Blonde hair, big blue eyes and a big smile, Joan was the wisecracking working girl who was usually the best friend of the lead. Born into Vaudeville to a stage comic named 'Eddie Joan Blondell' was on the stage when she was three years old. For years, she toured the circuit with her parents and joined a stock company when she was 17. She made her New York debut with the Ziegfeld Follies and appeared in several Broadway productions. She was starring with James Cagney on Broadway in "Penny Arcade (1929)" when Warner Brothers decided to film the play as _Sinner's Holiday (1930)_ . Both Cagney and Joan were given the leads and the film was a success. She would be teamed with Cagney again in such films as The Public Enemy and 'Blonde Crazy (1931)'. In The Office Wife, she would steal the scenes when she is dressing for work. While Warner Brothers made Cagney became a star, Joan never rose to that level. In gangster movies or musicals, her performances were good enough for second leads, but the studio would not consider her for the first lead. In the 30's she made a career playing gold-diggers and happy go lucky girl friends. She would be paired with Dick Powell in ten musicals during these years and they were married for 10 years. By 1939, Joan had left Warner Brothers to become an independent actress, but by then, the blonde role was being defined by actresses like Veronica Lake, and that role was not Joan. Therefore, her work slowed greatly as she went into straight comedy or dramatic roles. Three of her better roles were in 'Topper Returns (1941)', 'Cry Havoc (1943)' and 'A A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945)'. By the fifties, Joan would garner an Academy Award Nomination for 'The The Blue Veil (1951)', but her career would be on the stage which included a musical version of "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn". In 1957, Joan would again appear on the screen as a drunk in Lizzie and as mature companion to Jayne Mansfield in Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?. While she would appear in a number of Television shows during the 50's and 60's, she would have the role of Winifred on "The Real McCoys (1963)". Her role in the drama The Cincinnati Kid was well received, but most of her remaining films would be comedies such as 'Waterhole #3 (1967)' and 'Support Your Local Gunfighter (1971)'. Still in demand for Television Series, she would be cast as Lottie on "Here Comes the Brides", 1968-70 and as Peggy on "Banyon".
Older sister of actress Gloria Blondell. Mother of Norman S. Powell, from her marriage to George Barnes. He was adopted by Dick Powell in February 1938. Made six movies with James Cagney (at Warner Brothers) - more than any other individual actress did together with Cagney!! Measurements: 37-21 1/2-36 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine) James Cagney said that the only woman he loved other than his wife was Blondell. Was nominated for Broadway's 1958 Tony Award as Best Supporting or Featured Actress (Dramatic) for "The Rope Dancers." Mother of Pamela Powell, from her marriage to Dick Powell According to the July 24, 1944 issue of Time Magazine, Blondell divorced Dick Powell on the grounds of cruelty alleging that "when she objected to the incessant coming & going of guests, Powell crooned: 'If you don't like it, you can get the hell out.'" Attended the Professional Children's School in New York City. In the UK sitcom Dad's Army, Private Pike has a crush on her, and has dozens of pictures of her on his bedroom walls. Her marriage to theatrical impresario Michael Todd was an emotional and financial disaster. Todd o was a heavy spender who lost hundreds of thousands of dollars gambling (high-stakes bridge was one of his weaknesses) and went through a controversial bankruptcy during their marriage. While continuing to live the high-life on a huge estate in New York's Westchester County, the irresponsible Todd ran through Blondell's savings, then eventually dumped her for the much younger Elizabeth Taylor. She playfully called her friend Bette Davis's four ex-husbands "The Four Skins" as they were all gentiles.