Joan Leslie
Biography
Joan Agnes Theresa Sadie Brodel, known professionally as Joan Leslie, was born on January 26, 1925, in Highland Park, Michigan, as the youngest child of John and Agnes Brodel. She was an American actress, dancer, and vaudevillian. During the Hollywood Golden Age, she appeared in films such as High Sierra, Sergeant York, and Yankee Doodle Dandy. At the age of 15, she had her first significant role as the crippled girl in High Sierra in 1941, starring Humphrey Bogart and Ida Lupino. That same year, she played the fiancee in Sergeant York. In 1942, she had a supporting role as Olivia de Havilland's younger sister in The Male Animal. She passed away on October 12, 2015, at the age of 90.
Career overview
Joan Agnes Theresa Sadie Brodel, known professionally as Joan Leslie, was an American actress, dancer, and vaudevillian. Born on January 26, 1925, in Highland Park, Michigan, she was the youngest child of John and Agnes Brodel. Due to a lack of work and options, her father had Joan and her two young sisters embark on a career in vaudeville to make ends meet. Additionally, because her mother was a piano virtuoso, Leslie and her two older sisters received a musical upbringing.
During the Hollywood Golden Age, Leslie appeared in numerous films. At the age of fifteen, she secured her first significant role as the crippled girl in the 1941 film High Sierra, which starred Humphrey Bogart and Ida Lupino. That same year, she appeared in Sergeant York playing the role of York's fiancée. Her subsequent film work included a supporting role in the 1942 film The Male Animal, portraying the younger sister of Olivia de Havilland. Other notable films from her career included Yankee Doodle Dandy and Rhapsody in Blue, and she also appeared in television productions such as Schlitz Playhouse of Stars and Fireside Theatre.
Joan Leslie passed away on October 12, 2015, at the age of ninety. Throughout her extensive career, she accumulated numerous acting credits in both film and television, establishing herself as a recognizable figure of the classic Hollywood era.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
76 titles- Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1930s: Dancing Away the Great Depression (2009) as Self
- Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History (2008) as Self
- Public Enemies: The Golden Age of the Gangster Film (2008) as Self
- Hollywood Gangster (2008) as Self
- Sergeant York: Of God and Country (2006)
- Hollywood Helps the Cause (2006) as Self
- Curtains for Roy Earle (2003) as Self
- Gary Cooper: The Face of a Hero (1998) as Self
- Inside the Dream Factory (1995) as Self
- James Cagney: Top of the World (1992) as Self
- Fire in the Dark (1991) as Ruthie
- Shades of L.A. (1990)
- Turn Back the Clock (1989) as Party Guest
- Charley Hannah (1986) as Sandy Hannah
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Lillian Appletree
- Showbiz Goes to War (1982) as (archive footage)
- Simon & Simon (1981)
- The Incredible Hulk (1977)
- Charlie's Angels (1976) as Catherine
- The Keegans (1976) as Mary Keegan
- Police Story (1973)
- Branded (1965)
- The Revolt of Mamie Stover (1956) as Annalee Johnson
- The 20th Century Fox Hour (1955)
- Hell's Outpost (1954) as Sarah Moffit
- Jubilee Trail (1954) as Garnet Hale
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Sarah Owens
- Woman They Almost Lynched (1953) as Sally Maris
- Flight Nurse (1953) as Lt. Polly Davis
- Hellgate (1952) as Ellen Hanley
- Toughest Man in Arizona (1952) as Mary Kimber
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951)
- Man in the Saddle (1951) as Laurie Bidwell Isham
- Hill Number One: A Story of Faith and Inspiration (1951) as Claudia
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Vanessa Cook
- Born to Be Bad (1950) as Donna
- The Skipper Surprised His Wife (1950) as Daphne Lattimer
- Northwest Stampede (1948) as Chris Johnson
- Repeat Performance (1947) as Sheila Page
- So You Want to Be in Pictures (1947) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Two Guys from Milwaukee (1946) as Connie Reed
- Janie Gets Married (1946) as Janie Conway
- Cinderella Jones (1946) as Judy Jones
- Too Young to Know (1945) as Sally Sawyer
- Rhapsody in Blue (1945) as Julie Adams
- Where Do We Go from Here? (1945) as Sally Smith / Prudence / Katrina
- Parade of Aquatic Champions (1945) as Herself
- Hollywood Canteen (1944) as Self
- I Am an American (1944) as Self (uncredited)
- The Sky's the Limit (1943) as Joan Manion
- Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943) as Pat Dixon
- This Is the Army (1943) as Eileen Dibble
- The Hard Way (1943) as Katherine 'Katie' Blaine
- The Voice That Thrilled the World (1943) as Self (segment 'Yankee Doodle Dandy') (archive footage)
- Stars on Horseback (1943)
- Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) as Mary
- The Male Animal (1942) as Patricia Stanley
- Sergeant York (1941) as Gracie Williams
- High Sierra (1941) as Velma
- The Great Mr. Nobody (1941) as Mary Clover
- The Wagons Roll at Night (1941) as Mary Coster
- Thieves Fall Out (1941) as Mary Matthews
- Nine Lives Are Not Enough (1941) as Receptionist (uncredited)
- Foreign Correspondent (1940) as Jones' Sister (uncredited)
- Susan and God (1940) as Party Guest (uncredited)
- Alice in Movieland (1940) as Alice Purdee (as Joan Brodel)
- High School (1940) as Patsy
- Laddie (1940) as Shelley Stanton
- Young as You Feel (1940) as Girl (as Joan Brodel)
- Star Dust (1940) as College Girl (uncredited)
- Love Affair (1939) as Autograph Seeker (uncredited)
- Nancy Drew... Reporter (1939) as Mayme, Journalism Student (uncredited)
- Winter Carnival (1939) as Betsy Phillips
- Two Thoroughbreds (1939) as Wendy Conway (as Joan Brodel)
- Men with Wings (1938) as Young Patricia Falconer
- Camille (1936) as Marie Jeanette (uncredited)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Joan Leslie best known for?
Joan Leslie is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Call the Midwife: Sisters in Arms (2026), Murder, She Wrote (1984), Solar Crisis (1992), Beauty and the Beast (1946).
When and where was Joan Leslie born?
Joan Leslie was born on January 26, 1925 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. They passed away on October 12, 2015.
How many credits does Joan Leslie have?
Joan Leslie has accumulated over 76 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1936 to 2009.
What is Joan Leslie's background in cinema and television?
Joan Agnes Theresa Sadie Brodel, known professionally as Joan Leslie, was born on January 26, 1925, in Highland Park, Michigan, as the youngest child of John and Agnes Brodel. She was an American actress, dancer, and vaudevillian. During the Hollywood Golden Age, she appeared in films such as High Sierra, Sergeant York...
Joan Leslie by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Lillian Appletree — aged about 59
- The Incredible Hulk (1977) — aged about 52
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) — aged about 26
- High Sierra (1941) as Velma — aged about 16
- Police Story (1973) — aged about 48
- Foreign Correspondent (1940) as Jones' Sister (uncredited) — aged about 15
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