See also Biography Index (J) :: Filmography Index (J) :: Discography Index (J)

Born in Chicago in 1931, Joan attended St. Clement`s School. Looking far more "mature" than her age would indicate, when she was just 14 years old she auditioned for, and was hired, as a Showgirl at Chicago`s Chez Paree, one of the country`s foremost nightclubs in the 1940s & `50s. Two years later she was appearing in Las Vegas productions. Vegas was also where she met her first husband and her son, Steven, was born. Daughter Shari was born 3 years after Steven. Moving to Beverly Hills, she starred in the TV series "Bold Venture" (1959) in the 1959-60 season. She made some 10 feature films, liking only of few of them. In 1961 she starred in Homicidal (1961) (billed as Jean Arless) playing 2 roles, one as a male. This small film has developed a cult-like following. A woman of great beauty and style, she was signed by CBS and appeared often on such TV shows as Jack Benny & Red Skelton`s. She had a gift for comedy, which often was overlooked because of her beauty. Possessing a flair for writing, in the 1970s Joan collaborated with her best friend (from grammar school days in Chicago, and an award winning writer) Dirk Wayne Summers, co-scripting TV sitcoms. She married film director Hal Ashby and, over the first 6 months of their marriage, and at his insistance, she related personal experiences of her life. Mr. Ashby (and Robert Towne) turned Joan`s life into the film Shampoo (1975). She was not pleased that her husband had used such personal details in creating this film. (Joan Marshall did a cameo in "Shampoo" and can be seen in the opening scene in the Beauty shop.) Her real-life wedding (to Ashby) can be seen in the opening scenes behind the credts in Ashby`s 1970 film The Landlord (1970). Ashby died in 1988, and in 1989 Joan married business executive Mel Bartfield. Although there were many rumors that Joan was secretly wed to `Richard Chamberlain`, this was not the case. She and the gifted Mr. Chamberlain were -- and remained -- very close friends. After visiting Jamaica, Joan fell in love with the island nation, where she had a home, and subsequently died in June 1992. Her ashes were spread under her favorite tree on the property

Post a Comment | View All Comments (1)