, I was looking forward to seeing her at our 40th Wilson reunion and heard that she'd passed away. Shocked, I never made it to the reunion. She was taken from us way too early, but I for one will never forget her.
Ron McGraw, author of The Waldental Gasthaus.

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Pretty old?? She was 57. That's not even remotely old.
I too am sad to see her pass so soon. Very sad.

This is a very old post so excuse me for kicking this back. If you knew her personally,do you know what may have actually happened to her? Like why did she walk away to begin with?

Back in her era the dangers of smoking were not known. If you watch 1950's films, you'll see everyone smoking! It was considered glamorous. Many people started smoking at very young ages back then, and no one thought that was a bad thing.

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did she smoke?

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She was pretty old.