Joan Lorring facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joan Lorring
Lorring in 1946
Born	Madeline Ellis (1926-04-17)April 17, 1926 Hong Kong
Died	May 30, 2014(2014-05-30) (aged 88) Sleepy Hollow, New York, U.S.
Other names	Dellie Ellis
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1944–1980
Spouse(s)	Martin Sonenberg ​ ​ (m. 1956; died 2011)​
Children	2

Joan Lorring (born Madeline Ellis; April 17, 1926 – May 30, 2014) was an American actress and singer. She was famous for her work in movies and on stage. Joan was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the 1945 movie The Corn Is Green. She also played the first Marie Buckholder in the Broadway play Come Back, Little Sheba in 1950. For this role, she won a Donaldson Award, which was an early version of the Tony Award.

Early Life and Beginnings

Joan Lorring was born in Hong Kong. In 1937, her family had to leave Hong Kong. This was because of the Japanese invasion at the start of World War II. They traveled by boat to Honolulu and then to San Francisco.

Soon after, they moved to Los Angeles. Madeline, who was called "Dellie" by her family, started working as a child actress. She appeared on radio and in movies. She was known as "Dellie Ellis" when she played the main role in the radio show A Date With Judy in 1942. Later, she chose "Joan Lorring" as her stage name.

Radio Work

Joan Lorring started her acting career as a child on the radio. She performed in many radio shows. One of her notable roles was Alma Horrell in the Suspense episode "The Great Horrell" in 1946. She also appeared in "The Farmer Takes a Wife."

Theatre Performances

Joan Lorring made her first appearance on Broadway in 1950. She played the role of Marie Buckholder in Come Back Little Sheba. She acted alongside famous actress Shirley Booth. For this role, Joan won a Donaldson Award. This award recognized her as the Most Outstanding Female Debut of the 1949–1950 Broadway season.

Her success on stage led her to other plays. In 1951, she performed in the Broadway show The Autumn Garden. She also appeared in the play Dead Pidgeons in 1954. Her last Broadway role was in 1957. She played The Young Woman in A Clearing in the Woods. In 1970, Joan also acted in an Off-Broadway play called Awake and Sing!.

Movies and TV Shows

Joan Lorring (far right) and cast on the set of Norby

Joan Lorring made her first movie at age 18. It was called Song of Russia in 1944. Her next movie was the drama The Bridge of San Luis Rey. This movie was nominated for an Oscar.

Her third movie role was a big one. She played Bessy Watty in The Corn Is Green in 1945. She acted with the famous actress Bette Davis. At just 19 years old, Joan was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for this role.

After that, Joan had supporting roles in other dramas. These included Three Strangers and The Verdict in 1946. In The Verdict, she also sang a song called "Give Me a Little Bit." In 1947, she appeared in The Other Love and The Lost Moment. In 1948, she was in Good Sam with Gary Cooper.

In the early 1950s, Joan started appearing on television often. In 1955, she played Helen Norby in 13 episodes of the TV series Norby. The show only lasted one season. In 1956, she played Bessy again in a TV version of The Corn is Green. She also appeared in an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents called "The Older Sister" in 1956.

Joan acted less often in the 1960s and 1970s. She focused more on her family life. Her last movie role was in 1974 in The Midnight Man. She also had guest roles on TV shows. She played Anna Pavel in Ryan's Hope and appeared in an episode of The Love Boat in 1980.

Personal Life

Joan Lorring was married to Martin Sonenberg. He was a cancer researcher and a professor. They had two daughters named Santha and Andrea.

Later Years and Passing

Joan Lorring lived a quiet life after she retired. She passed away on May 30, 2014, in Sleepy Hollow, New York. She was 88 years old.

Filmography

Radio Appearances

See also

In Spanish: Joan Lorring para niños