Joan Blondell
(1906 - 1979)She was a dame, a broad, a wisecracking tough gal in most of her films. Joan Blondell had two careers; in her early years under contract to Warner Brothers she played in musicals and gangster films often in the lead role and later she played character parts, still tough but warm-hearted. Blonde and brassy, she was a wide-eyed attractive looking lady. She was born Rose Joan Blondell on August 30, 1906 in New York City the daughter of a vaudeville couple. Her childhood was spent traveling the world with her parent's act and often performing with them. She made her Broadway debut in 1927 with a bit part in "The Trial of Mary Dugan" and her third play "Penny Arcade" in 1930 led to a part in its film version and her film debut. She was married three times, to cinematographer George Barnes, actor Dick Powell and entrepreneur Mike Todd. In later years she aspired to a family life over a glamorous one. Among her film credits were: "Sinners Holiday" aka "Penny Arcade" (1930) as Myrtle, her film debut; "The Office Wife" (1930) as Katherine Murdock; "My Past" (1931) as Marion Moore; "Millie" (1931) as Angie; "The Public Enemy" (1931) with James Cagney, as Mamie; "Union Depot" (1932) as Ruth; "Three on a Match" (1932) as Mary Keaton; "Footlight Parade" (1933) as Nan Prescott; "Gold Diggers of 1933" (1933) as Carol King; "Stage Struck" (1936) as Peggy Revere; "The Kid from Kokomo" (1939) as Doris Harvey; "Topper Returns" (1941) as Gail Richards; "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" (1945) as Aunt Sissy, one of my favorite of her roles; "The Opposite Sex" (1956) as Edith Potter; "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?" (1957) as Violet; "Lizzie" (1957) as Aunt Morgan; "Desk Set" (1957) with Tracy & Hepburn, as Peg Costello; "Angel Baby" (1961) as Mollie Hays; "The Cincinnati Kid" (1965) as Lady Fingers another of my favorites; "Waterhole # 3" (1967) as Lavinia; "Support Your Local Gunfighter" (1971) as Jenny; "Won Ton Ton, The Dog Who Saved Hollywood" (1976) as Landlady; "Grease" (1978) with John Travolta, as Vi; "The Champ" (1979) as Dolly Kenyon and "The Woman Inside" (1981) as Aunt Coll, her last film role. On TV she was a regular on "The Real McCoys" (1963) as Winifred Jordan; "Here Come the Brides" (1968-70) as Lottie Hatfield and "Banyon" (1972-73) as Peggy Revere. Her television career included TV movie and guest roles on such series as: "Suspense"; "The Virginian"; "The Untouchables"; "Wagon Train"; "Twilight Zone"; "Bonanza"; "My Three Sons" and "Starsky and Hutch." She died of leukemia on December 25, 1979 in Santa Monica, California at the age of 73.
From Great Character Actors, Page 4.
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