Joan Shawlee
Biography
Joan Shawlee was an American character actress born on March 5, 1926, in Forest Hills, New York. Over the course of her career she accumulated seventy‑two credited performances in film and television. She is perhaps best remembered for her role as Sweet Sue in Billy Wilder’s 1959 comedy classic Some Like It Hot. Shawlee was also credited under the name Joan Fult. Her gender was female and she is listed in The Movie Database with seventy‑two known acting credits. She worked primarily as an actress and was recognized for her reliable supporting work. Shawlee died on March 22, 1987 at the age of sixty‑one.
Career overview
Joan Shawlee was an American character actress whose career spanned several decades of film and television work. Born on March 5 1926 in Forest Hills, New York, she entered the industry under the name Joan Shawlee and was also credited as Joan Fult. Over the course of her professional life she accumulated a total of seventy‑two credited appearances, establishing a reputation as a reliable supporting performer.
Shawlee’s most frequently cited role is that of Sweet Sue in Billy Wilder’s 1959 comedy classic Some Like It Hot, a performance that has been highlighted as a notable example of her work in the genre. Her filmography reflects a steady presence in both cinematic releases and television productions, contributing to a wide range of projects that showcased her versatility as a character actress.
She continued to work in the entertainment field until her death on March 22 1987 at the age of sixty‑one. Shawlee’s body of work, marked by a substantial number of credits and a memorable turn in a landmark comedy, remains a testament to her dependable talent and the lasting impression she made on mid‑century American screen acting.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
82 titles- Abbott and Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld (1994) as Self (archive footage)
- Highway to Heaven (1984)
- Crazy like a Fox (1984) as Manager
- City Heat (1984) as Peggy Barker
- Kiss My Grits (1982) as Wanda
- Buddy Buddy (1981) as Receptionist
- Child Bride of Short Creek (1981) as Isaac's Mother
- Hart to Hart (1979) as Mrs. Goodrich
- Hart to Hart (1979) as Marie
- Archie Bunker's Place (1979)
- Delta House (1979)
- The Last Resort (1979) as Agnes
- Joe's World (1979)
- The Feather And Father Gang (1977) as Margo
- Never Con a Killer (1977) as Margo
- Quincy, M.E. (1976)
- The Tony Randall Show (1976)
- Starsky & Hutch (1975) as Mrs. Krupp
- S.W.A.T. (1975)
- Farewell, My Lovely (1975) as Woman in Ballroom
- Flash and the Firecat (1975) as Rose
- Matt Helm (1975) as Saleslady
- The Magician (1973) as Trudy Kroll
- Emergency! (1972) as Heather
- Emergency! (1972) as Wife
- The Rookies (1972)
- Columbo (1971) as Mitilda
- Willard (1971) as Alice Rickles
- One More Train to Rob (1971) as Big Nellie
- Dead Men Tell No Tales (1971) as Polly Grant
- Love, American Style (1969) as Bernice Franks
- Adam-12 (1968) as Mrs. Lorena Getz
- Live a Little, Love a Little (1968) as Robbie's Mother
- Something for a Lonely Man (1968) as Hooker
- Mannix (1967) as (Annie) Duchess
- The St. Valentine's Day Massacre (1967) as Edna, Frank's Girlfriend (uncredited)
- Tony Rome (1967) as Fat Candy
- The Reluctant Astronaut (1967) as Blonde in Bar
- The Wild Angels (1966) as Momma Monahan
- Guerillas in Pink Lace (1964) as Miss Gloria Maxine
- Irma la Douce (1963) as Amazon Annie
- Critic's Choice (1963) as Marge Orr
- The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961) as Pickles Sorrell
- The Apartment (1960) as Sylvia
- Some Like It Hot (1959) as Sweet Sue
- The Rifleman (1958)
- Maverick (1957) as Madame Pompey
- Zorro (1957)
- Zorro (1957) as Barmaid Clara
- Conquest of Space (1955) as Rosie McCann
- Bowery to Bagdad (1955) as Velma, alias "Cindy Lou Calhoun"
- A Star Is Born (1954) as Joan (uncredited)
- Francis Joins the WACS (1954) as Sergeant Kipp
- Pride of the Blue Grass (1954) as Mrs. Casey
- From Here to Eternity (1953) as Sandra (uncredited)
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Angie McGonigle
- All Ashore (1953) as Hedy
- The Abbott and Costello Show (1952) as Eyewitness in Courtroom
- The Abbott and Costello Show (1952) as Miss Brown
- The Abbott and Costello Show (1952) as Telephone Operator
- The Abbott and Costello Show (1952) as Opera-Loving Lady in Park
- The Abbott and Costello Show (1952) as Marriage License Bureau Clerk
- The Abbott and Costello Show (1952) as Cash Register Lady
- The Abbott and Costello Show (1952) as Receptionist
- The Abbott and Costello Show (1952) as Girl in Doctor's Office
- Because of You (1952) as Autograph Seeker (uncredited)
- The Bob Hope Show (1950) as Self
- Prehistoric Women (1950) as Lotee
- Woman on the Run (1950) as Blonde
- Buck Privates Come Home (1947) as Sylvia Hunter
- Song of Scheherazade (1947) as French Girl
- The Vigilantes Return (1947) as Ben's Girl
- I'll Be Yours (1947) as Blonde
- Michigan Kid (1947) as Soubrette
- House of Horrors (1946) as Stella McNally
- Tangier (1946) as Rocco's Blonde (as Joan Fulton)
- Inside Job (1946) as Ruth (as Joan Fulton)
- The Runaround (1946) as Mamie 'Baby' Willis (as Joan Fulton)
- Lover Come Back (1946) as Janie
- White Tie and Tails (1946) as Virgie
- Idea Girl (1946) as Mabel
- Cuban Pete (1946) as Ann
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Joan Shawlee best known for?
Joan Shawlee is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Joint Security Area (2000), Crazy like a Fox (1984), City Heat (1984), Buddy Buddy (1981).
When and where was Joan Shawlee born?
Joan Shawlee was born on March 5, 1926 in Forest Hills, New York, USA. They passed away on March 22, 1987.
How many credits does Joan Shawlee have?
Joan Shawlee has accumulated over 82 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1946 to 1994.
What is Joan Shawlee's background in cinema and television?
Joan Shawlee was an American character actress born on March 5, 1926, in Forest Hills, New York. Over the course of her career she accumulated seventy‑two credited performances in film and television. She is perhaps best remembered for her role as Sweet Sue in Billy Wilder’s 1959 comedy classic Some Like It Hot. Shawle...
Joan Shawlee by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- The Apartment (1960) as Sylvia — aged about 34
- Columbo (1971) as Mitilda — aged about 45
- Some Like It Hot (1959) as Sweet Sue — aged about 33
- Emergency! (1972) as Heather — aged about 46
- Emergency! (1972) as Wife — aged about 46
- The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961) as Pickles Sorrell — aged about 35
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