Joan Blondell

Rose Joan Blondell (August 30, 1906 - December 25, 1979) was an American actress. Born into a vaudeville family in New York City, Blondell was a sexy, wisecracking, blonde pre-Hays Code staple of Warner Brothers who appeared in more than 100 movies and television productions. She was one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars in 1931.

Her father, known as Eddie Joan Blondell, was a vaudeville comedian who was one of the original Katzenjammer Kids. Her younger sister, Gloria Blondell (1910-1986), was also an actress.

The daughter of travelling showpeople, Blondell had seen much of the world by the time the family settled in Dallas, Texas while she was a teenager. She won a local beauty contest and travelled to New York to become an actress. She soon moved to Hollywood where she was placed under contract by Warner Brothers Studios, making her film debut in 1930. During the 1930s she would embody the depression era gold-digger, and with her huge eyes, blonde hair and wise cracking personality, became a crowd favourite. She appeared in more Warner Brothers films than any other actress, and referred to herself as "Warner's workhorse". The popularity of her films made a great contribution to the studio's profitability.

Blondell was paired with James Cagney in such films as The Public Enemy (1931), and was one half of the gold-digging duo (with Glenda Farrell) in nine films. During the Great Depression, Blondell was one of the highest paid individuals in the United States. Her stirring rendition of Remember My Forgotten Man in the Busby Berkeley production of Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933), in which she co-starred with Dick Powell and Ginger Rogers, became an anthem for the frustrations of the unemployed and President Herbert Hoover's failed economic policies.

By the end of the decade she had made nearly 50 films. Continuing to work regularly for the rest of her life, Blondell was well received in her later films, and received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress nomination for her role in The Painted Veil (1951). She also appeared in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945), Desk Set (1957) and Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957). She was widely seen in two films released not long before her death, Grease (1978) and The Champ (1979).

She was married first in 1932 to the cinematographer George S. Barnes (1892-1953); they divorced in 1936. Her second husband, married on September 19, 1936, was the actor, director, and singer Dick Powell; they were divorced on July 14, 1944, and had two children, Ellen Powell and Norman S. Powell (who became an actor, producer, and director). She married as her third husband, in 1947, the producer Michael Todd, who divorced her in 1950.

She died of leukemia in Santa Monica, California and was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.

Joan Blondell has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contribution to Motion Pictures, at 6309 Hollywood Boulevard.


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Joan Blondell has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contribution to Motion Pictures, at 6309 Hollywood Boulevard. Fay Compton died on December 12, 1978, in London, England, UK. She died of leukemia in Santa Monica, California and was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California. One of her last major roles was as Aunt Ann in the BBC's 1967 television adaptation of The Forsyte Saga. She married as her third husband, in 1947, the producer Michael Todd, who divorced her in 1950. Also, distinguished figures like Sir Alec Guinness, John Le Mesurier, Jan Sterling, Sally Gray, Joe Mitcheson and Elton Hayes, developed their acting career in her Fay Compton School of Dramatic Arts. Powell (who became an actor, producer, and director). Lawrence's The Rocking Horse Winner (1950) and Somerset Maugham's Encore (1950). Her grandaughter is the actress, Tracy Reed.

Her second husband, married on September 19, 1936, was the actor, director, and singer Dick Powell; they were divorced on July 14, 1944, and had two children, Ellen Powell and Norman S. Polly (1949), D.H. Barnes (1892-1953); they divorced in 1936. Wells' The History of Mr. She was married first in 1932 to the cinematographer George S. Compton is the mother of British director Anthony Pélisser, whose most significant films were H.G. She was widely seen in two films released not long before her death, Grease (1978) and The Champ (1979). In addition to her resume, she lead a successful career in the radio, television and gramophone recordings.

She also appeared in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945), Desk Set (1957) and Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957). Her most popular performances in films are Odd Man Out (1947), Laughter in Paradise (1951) Orson Welles' Othello (1952) and The Haunting (1963). Continuing to work regularly for the rest of her life, Blondell was well received in her later films, and received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress nomination for her role in The Painted Veil (1951). Compton's film work is not as well known or as highly regarded as her stage appearances, but she managed to squeeze many solvent screen roles in more than forty movies between 1914 and 1970. By the end of the decade she had made nearly 50 films. Active in the classics as well as contemporary material, Compton had the distinction of playing Ophelia opposite two of the most celebrated Hamlets, John Barrymore and John Gielgud. Her stirring rendition of Remember My Forgotten Man in the Busby Berkeley production of Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933), in which she co-starred with Dick Powell and Ginger Rogers, became an anthem for the frustrations of the unemployed and President Herbert Hoover's failed economic policies. Barrie (of Peter Pan fame) introducing him to London audiences, notably in the title role of Mary Rose in 1920.

Blondell was paired with James Cagney in such films as The Public Enemy (1931), and was one half of the gold-digging duo (with Glenda Farrell) in nine films. During the Great Depression, Blondell was one of the highest paid individuals in the United States. She made her mark in the several plays of J. M. The popularity of her films made a great contribution to the studio's profitability. Compton made her first professional appearances in between 1911 and 1913 with The Follies under the leadership of H.G. Pélissier, her future husband. She appeared in more Warner Brothers films than any other actress, and referred to herself as "Warner's workhorse". Fay Compton was born as Virginia Lilian Emeline Mackenzie Compton, in London, England, UK, on September 18, 1894. During the 1930s she would embody the depression era gold-digger, and with her huge eyes, blonde hair and wise cracking personality, became a crowd favourite. Her grandfather was 19th-century theatrical luminary, Henry Compton.

She soon moved to Hollywood where she was placed under contract by Warner Brothers Studios, making her film debut in 1930. British actress Fay Compton came from a notable acting lineage; her father was actor/manager Edward Compton; her mother, Virginia Bateman, was a distinguished member of the profession, as were his brother the novelist Sir Compton Mackenzie, her sister, the actress Viola Compton, and her uncles and aunts. She won a local beauty contest and travelled to New York to become an actress. The daughter of travelling showpeople, Blondell had seen much of the world by the time the family settled in Dallas, Texas while she was a teenager. Her younger sister, Gloria Blondell (1910-1986), was also an actress.

Her father, known as Eddie Joan Blondell, was a vaudeville comedian who was one of the original Katzenjammer Kids. She was one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars in 1931. Born into a vaudeville family in New York City, Blondell was a sexy, wisecracking, blonde pre-Hays Code staple of Warner Brothers who appeared in more than 100 movies and television productions. Rose Joan Blondell (August 30, 1906 - December 25, 1979) was an American actress.