The Sad Reason Joan Blondell Was Forced to Work Until Her Death

[@FactsVerse]

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[@TTM9691]

She died at 73, she didn't exactly die "before her time", especially if she was a lifelong smoker. And as a person born into show business - and a woman who had been around since the early 30s - she was more than grateful to keep working, believe me. Contemporaries of hers kept working, like Bette Davis, who could have retired easily. This wasn't like being a bank teller, actors like to act, and I'm SURE she was quite happy to be in "Grease", a huge hit.

[@paulj.waldron1976]

Very sad story, why hasn't the Academy of Motion Pictures given Joan a life time achievement award posthumously.

[@brendakdavis1620]

I loved all of her movies. I especially loved her on talk about in her later years. She had a very bubbly personality. There was just ONE Joan Blondell.

[@linmiller8147]

I love her in Desk Set and have always admired her. The novel she wrote, "Center Door Fancy" was quite good and seemed pretty autobiographical. Sorry to hear she had to work up until the end of her life, she deserved better.

[@petelembo3977]

As a kid I watched the "old" movies. I had such a crush on Joan Blondell. Those eyes and that smile of hers. And most of all that wise cracking smart assed attitude. Good lord I used to melt when I saw her. Always wanted to meet her and just sat THANK YOU for entertaining us. RIP sweetheart.

[@lakelizard8145]

I adored her in "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn". Poor dear, she never found Mr. Right. But she shared her talent with the world. R.I.P. Joan.

[@poetcomic1]

That scene near the end when she gives Francie her graduation flowers that her father had arranged before he died.... Joan was wonderful.

[@lakelizard8145]

@@poetcomic1Yes. That always makes me tear up. She nailed that part didn't she.

[@FactsVerse]

Us too! Thank you for brinring back memories. May Joan find peace 🙏

[@tericandeloro4082]

If you loved the Tree Grows in Brooklyn movie, you should read the book if you haven’t already! The book mentions several of the streets from my hometown of Greenpoint, Brooklyn, so it made reading it even more endearing. I’ve read it al least 3 times and never get tired of it. I also can say the same about the movie! Poor Joan! 😔 She seemed like such a sweetheart. ❤️

[@lakelizard8145]

@@tericandeloro4082 Right. I read the book multiple times years ago. I was obsessed. Probably my favorite book ever. I think they did a great job with casting the movie but there is more detail of course in the book. Nice to meet you. Cheers 🥂

[@NRALifer1]

She was Gorgeous! She was Great in one of the Topper movies. Even in her later years she was Beautiful. I hate her life was rough, RIP Dear Lady!

[@FactsVerse]

Absolutely, we feel the same way! Thank you for sharing your sentiments and for watching our content. What other types of video would you like to see on our channel?

[@linmiller8147]

She certainly was beautiful her entire life; talented and versatile -- equally good in comedies, musicals and dramas.

[@cottoncandisandi6109]

Mike Todd lost or stole , all of her money . There were even rumors that Todd had murdered his first wife , to marry Joan and her $$$ . He was bankrupt when they married . After her money ran out . Todd left her destitute with 2 children ( not his ) . Joan worked right up until she died . 50 years working at a career she loved . Thanks , Joan 😘

[@MariaPerez-zm6hj]

If true then he paid with his own. He die in an airplane crash.

[@obbor4]

@@MariaPerez-zm6hj Did anyone else in that plane get what He had coming to HIM? 🤨

[@MariaPerez-zm6hj]

@obbor4 Poetic Justice...at the end good always triumphs over evil. He had it coming. May Joan Blondell be resting in peace.

[@obbor4]

@@MariaPerez-zm6hj But three other people also died in that plane crash. If Todd had died alone, like maybe if he'd been eaten by sharks, then I'd be right there with you. Maybe those other three were creeps too, though. For the sake of poetic justice, I hope they were.

[@MariaPerez-zm6hj]

@@obbor4 let's hope so.😟

[@lindauribe6872]

My favorite movie with her was A Tree Grows in Brooklyn 😍

[@FactsVerse]

Great film! Which comes in at second place?

