Joan O'Brien | |
|---|---|
 O'Brien in a 1962 publicity photo | |
| Born | Joan Marie O'Brien (1936-02-14)February 14, 1936 (age 89) Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, singer |
| Years active | 1958–1965 |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 2 |
Joan Marie O'Brien (born February 14, 1936) is an American actress and singer. She made a name for herself acting in television shows in the 1950s and 1960s and as a film co-star withCary Grant,Elvis Presley,John Wayne, andJerry Lewis.
Joan O'Brien was born to David and Rita O'Brien onValentine's Day 1936, inCambridge, Massachusetts. The family moved to California when O'Brien was a child and enrolled her in dance classes when she was eight years old. O'Brien graduated fromChaffey Union High School inOntario, California.[1]
O'Brien's singing abilities came to the attention of entertainer andCountry Music Hall of Fame memberCliffie Stone, who hired her as a regular performer on his television showHometown Jamboree before her high school graduation. In 1954, she became a regular onThe Bob Crosby Show and stayed until shortly before the show's cancellation in 1958.[1] She co-starred withCary Grant andTony Curtis in the 1959 filmOperation Petticoat.[1]
Lawrence Welk hired O'Brien as a one-week replacement for his champagne ladyAlice Lon in July 1959. O'Brien had come to Welk's attention years earlier as a singer onBob Crosby's show but, at that time, Welk had decided not to hire her because she was still a teenager.[2]
O’Brien performed in several episodes on the TV westernBat Masterson. The episode S2E01 "To the Manner Born" (1959) had her singing as up-and-coming opera soprano Dora Miller.
O'Brien was cast as survivorSusanna Dickinson inJohn Wayne's 1960 epic feature film retelling of battle ofThe Alamo.[3][4] That same year, O'Brien performed as a soloist for composerBuddy Bregman at the Moulin Rouge night club in Los Angeles.[5] In 1961 O'Brien again co-starred with John Wayne as his love interest inThe Comancheros.[6]
Along withSheree North,Sabrina, and Sue Carson, O'Brien appeared inPlaygirls in 1961 at theRiverside Hotel inReno, Nevada.[1]
O'Brien playedElvis Presley's girlfriend in the 1963 filmIt Happened at the World's Fair.[7]
Her most frequent acting performances were in television during the 1960s. She made two guest appearances onPerry Mason: in 1960 she played Betty Roberts in "The Case of the Singing Skirt", and in 1965 she played Jill Fenwick in "The Case of the Lover's Gamble". In 1964 O'Brien guest starred in an episode ofThe Man from UNCLE. Series starRobert Vaughn subsequently cast her asOphelia inHamlet at thePasadena Playhouse.[8]
After her acting career ended, O'Brien sang with theHarry James band in 1968.[9]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | Hometown Jamboree | Herself | as Joanie O'Brien |
| 1954 | The Bob Crosby Show | Herself | Regular performer |
| 1955 | The Easter Seal Teleparade of Stars | Herself | as Joanie O'Brien, singer |
| 1957 | Shower of Stars | Herself | as Joanie O'Brien |
| 1958 | M Squad | Marla Ross | The Take Over |
| 1959 | Riverboat | Sonja Torgin | The Fight Back |
| 1959 | Markham | Julia Conrad | We Are All Suspect |
| 1959 | Man Without a Gun | Ellen Duncan | Face of the Moon |
| 1959 | Bat Masterson | Dolores Clark | One Bullet from Broken Bow |
| 1959 | Bat Masterson | Dora Miller | Shakedown at St. Joe |
| 1960 | Bat Masterson | Eileen McDermott | High Card Loses |
| 1960 | Wagon Train | Candy O'Hara | The Candy O'Hara Story |
| 1960 | Cheyenne | Selma Dawson | Incident at Dawson Flats |
| 1960 | Wagon Train | Victoria | The Luke Grant Story |
| 1960 | The Westerner | Libby | The Courting of Libby |
| 1960 | The Islanders | Ann Brenner | The Terrified Blonde |
| 1960 | Lock-Up | Claudia Scott | Flying High |
| 1960 | The Deputy | Emily Price | Meet Sergeant Tasker |
| 1960 | The Chevy Mystery Show | Susan Hudson | Enough Rope |
| 1960 | Bronco | Judith Castle | La Rubia |
| 1960 | The Alaskans | Fay Campbell | Kangaroo Court |
| 1960 | Perry Mason | Betty Roberts | The Case of the Singing Skirt |
| 1960 | Bachelor Father | Janice McCleery | Kelly, the Matchmaker |
| 1960 | Bachelor Father | Janice McCleery | Dear Bentley |
| 1961 | Bachelor Father | Janice McCleery | Kelly's Graduation |
| 1961 | Surfside 6 | Linda Faris | Jonathan Wembley Is Missing |
| 1961 | The Roaring 20's | Mona Fenton | No Exit |
| 1961 | Whispering Smith | Marilyn Manning | The Idol |
| 1961 | Adventures in Paradise | Lila Simmons | Wild Mangoes |
| 1961 | Bringing Up Buddy | Ruth Grayson | The Singer |
| 1961 | G.E. True | Meryle | Tippy-Top |
| 1962 | Rawhide | Melinda Stimson | The Pitchwagon |
| 1962 | Bus Stop | Julie | The Ordeal of Kevin Brooke |
| 1962 | Follow the Sun | Nita Parker | Annie Beeler's Place |
| 1962 | The Tall Man | Marilee | The Impatient Brides |
| 1962 | Outlaws | Laurie | A Bit of Glory |
| 1963 | The Dick Van Dyke Show | Jane Leighton | The Foul Weather Girl |
| 1964 | The Man from U.N.C.L.E. | Chris Brinel | The Green Opal Affair |
| 1964 | The Virginian | Joan | The Dark Challenge |
| 1964 | The Lieutenant | Ruth | Man with an Edge |
| 1965 | Perry Mason | Jill Fenwick | The Case of the Lover's Gamble |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Handle with Care | Mary Judson | |
| 1959 | Operation Petticoat | Lt. Dolores Crandall RN | |
| 1960 | The Alamo | Susanna Dickinson | |
| 1961 | The Comancheros | Melinda Marshall | |
| 1962 | Six Black Horses | Kelly | |
| 1962 | Samar | Cecile Salazar | |
| 1962 | It's Only Money | Wanda Paxton | |
| 1962 | We Joined the Navy | Lt. Carol Blair | |
| 1963 | It Happened at the World's Fair | Diane Warren | |
| 1964 | Get Yourself a College Girl | Marge Endicott |
