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Joan Davis (I) (1907–1961)

Actress | Producer | Soundtrack

Widely popular comedienne appeared in some movies and on radio in the 40s and on early television. She starred in the popular television series, I Married Joan, with Jim Backus as her husband and her real-life daughter, Beverly Wills as her sister. Joan died of a sudden heart attack in 1961. Two years later, a fire tragically claimed the lives of her mother, daughter and two grandsons. See full bio »

Born:

Madonna Josephine Davis
in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA

Died:

(age 53) in Palm Springs, California, USA
1 photo | 2 news articles »

Quick Links:

Related News

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Christopher Mann's Theatrical Demo Reel -- This reel contains Christopher performing in Film and Television. The clips included are from the following: "The Boundary", "The Wire", "Duplicity", "Law & Order(SVU)", "Michael Clayton", "Cost Of A Soul", "HEROES" and "Law & Order (CI)".

Christopher Mann's Theatrical Demo Reel

Franklin Ojeda Smith - -- "...back in the day the 'barb wire' was more visible" and early on I chose baseball over acting; then academia and not baseball. Now,"...the kids are grown, the dog is dead and now that I may, I choose acting." Please take a look: 1)Boardwalk Empire - Deacon Cuffy 2)Murder Incorporated - Sam Christenson 3)Cayman Went - Aniston Turnkey 4)Letting Go -Therapist 5)Footsteps in the Sand - Jim. Thank You! Franklin

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Francine Locke Film Reel -- Family Law (Best Actress, Gideon), Stealing Home (Best Supporting Actress-nom.) 168 Project, True Tale Monster (Albert P. Weisman Award), The Discarded (2011 Feature Release).

Francine Locke Film Reel


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Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 2 wins See more awards »

Known For


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Filmography

Hide HideActress (49 titles)
1952-1955 I Married Joan (TV series)
Joan Stevens / Joan Stevens (1952-1955)
– The Jail Bird (1955) … Joan Stevens
– The Cowboy (1955) … Joan Stevens
– How to Win Friends (1955) … Joan Stevens
– The Lady and the Prizefighter (1955) … Joan Stevens
– Ladies Prison (1955) … Joan Stevens
See all 98 episodes »
 
1952 Harem Girl
Susie Perkins
 
1951 The Groom Wore Spurs
Alice Dean
 
1950 Love That Brute
Mamie Sage
 
1950 The Traveling Saleswoman
Mabel King
 
1950 Let's Join Joanie (TV movie)
Joanie Davis
 
1948 If You Knew Susie
Susie Parker
 
1946 She Wrote the Book
Jane Featherstone
 
1945 George White's Scandals
Joan Mason
 
1945 She Gets Her Man
Jane 'Pilky' Pilkington
 
1944 Kansas City Kitty
Polly Jasper
 
1944 Show Business
Joan Mason
 
1944 Beautiful But Broke
Dottie Duncan
 
1943 Around the World
Joan Davis
 
1943 Two Señoritas from Chicago
Daisy Baker
 
1943 He's My Guy
Madge Donovan
 
1942 Sweetheart of the Fleet
Phoebe Weyms
 
1942 Yokel Boy
Molly Malone
 
1941 Two Latins from Manhattan
Joan Daley
 
1941 Sun Valley Serenade
Miss Carstairs
 
1941 Hold That Ghost
Camille Brewster
 
1941 For Beauty's Sake
Dottie Nickerson
 
1940 Manhattan Heartbeat
Edna Higgins
 
1940 Sailor's Lady
Myrtle
 
1940 Free, Blonde and 21
Nellie
 
1939 Day-Time Wife
Miss Applegate
 
1939 Too Busy to Work
Lolly
 
1939 Skinny the Moocher (short)
The Maid (uncredited)
 
1939 Tail Spin
Babe Dugan
 
1938 Just Around the Corner
Kitty
 
1938 Hold That Co-ed
Lizzie Olsen
 
1938 My Lucky Star
Mary Dwight
 
1938/II Keep Smiling
Joan (uncredited)
 
