Davis, Joan (1907–1961)

Popular American actress and comedian of the 1940s. Born Madonna Josephine Davis in St. Paul, Minnesota, on June 29, 1907; died of a heart attack in Palm Springs, California, on May 22, 1961; only daughter of LeRoy (a train dispatcher) and Nina Davis; graduated from Mechanic Arts High School, St. Paul; married Serenus (Sy) Wills (a comedian), in 1931; children: one daughter, Beverly Wills (b. 1933, an actress).

Selected films:

Millions in the Air (1935); The Holy Terror (1937); On the Avenue (1937); Wake Up and Live (1937); Angel's Holiday (1937); Thin Ice (1937); Life Begins in College (1937); Love and Hisses (1937); Sally, Irene and Mary (1938); Josette (1938); My Lucky Star (1938); Hold That Co-Ed (1938); Just Around the Corner (1938); Tail Spin (1939); Daytime Wife (1939); Free Blonde and 21 (1940); Hold That Ghost (1941); Sun Valley Serenade (1941); Two Latins from Manhattan (1941); Yokel Boy (1942); Sweetheart of the Fleet (1942); Two Senoritas from Chicago (1943); Around the World (1943); Beautiful but Broke (1944); Show Business (1944); Kansas City Kitty (1944); She Gets Her Man (1945); George White's Scandals (1945); She Wrote the Book (1946); If You Knew Susie (1948); Make Mine Laughs (1949); Traveling Saleswoman (1950); Love That Brute (1950); The Groom Wore Spurs (1951); Harem Girl (1942).

Once hailed as the world's funniest woman, Joan Davis was known for her rubber-faced grimaces, sublime sense of timing, and broad slapstick style. In describing the comic gridiron scene from her 1938 movie Hold That Co-Ed, Kyle Crichton wrote: "Miss Davis makes flying tackles. … She takes off into space in an array of limbs and arms resembling nothing other than an octopus taking a flying test; she ends by falling on her caboose with a crash that not only shakes the stadium but shakes the inherent faith of man in the frailty of woman." After establishing herself as a talented screen comedian, Davis later reinvented herself for radio audiences, then in the 1950s produced the highly popular television series, "I Married Joan," in which she portrayed the zany wife of a beleaguered judge, played by Jim Backus.

As early as the age of three, Joan Davis was performing at community events. She turned to comedy after being laughed at during a serious recitation, and she was still quite young when talent scouts persuaded her family to allow her to tour the Pantages Theater Circuit as "The Toy Comedienne." After putting her career on hold while she finished high school (valedictorian of her class), Davis then took up the tour again, playing the vaudeville circuit as well as amusement parks, summer camps, and Elks lodges. In 1931, she created a new act with comedian Sy Wills, whom she married five months after meeting, and continued to tour with him for another three years. Around 1934, with vaudeville on the wane, they made their way to Hollywood, where Davis signed a long-term contract with 20th Century-Fox. From 1937 to 1941, she made about 25 films for Fox, then freelanced for another three years. In 1944, RKO and Universal signed her to similar contracts, each giving her star billing and allowing her to make one picture a year with another studio.

In 1941, Davis made a reluctant debut on the radio, concerned that so much of her comedy would be lost to a listening audience. On her first show, she parodied the popular novelty song "Hey, Daddy," singing a few lines then finishing it as a monologue. The number was a huge success. A similar interpretation of the ballad "My Jim," performed on the Rudy Vallée program "Village Store," resulted in her becoming a regular member of the show. When Vallée left the show in 1943 for a stint in the Coast Guard, she replaced him. With comedian Jack Haley acting as her co-star, the show grew rapidly in popularity, and by the end of the year Davis was voted radio's top comedienne. By 1945, she was third in the ratings, just behind Bob Hope and the team of Fibber McGee and Molly (Marian Jordan ). In September 1945, boasting the largest team of writers in radio, Davis moved from NBC to CBS with a new show to replace the popular George Burns and Gracie Allen in their Monday-night slot. Rounding out her career in the 1950s, Davis formed her own production company to produce her hit television show "I Married Joan," which ran from 1952 to 1957.

Green-eyed with reddish brown hair, Davis was said to be much prettier than her screen persona and was known as one of Hollywood's best-dressed. Fond of sports, she swam, biked, and played golf, and she was a regular at the weekly boxing show at the American Legion Stadium in Hollywood. Her husband wrote much of the material for her shows, and daughter Beverly Wills , born in 1933, also acted. Wills played Fuffy Adams on the popular radio program "Junior Miss," starring Shirley Temple (Black) . Joan Davis succumbed to a heart attack in Palm Springs, California, at age 53, on May 22, 1961.

Barbara Morgan , Melrose, Massachusetts