[@Itchieban1Ebony]

She was one of the great ones, it's really sad she had to work for the rest of her life. R.I.P Miss Blondell.

[@FactsVerse]

Well said, we strongly concur! Thank you for watching our content and for sharing your thoughts. What other types of video would you like to see?

[@angelacarleton9575]

How sad for Joan Blondell for having to work due to debts. This is why I wished the actors/actresses would give generously to help those actors that can't retire or not financially able to take care of themselves. If I were able to help I would have tried to get funds for those actors back then. Unfortunately, I'm not rich and I too have to work even in my 70s.

[@moriahjacobs6131]

Loved her performances with James Cagney. Beautiful woman.

[@christopherscorner]

I just remember her in, a tree grows in Brooklyn. She was a scene Stiller and quite enjoyable to watch.

[@debbieanne7962]

I remember Joan from the 1964 Twilight Zone episode "What's in the box' with William Demarest. I really enjoyed it!!! Don't know her from anything else but I have heard of her name before

[@Reneesfun]

I loved her early movies with James Cagney, “Footlight Parade” is a favorite. She really had a light that shined from within.

[@cameronmccreary4758]

I remembered her in "Here Come the Brides" also staring Bobby Sherman.

[@alg11297]

Always liked her because, as my mother said, she had "tam" (meaning taste, or appeal) She did many many movies in the 30s from musicals to comedies. They paired her with Linda Farrell many times because they looked similar and could both talk very fast with the quirky dialogue. She was always great in dramatic roles like in Nightmare Alley and many others. And don't forget "Remember my Forgotten Man"

[@missywink1504]

'Cause ever since the world began, a woman's got to have a man; forgetting him, you see, means you're forgetting me, and my forgotten man. Wasn't it 'Gold-diggers of '33'?

[@elizabethshepherd2956]

Joan. Blondell shared the screen with Anne Southern in a war movie whose name I can't remember. I think they were on an island and slept In a cave when there was bombing. There were several other women stars in this & it is quite good movie

[@johnmurray3888]

Zha Zha Gabor cynically quipped: "I'm a good housekeeper dahling, every time I divorce my husbands I keep the house". The above article fails to explain why Joan's divorces left her buried in debt. Given that Joan Blondel had more acting talent in her little finger than Zha Zha Gabor had in that empty head of hers (more talent than Elizabeth Taylor for that matter), I'm forced to conclude that Joan Blondel's most serious shortcoming was her inability to hire a competent divorce lawyer. That's sad.

[@MariaPerez-zm6hj]

Joan Blondell kept the house when she divorced Dick Powell in 1944. It was Mike Todd who reaped her of her money, savings and all except the house from her previous marriage to Powell. She fell hard for Todd but he turned out to be a scoundrel.

[@juanitabrewer4521]

One of my favorite actresses.

[@FactsVerse]

We're happy to know that Joan is one of your favorite actresses! Which role of her appealed to you the most?

[@johnmuller8954]

I love her in the Directors chair. I think that image more than any other tends to represent images of the pre-code era

[@pegschwalbach2500]

She was in the second "Topper" movie that was silly comedy. She was so pretty when she was young.

[@FactsVerse]

We agree! Thank you for your watching our video. Which film comes in at second place?

[@tbentley150]

I loved her in Topper Returns

[@karenknicely1788]

She was a talented actress. It's a shame she was treated the way she was.

[@FactsVerse]

We absolutely agree! Thank you for your watching our video. Be on the lookout for the next one!

[@andrewthornhill7042]

I loved Joan in 'Desk Set' and 'Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?', two excellent late-1950s comedies. She was also excellent in 'Grease' as VI from the malt shop.

[@breezygirl3135]

She was absolutely fantastic is the Twilight Zone episode What’s In The Box! Great physical performance! She deserves to be honored for all of her hard work ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@myopinion8493]

I was first aware of her by her work on the early television show, "The Life of Riley", playing a character by the name of "Honey-Bee". Loved her then and then saw some of her past work.

