From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Betta St. John (born November 26, 1929, Hawthorne, California) is an American actress, singer and dancer. Born as Betty Jean Striegler, St. John made her film debut at the age of ten in Destry Rides Again (1939) and as an orphan in Jane Eyre (1944). She was discovered by Rodgers and Hammerstein and played a small role in the Broadway musical, Carousel in 1945. By 1949, she created the role of Liat in the musical South Pacific and followed the production to London. On film, she appeared in The Robe (1953), Dream Wife (1953), All the Brothers Were Valiant (1953), The Law vs. Billy the Kid (1954), and The Student Prince (1954). St. John appeared in two Tarzan films and ended her career as the heroine of Horror Hotel (1960). She continued to act in films and television until 1965 when she retired. Des...read more