Leatrice Joy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Leatrice Joy
Joy c. 1926
Born	Leatrice Johanna Zeidler (1893-11-07)November 7, 1893 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Died	May 13, 1985(1985-05-13) (aged 91) New York City, U.S.
Resting place	Saint Savior Episcopal Churchyard
Other names	Beatrice Joy
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1915–1954
Spouse(s)	John Gilbert ​ ​ (m. 1922; div. 1925)​ William S. Hook ​ ​ (m. 1931; div. 1944)​ Arthur Kem Westermark ​ ​ (m. 1945; div. 1954)​
Children	1

Leatrice Joy (born Leatrice Johanna Zeidler; November 7, 1893 – May 13, 1985) was an American actress. She was most famous during the silent film era, when movies had no sound.

Early Life and Beginnings

Leatrice Joy was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her father was a dentist.

She went to a school called the Convent of the Sacred Heart. She thought about becoming a nun. However, she left school when her father became sick. He had to stop working as a dentist.

In 1915, Leatrice tried out for the Nola Film Company in New Orleans. She was hired as an actress. Her mother did not like the idea of her becoming an actress. But the family needed money. So, her mother went with her to California. There, Leatrice started working in plays and films.

A Star's Journey: Leatrice Joy's Career

Silent Film Success

Joy, in the early 1920s

Leatrice Joy started her acting career in theater groups. Soon, she made her first movie. Between 1916 and 1917, she starred in about 20 short films. These were called Black Diamond Comedies. They were released across the country by Paramount Pictures. In many of these films, she played a character named Susie.

In late 1917, she moved to Hollywood, California. This was a new and growing place for movies. She started appearing in short comedy films with actors like Billy West and Oliver Hardy. She signed a contract with Samuel Goldwyn Studios. Her first role for them was in The Pride of the Clan (1917). She acted alongside Mary Pickford.

Her career quickly grew. By 1920, she was a very popular actress. She became a leading lady. She starred with famous actors like Wallace Beery and Conrad Nagel.

Joy as Mary Leigh in The Ten Commandments (1923)

Directors often chose Leatrice Joy to play strong, independent women. This was perfect for the Jazz Age of the Roaring Twenties. Her popularity grew, especially with female moviegoers. She had short hair and a somewhat boyish look. She was often cast as a woman who was mistaken for a young man. This style became very popular at the time.

As she became more famous, Cecil B. DeMille wanted to work with her. He signed her to Paramount Pictures in 1922. He immediately cast her in the successful drama Saturday Night (1922). She starred with Conrad Nagel. Leatrice Joy made many successful films for Paramount. She was promoted as one of DeMille's most important new stars.

In 1925, Leatrice left Paramount. She followed DeMille to his new film company. There, she made a few successful movies. One was The Angel of Broadway (1927). This was Lois Weber's last silent film. In 1926, Leatrice cut her hair very short. DeMille was upset because it made it harder for her to play traditional female roles. However, the studio then promoted the "Leatrice Joy bob" hairstyle. She wore this hairstyle in several films.

In 1928, Leatrice and DeMille had a disagreement. She then signed with MGM. That year, she starred in MGM's second film with some spoken parts, The Bellamy Trial.

Moving to Sound Films

Leatrice Joy's career faced challenges when "talkies" (movies with sound) became popular. This might have been because her strong Southern accent was not considered fashionable. Other actresses had a more refined "Mid-Atlantic" way of speaking. In 1929, she became a freelance actress. This meant she did not have a long-term contract.

To improve her chances in talkies, she went on a vaudeville tour from 1929 to 1931. This helped her practice her voice and dialogue.

Later Years and Retirement

By the early 1930s, Leatrice Joy was mostly retired from movies. However, she made a few guest appearances in films. One was Love Nest (1951), which also featured a young Marilyn Monroe.

In the 1960s, Joy retired to Greenwich, Connecticut. She lived near her daughter and son-in-law.

She appeared on the game show To Tell the Truth in 1963. She was also interviewed for the TV show Hollywood: A Celebration of the American Silent Film in 1980.

Personal Life

Leatrice Joy was married three times. She had one child. On March 22, 1922, she married actor John Gilbert. They had a daughter named Leatrice. She later had small acting roles. Leatrice Joy filed for divorce in August 1924.

Her second marriage was to businessman William Spencer Hook in 1931. They divorced in 1944. Her third and last marriage was to Arthur Kem Westermark. He was a former actor and electrical engineer. They married in 1945 and divorced in 1954.

During her silent film career, she was a well-known Christian Scientist in Hollywood.

Death and Legacy

Leatrice Joy passed away on May 13, 1985. She died from acute anemia. She was buried at the Saint Savior Episcopal Churchyard in Old Greenwich, Connecticut.

For her work in the movie industry, Leatrice Joy has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. You can find it at 6517 Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood, California.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Leatrice Joy para niños