A prolific artist, she exhibited many of her works in both Beverly Hills and back in her home town area of Columbia, South Carolina.
Best known as Dr. Maggie Graham on the "Ben Casey" (1961), she met and married her "Ben Casey" co-star, actor Sam Jaffe, earlier in 1955 when they were both appearing on stage in a production of "Tartuffe". They married a year later. Despite their 33-year age difference the marriage lasted 28 years until his death of cancer in 1984 at age 93. They had no children.
Born in Cottageville, South Carolina and grew up in Williston in Barnwell County in southwestern South Carolina, one of four children born to a school superintendent and his wife.
Graduated from Columbia College in South Carolina in 1945 before pursuing a career in New York City while doing graduate work at Columbia University.
Has a brother, Robert Ackerman.