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Susan Oliver (February 13, 1932 – May 10, 1990) was an American actress, television director and aviator. Susan Oliver was born Charlotte Gercke, the daughter of journalist George Gercke and astrology practitioner Ruth Hale Oliver, in New York City in 1932. Her parents divorced when she was still a child. In June 1949, Oliver joined her mother in Southern California, where Ruth Hale Oliver was in the process of becoming a well-known Hollywood astrologer. Shortly after arriving in Los Angeles, she responded to a newspaper 'help-wanted' posting for a position as a hostess at a nearby dude... MORE

Susan Oliver (February 13, 1932 – May 10, 1990) was an American actress, television director and aviator. Susan Oliver was born Charlotte Gercke, the daughter of journalist George Gercke and astrology practitioner Ruth Hale Oliver, in New York City in 1932. Her parents divorced when she was still a child. In June 1949, Oliver joined her mother in Southern California, where Ruth Hale Oliver was in the process of becoming a well-known Hollywood astrologer. Shortly after arriving in Los Angeles, she responded to a newspaper 'help-wanted' posting for a position as a hostess at a nearby dude ranch figuring she would enjoy a California Western-style experience. She was interviewed for the job by aviatrix, entrepreneur, Pancho Barnes, who owned the dude ranch known as the Happy Bottom Riding Club. During her three month employment at the Happy Bottom Riding Club, she would often accompany Pancho Barnes into the San Fernando Valley and Santa Monica airports to pick up and deliver guests in the ranch's airplane. As a result, she became fascinated with aviation, and started taking flying lessons from Pancho Barnes. It was also during her time at the ranch that Oliver made a decision to LESS