Joan Caulfield facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joan Caulfield
Born	Beatrice Joan Caulfield (1922-06-01)June 1, 1922 West Orange, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	June 18, 1991(1991-06-18) (aged 69) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, model
Years active	1941–1987
Spouse(s)	Frank Ross ​ ​ (m. 1950; div. 1960)​ Robert Peterson ​ ​ (m. 1960; div. 1966)​
Children	2
Relatives	Genevieve Caulfield (aunt)

Beatrice Joan Caulfield (born June 1, 1922 – died June 18, 1991) was an American actress and model. She was known for her delicate and beautiful look. Joan started her career on the stage in 1943. Soon after, she signed a contract with Paramount Pictures to become a movie star. For several years, she was one of Paramount's top actresses.

Early Life and Education

Joan Caulfield was born on June 1, 1922, in West Orange, New Jersey. She went to Miss Beard's School in Orange, New Jersey. Her aunt was Genevieve Caulfield, who received a special award called the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1963. This award was for her amazing work with blind children.

When Joan was a teenager, her family moved to New York City. She later attended Columbia University. While at Columbia, Joan was very active in the university's drama group. She also started working as a model. Her pictures appeared in many national magazines. She even appeared on the cover of Life magazine in May 1942.

Acting Career

Joan Caulfield had a long career in acting. She worked in plays, movies, and television shows.

On Stage

Joan first appeared on Broadway in a play called Beat the Band in 1942. It ran for 67 shows.

She became very famous for playing a difficult teenager named Corliss Archer. This was in the hit comedy play Kiss and Tell in 1943. The play was a huge success. It ran for 956 shows! After a year in the role, Joan left the play. She wanted to act in Hollywood movies. Her sister, Betty Caulfield, took over her role.

In Movies

In July 1944, Paramount Pictures gave Joan a main role in her first movie. It was called Miss Susie Slagle's (1946). This movie was about medical students. She acted alongside Sonny Tufts and Veronica Lake.

Joan also had a small role in Duffy's Tavern (1945). Many other famous Paramount stars were in this movie too.

She played the main female role with Bob Hope in the popular comedy Monsieur Beaucaire (1946).

Joan also starred with Bing Crosby in Blue Skies (1946). This movie became a huge success at the box office.

She worked with William Holden in Dear Ruth (1947). This movie was based on a popular play.

Joan was reunited with Bing Crosby in Welcome Stranger (1947). This was another very popular movie. She also had a small role in Variety Girl (1947).

One of Joan's most famous movie roles was in The Unsuspected (1947). She was loaned out to Warner Bros. for this film. She starred with Claude Rains.

Later, Joan made The Sainted Sisters (1948) with Veronica Lake. She also starred in a film noir movie called Larceny (1948).

Joan returned to Paramount to make a sequel to Dear Ruth. It was called Dear Wife (1948). She also made a musical called The Petty Girl (1950). She said she wanted to try different types of roles.

On Television

In the early 1950s, Joan started appearing on television shows. She was a guest star on shows like Robert Montgomery Presents and Lux Video Theatre. She said she liked working in television.

From 1953 to 1954, she starred with Barry Nelson in the TV version of My Favorite Husband. This show was based on a radio series that later became I Love Lucy.

In 1957, Joan was featured on the show This Is Your Life. This made TV producers notice her again. From 1957 to 1958, Joan starred in Sally. This was a comedy show about a traveling companion.

After Sally ended, Joan continued to guest star on many shows. These included General Electric Theater, Cheyenne, and My Three Sons. She also acted in plays and a few movies like Cattle King (1963).

In 1967, she appeared in the pilot episode of The High Chaparral. Her character was murdered in that episode, which set up the story for the rest of the series.

Later Years

In the 1960s and 1970s, Joan was busy performing in plays. She toured with theater companies across the country. She also guest starred in an episode of My Three Sons in 1966. Later, she appeared in movies like The Daring Dobermans (1973) and Pony Express Rider (1976). She also had roles in TV shows like Baretta and Murder, She Wrote.

Personal Life

In 1950, Joan Caulfield married film producer Frank Ross. They had a son named Caulfield Kevin Ross. Frank Ross produced and directed her 1951 film The Lady Says No. Joan and Frank divorced in 1960.

In 1960, Joan married a dentist named Robert Peterson. They had a second son, John Caulfield Peterson. This marriage ended in divorce in 1966.

Joan Caulfield was a Republican. She supported Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 1952 presidential election.

Death and Legacy

Joan Caulfield passed away from cancer on June 18, 1991. She was 69 years old. She died in Los Angeles, California.

Joan has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It is located at 1500 Vine Street. Her star was dedicated on February 8, 1960, to honor her work in television.

Partial Filmography

Radio Appearances

See also

In Spanish: Joan Caulfield para niños