Born in Florida, Joan went to New York where she worked as a model. In
1935 she went to Hollywood where she was signed at Columbia Pictures.
While at Columbia, Joan appeared in a number of films and worked with
leading men such as
Ralph Bellamy,
Melvyn Douglas and
Lew Ayres. She also caught the
eye of studio mogul
Harry Cohn who wanted Joan for his wife. After
Columbia, Joan went to Warner Brothers where she appeared in a handful
of films including
International Squadron (1941) and
Nine Lives Are Not Enough (1941) with
Ronald Reagan. More of a
supporting actress than the leading lady, she became very powerful when
she finally married
Harry Cohn in 1941 and retired from films.