Audrey Long was born on April 14, 1922 in Orlando, Florida. She was educated at St. Margaret’s School for Girls in Tappahannock, Virginia, Los Gatos High School in Los Gatos, California, and Disputana High School. Her father, C.S. Long, an Episcopal minister was a naturalized American citizen and served as a chaplain with the United States Navy. She worked as a model before becoming an actress. In 1942, Long made her screen debut in The Male Animal playing a student. That same year, she appeared in Yankee Doodle Dandy as a receptionist. Other bit parts followed in 1943. In May 1943, Long played “Dora Applegate” in the Broadway play Sons and Soldiers. In 1944, she appeared as a leading lady opposite John Wayne in Tall in the Saddle, playing the role of Clara Cardell. In 1945, she appeared in another Western film, Wanderer of the Wasteland, playing “Jeanie Collinshaw”. In 1947, Audrey Long had featured roles in two films noirs, Desperate and Born to Kill. She appeared in several low-budget films from 1948 through 1951. In 1952, Long made her last film, Indian Uprising, playing the role of Norma Clemson. She retired from acting that year.

In January 1945, Audrey Long married Edward Rubin, a dialogue director; the marriage ended in divorce in 1951. Long married British novelist Leslie Charteris on April 26, 1952 in California. Charteris was best known for his novels chronicling the adventures of Simon Templar, in the literary series The Saint. The couple traveled extensively with Charteris using their travel locations for his Saint novels. The two remained married until his death in 1993. Audrey Long died on September 19, 2014 in Surrey, England. Upon her death, she was cremated and her ashes were placed in a large urn which contains the ashes of her late husband Leslie Charteris.[citation needed] The inscription on the urn reads “Love Never Dies”.