Joan Bennett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joan Bennett
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Bennett in Photoplay, December 1932
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| Born |
Joan Geraldine Bennett
February 27, 1910 Fort Lee, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Died | December 7, 1990 (aged 80) Scarsdale, New York, U.S.
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| Resting place | Pleasant View Cemetery, Lyme, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1916–1982 |
| Spouse(s) |
John Marion Fox
(m. 1926; div. 1928)Gene Markey
(m. 1932; div. 1937)Walter Wanger
(m. 1940; div. 1965)David Wilde
(m. 1978) |
| Children | 4 |
| Parent(s) | Richard Bennett Adrienne Morrison |
| Relatives | Lewis Morrison (grandfather) Constance Bennett (sister) Barbara Bennett (sister) Morton Downey Jr. (nephew) |
Joan Geraldine Bennett (February 27, 1910 – December 7, 1990) was a famous American actress. She starred in movies, on stage, and on television. Joan came from a family of performers, with two sisters who were also actresses.
She appeared in over 70 films, starting in the silent movie era and continuing into films with sound. Many people remember her best for playing strong, mysterious women in movies like The Woman in the Window and Scarlet Street. She was also well-known for her role as Elizabeth Collins Stoddard in the TV show Dark Shadows.
Joan Bennett's acting career changed over time. First, she played sweet, innocent blonde characters. Then, she became known for her glamorous brunette roles as a "femme fatale" (a charming but dangerous woman). Later, she often played warm and caring wives and mothers.
For her last movie, the horror film Suspiria (1977), she was nominated for an award.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Joan Geraldine Bennett was born on February 27, 1910, in Fort Lee, New Jersey. She was the youngest of three daughters. Her father, Richard Bennett, and her mother, Adrienne Morrison, were both actors.
Her older sisters were Constance Bennett and Barbara Bennett, who were also actresses. Their family had a long history in theater. Joan's grandfather, Lewis Morrison, was a famous Shakespearean actor. Her grandmother's family had been performers since the 1700s!
Joan first appeared in a silent movie as a child in 1916. It was called The Valley of Decision, and her parents and sisters were in it too. She went to schools in Manhattan, Connecticut, and even a finishing school in France.
Joan married four times and had four children. Her first marriage was to John M. Fox in 1926. They had a daughter named Adrienne. Joan later changed her daughter's name to Diana.
Acting Career Highlights
Joan's first time acting on stage was at age 18 with her father in a play called Jarnegan (1928). She received good reviews for her performance. By the time she was 20, she was a movie star! She had important roles in films like Bulldog Drummond and Disraeli (both 1929).
She made many movies in the 1930s. For several years, she was known for her natural blonde hair. She starred in the musical Puttin' On The Ritz (1930) and an early sound version of Moby Dick (1930).
Joan also worked for Fox Film Corporation. She played Jane Miller in She Wanted a Millionaire (1932) and Helen Riley in Me and My Gal (1932).
In 1932, she married screenwriter Gene Markey. They had a daughter named Melinda.
Joan left Fox to play Amy March in Little Women. This movie helped her get noticed by film producer Walter Wanger, who later became her third husband. He helped guide her career.
In 1938, Joan changed her hair from blonde to brunette for her role in the movie Trade Winds. This change led to a whole new type of role for her. She became known for playing glamorous and mysterious characters. She played Princess Maria Theresa in The Man in the Iron Mask (1939).
Joan was even considered for the famous role of Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind! She was one of the final four actresses considered.
In 1940, Joan married Walter Wanger. They had two daughters, Stephanie and Shelley.
She earned praise for her roles in films like The House Across the Bay (1940) and the anti-Nazi drama The Man I Married.
Joan then starred in several popular thrillers directed by Fritz Lang. She played Jerry Stokes in Man Hunt (1941), Alice Reed in The Woman in the Window (1944), and Kitty March in Scarlet Street (1945).
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After playing many dramatic roles, Joan changed her image again. She started playing elegant and witty wives and mothers in comedies. She was Ellie Banks, the wife of Spencer Tracy and mother of Elizabeth Taylor, in Father of the Bride (1950) and Father's Little Dividend (1951).
Joan also made many appearances on radio shows from the 1930s to the 1950s. As television became popular, she started appearing on TV shows too, including Your Show of Shows in 1951.
Political Involvement
Joan was very active in politics. She supported many causes that promoted fairness and equality, like the Civil Rights Movement. She also supported several political leaders, including Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy.
Later Years and Legacy
Joan and Walter Wanger divorced in 1965. She continued to work on stage and in television.
She became very famous for her role as Elizabeth Collins Stoddard in the gothic TV soap opera Dark Shadows. The show ran from 1966 to 1971, and Joan was a main character for its entire run. She even received an Emmy Award nomination in 1968 for her performance. She also played other characters in the show, like Naomi Collins and Flora Collins. In 1970, she appeared in House of Dark Shadows, a movie based on the TV series.
Joan wrote a book about her life called The Bennett Playbill, which was published in 1970.
She continued to act in TV movies until 1982. Her last feature film role was in the horror movie Suspiria (1977), for which she received another award nomination.
On Valentine's Day in 1978, Joan married David Wilde. They were married until her death.
Joan Bennett was known for not taking herself too seriously. In an interview in 1986, she said, "I don't think much of most of the films I made, but being a movie star was something I liked very much."
Joan Bennett has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California. It honors her contributions to the film industry. Her star is near her sister Constance's star.
Death
Joan Bennett passed away from heart failure on December 7, 1990, at the age of 80, at her home in Scarsdale, New York. She is buried in Pleasant View Cemetery in Lyme, Connecticut, with her parents.
Images for kids
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Bennett in the trailer for Father's Little Dividend (1951)
See also
In Spanish: Joan Bennett para niños
