Joan Blondell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joan Blondell
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Publicity photograph of Blondell, 1935
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Rose Joan Bluestein
August 30, 1906 Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
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| Died | December 25, 1979 (aged 73) Santa Monica, California, U.S.
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| Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1927–1979 |
| Spouse(s) |
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| Children | 2, including Norman Powell |
| Relatives | Gloria Blondell (sister) |
Joan Blondell (born Rose Joan Bluestein; August 30, 1906 – December 25, 1979) was an American actress. She starred in many films and TV shows for over 50 years.
Blondell started her career in vaudeville, which was a popular type of stage entertainment. After winning a beauty pageant, she began acting in movies. She appeared in more than 100 films and TV shows. She was very busy in movies during the 1930s and early 1940s. During this time, she often acted alongside her close friend, Glenda Farrell. Joan Blondell continued acting for the rest of her life, often in smaller roles. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Blue Veil (1951).
Later in her life, Blondell was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Opening Night (1977). She also appeared in the popular musical movie Grease (1978) and The Champ (1979). She passed away shortly after The Champ was released.
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Early Life and Family
Rose Joan Blondell was born in New York City on August 30, 1906. Her family was involved in vaudeville performances. Her father, Levi Bluestein, was a comedian known as Ed Blondell. He toured for many years in a stage show called The Katzenjammer Kids. Joan's mother was Catherine Caine, who was born in Brooklyn.
Joan's younger sister, Gloria Blondell, also became an actress. Joan also had a brother, Ed Blondell, Jr. Because her parents traveled a lot for their shows, Joan's first bed was a trunk! She first appeared on stage when she was only four months old. Her family was a vaudeville group called the Bouncing Blondells.
Joan traveled a lot as a child. She lived in Honolulu for a year and in Australia for six years. By the time she was a teenager, her family stopped touring and settled in Dallas, Texas. In 1926, using the name Rosebud Blondell, she won the Miss Dallas pageant. She also competed in an early version of the Miss Universe pageant and placed fourth in the Miss America 1926 contest. She went to Santa Monica High School, where she acted in plays and helped with the school yearbook. She also attended North Texas State Teacher's College.
Becoming a Star
Around 1927, Joan Blondell moved back to New York. She worked as a fashion model and a store clerk. She also joined a theater group to become an actress and performed on Broadway. In 1930, she acted with James Cagney in a Broadway play called Penny Arcade.
The play only ran for three weeks, but a famous entertainer named Al Jolson saw it. He bought the rights to the play and sold them to Warner Bros.. He insisted that Joan Blondell and James Cagney be in the movie version, which was called Sinners' Holiday (1930). Warner Bros. then signed her to a contract, and she moved to Hollywood. The studio boss wanted her to change her name, but Joan refused. She started appearing in short films and was named one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars in 1931.
Joan Blondell often acted with James Cagney in movies like The Public Enemy (1931) and Footlight Parade (1933). She also teamed up with Glenda Farrell in nine films. During the Great Depression, Joan Blondell was one of the highest-paid people in the United States. Her song "Remember My Forgotten Man" in the movie Gold Diggers of 1933 became very popular. By the end of the 1930s, she had made almost 50 films. She left Warner Bros. in 1939.
Later Career and TV Roles
In 1943, Blondell returned to Broadway. She was praised for her later films, even though she started getting supporting roles after 1945. She appeared in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945) and Nightmare Alley (1947). In 1948, she took a break from movies for three years to focus on theater.
Blondell came back to Hollywood in 1950. Her role in The Blue Veil (1951) earned her an Academy Award nomination. She also had supporting roles in movies like The Opposite Sex (1956) and Desk Set (1957). She received much praise for her role as Lady Fingers in The Cincinnati Kid (1965). This role earned her a Golden Globe nomination and a win from the National Board of Review for Best Supporting Actress.
Joan Blondell appeared in two popular films shortly before she passed away: Grease (1978) and The Champ (1979). She also appeared in two films released after her death.
Blondell also guest-starred in many TV shows. In 1963, she appeared in three episodes of the sitcom The Real McCoys. She also appeared in an episode of The Twilight Zone in 1964. In 1968, she co-starred in all 52 episodes of the Western series Here Come the Brides. She received two Emmy nominations for her role as Lottie Hatfield in this series.
Joan Blondell has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her work in films. Her star is located at 6311 Hollywood Boulevard.
She also wrote a novel called Center Door Fancy (1972). This book was a story based on her own life.
Personal Life
Joan Blondell was married three times. Her first marriage was to cinematographer George Barnes on January 4, 1933. They had one child, Norman Scott Barnes, who became a successful producer and director. Joan and George divorced in 1936.
On September 19, 1936, she married Dick Powell, who was an actor, director, and singer. They had a daughter named Ellen Powell. Dick Powell also adopted Joan's son from her first marriage. Blondell and Powell divorced on July 14, 1944.
On July 5, 1947, Blondell married producer Mike Todd. This marriage ended in divorce in 1950.
Death
Joan Blondell passed away on Christmas Day, December 25, 1979, in Santa Monica, California. She was 73 years old. Her children and sister were with her. She was cremated, and her ashes are at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.
Images for kids
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Blondell in a trailer for Three on a Match (1932)
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With James Cagney in Footlight Parade (1933)
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Blondell with Elvis Presley in Stay Away, Joe (1967)
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David Manners, Joan Blondell, Ina Claire, Madge Evans from The Greeks Had a Word for Them, 1932
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David Manners, Madge Evans, Joan Blondell, Ina Claire from The Greeks Had a Word for Them, 1932
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James Cagney, Ann Dvorak, and Joan Blondell in The Crowd Roars, 1932
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Joan Blondell, Eric Linden, and James Cagney in The Crowd Roars, 1932
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Gold Diggers of 1933 : Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell, Joan Blondell, Guy Kibbee, and Aline MacMahon
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Footlight Parade, 1933
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Footlight Parade, 1933
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circa 1936
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Here Come the Brides, 1969
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See also
In Spanish: Joan Blondell para niños
