Sally Payne Kelly; Artist, Actress in ‘30s and ‘40s

Sally Payne Kelly, a character actress of the 1930s and ‘40s and an artist who illustrated children’s books, has died. She was believed to be in her mid-80s.

Kelly, who was married to airline executive Arthur F. Kelly for more than half a century, died Saturday in their Bel-Air home.

Originally known as the “Sunshine Girl” of artists’ models, Sally Payne came to Hollywood under contract to Republic Studios. There, she appeared in a number of westerns with such cowboy stars as Roy Rogers and Gene Autry.

When studio executives requested that she have her nose altered through plastic surgery, the model-turned-actress dutifully went to what was then Cedars of Lebanon Hospital to have it reshaped, telling reporters: “I’ve always found it a pretty good nose, but if they want to change it, I guess I’ll have to let ‘em do it. Things are that way in Hollywood.”

She made her debut in a bit part as a tourist in the 1934 film “Hollywood Hobbies.” By 1940, before moving into a series of westerns, she appeared as a maid in “No, No, Nanette” and as the character Lucy Endover in “La Conga Nights.”

The actress rarely returned to the screen after her divorce from radio gag writer William Telaak in 1941 and marriage to Kelly the next year.

Turning to art, she painted oils for her home and those of friends and illustrated a series of “Small Star” children’s books, including “Neighbors.”

For many years, Kelly owned the Bookworm bookstore in Brentwood and volunteered with the “Reading Is Fun-damental” program.

Kelly also earned a pilot’s license and a degree in nutrition.

She is survived by her husband, the former chairman of Western Airlines; a son, Chip; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Services will be today at 1:30 p.m. at St. Martin’s Catholic Church on Sunset Boulevard.