1938 Josette
May Morris
 
1938 Sally, Irene and Mary
Irene Keene
 
1937 Love and Hisses
Joan Dolan
 
1937 Life Begins in College
Inez
 
1937 Thin Ice
Orchestra Leader
 
1937 Wake Up and Live
Spanish Dancer
 
1937 You Can't Have Everything
Girl in Y.W.C.A. (uncredited)
 
1937 Sing and Be Happy
Myrtle
 
1937 Angel's Holiday
Strivers
 
1937 The Great Hospital Mystery
Flossie Duff
 
1937 Time Out for Romance
Midge Dooley
 
1937 On the Avenue
Miss Katz
 
1937 The Holy Terror
Lili
 
1936 Bunker Bean
Mabel - Bunker's Secretary (uncredited)
 
1935 Millions in the Air
Singer
 
1935 Way Up Thar (short)
Jennie Kurtz
 
Show ShowProducer (2 titles)
I Married Joan (TV series) (executive producer - 38 episodes, 1952-1955) (producer - 2 episodes, 1954)
– The Jail Bird (1955) (executive producer)
– The Allergy (1955) (executive producer - uncredited)
– Eye Glasses (1955) (executive producer)
– The Maid (1955) (executive producer)
– The Wedding (1955) (executive producer)
See all 40 episodes »
 
1950 The Traveling Saleswoman (producer)
 
Show ShowSoundtrack (9 titles)
1950 The Traveling Saleswoman (performer: "He Died With His Boots On")
 
1948 If You Knew Susie (performer: "My, How the Time Goes By" 1948, "Sextette" 1835 - uncredited / "What Do I Want with Money" 1948)
 
1945 George White's Scandals (performer: "I Wake Up in the Morning" - uncredited, "Who Killed Vaudeville?" - uncredited, "She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain When She Comes" - uncredited)
 
1944 Show Business (performer: "I Want a Girl Just Like the Girl That Married Dear Old Dad" 1911 - uncredited, "She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain" - uncredited, "Sextette" 1935 - uncredited, "Alabamy Bound" 1924 - uncredited, "Dinah" 1925 - uncredited)
 
1943 He's My Guy (performer: "He's My Guy")
 
1941 Hold That Ghost (performer: "The Blue Danube Waltz" 1867 - uncredited)
 
1938 Hold That Co-ed (performer: "Limpy Dimp" 1938 - uncredited)
 
1938 Just Around the Corner (performer: "This Is a Happy Little Ditty" 1938 - uncredited)
 
1937 Thin Ice (performer: "I'm Olga From the Volga", "My Swiss Hilly Billy")
 
Show ShowSelf (9 titles)
1959 The Garry Moore Show (TV series)
Herself
– Episode #1.29 (1959) … Herself
 
1958 The Steve Allen Plymouth Show (TV series)
Herself - Guest
– Episode #4.13 (1958) … Herself - Guest
– Episode #4.4 (1958) … Herself - Guest
 
1957-1958 The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (TV series)
Herself
– Episode #3.4 (1958) … Herself
– Episode #2.4 (1957) … Herself
 
1958 The George Gobel Show (TV series)
Herself
– Episode #4.13 (1958) … Herself
 
1956 The Bob Hope Show (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 11 November 1956 (1956) … Herself
 
1949 Screen Snapshots: Motion Picture Mothers, Inc. (short)
Herself
 
1942 Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 6 (documentary short)
Herself
 
1941 Screen Snapshots Series 21, No. 1 (short)
Herself
 
1939 Hollywood Hobbies (documentary short)
Herself (uncredited)
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (5 titles)
1996 Biography (TV series documentary)
 
1963 The Sound of Laughter (documentary)
Hillbilly singer (edited from: Way Up Thar)
 
1963 Hollywood Without Make-Up (documentary)
Herself
 
1952 Screen Snapshots: Memories of Famous Hollywood Comedians (documentary short)
Herself
 
1949 Make Mine Laughs
 
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Personal Details

Other Works:

(1958) Unsold pilot: Starred in a comedy pilot entitled, "Joan of Arkansas" about a klutzy woman who was chosen by a computer to be the ideal candidate to be the first "man on the moon." The pilot co-starred John Emery, Whit Bissell, Ben Wright, Wilton Graff, Lee Patrick... See more »

Publicity Listings:

1 Print Biography  | See more »

Height:

5' 5" (1.65 m)
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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

I don't get it. Unless my mirror lies to me, I'm not bad looking. But let me get one look at that face on the screen and I'm sick for a week. See more »

Trivia:

Her career was highlighted in "The Slapstick Queens" by James Robert Parish, published by A. S. Barnes in 1973. See more »

Star Sign:

Cancer