[@FactsVerse]

Thank you for sharing your favorite role of Joan! Be safe and have a great day ahead ❣

[@jamesloftus2079]

Her sister Gloria Blondell played Honey Bee.

[@wellston2826]

I remember her from Here Comes the Brides (tv series) and Grease (movie).

[@FactsVerse]

Us too, thank you for bringing back memories. What other types of video would you like to see?

[@63mckenzie]

One of my all time favourites.

[@graciesaccardo9363]

God 🙏 Bless her 😍 excellent actress she is 😭😭😭 missed..

[@FactsVerse]

We absolutely agree! Thank you for your watching our video. Be on the lookout for the next one!

[@patrickryan1515]

Debts accrued from what (exactly)? JB was always an interesting watch regardless of the character she was playing. Sorry to hear of her misfortune. Hoping her entry into the hereafter has brought her peace.

[@FactsVerse]

Beautiful words, thank you for your message for Joan. May she find peace 🙏

[@bobwallace9814]

She had something very few people have and that's a real sense of comedy and had a huge personality. She did nudity with a laugh in the pre code days. I saw her on a Lucy rerun from the late sixties and she was just as big on the screen as Lucy.

[@FactsVerse]

Absolutely, we feel the same way! Thank you for sharing your sentiments and for watching our content. What other types of video would you like to see on our channel?

[@jimsperlakis5634]

I'm watching Joan right now in Topper Returns. What a doll with a sense of humor too! She and Eddie made that movie worth watching. I'm sure, if asked, she would say that she enjoyed working later on and it kept her young.

[@bernardfrederick9462]

I loved her in "Broadway Gondolier". I also loved her in "Footlight Parade", "Blonde Crazy", and so many films with Glenda Farrell. She is the kind of person whom I can relate to. In her, I can see also myself. I miss her. She was amazing!❤

[@FactsVerse]

Our favorites too, you've got taste! What other types of video would you like to see?

[@bernardfrederick9462]

​@@FactsVerseI would like to see something about actress, aviator, and writer- Ruth Chatterton. She had an amazing diction. I loved the movie entitled "Female".

[@danielthoman7324]

Joan Blondell was in a movie called "winner take all" with Shirley Jones, Lawrence luckenbill and Sam groom. late '70s. I think it was a made for TV movie. she played the part of a head cashier at a gambling casino. it's a good movie. 🤩

[@FactsVerse]

We'll check that movie. Thank you for the suggestion 😊

[@alidabaxter5849]

She wrote an autobiography called Centre Door Fancy which is very revealing. Men used her from the very beginning and the way Mike Todd stripped her of money was appalling. She was a delightful actress but a victim over and over. Such a terrible pity.

[@rayali9854]

Seen joan blondell in a twilight zone episode.she was so good.a beautiful lady

[@man975dog]

Joan Blondell was both a dramatic and comedic actress from the American classic movies!

[@robbinmcvay4206]

Loved her in topper returns! Love that movie and all the other topper movies!

[@FactsVerse]

Thank you for sharing your favorite role of Joan! Which comes in at second place?

[@robbinmcvay4206]

@@FactsVerse grease! Your hair looks like an Easter egg! And favorite part in topper returns is with Eddie rodchester when she says got a light lol his face was awesome he was awesome also very talented man!

[@johnmitchelljr]

Quick bio of a very watchable actress. No clue why she had to work to death. Waste of time. Thank you. Minimum of facts.

[@rickwells7184]

Love watching her especially when she played the character Flips and along side. James Cagney she made a lot of films my favorites was the black and white films

[@garyharris6883]

I loved her in topper returns.

[@plaidmoon5642]

I recommend watching this video with Closed Captions on as there a number of sentences in the CC that are not spoken in the narration.

[@johnf.tashjian6326]

I remember seeing Joan Blondell in an episode of the original Twilight Zone episode "What's in the Box?", opposite William Demerest.

[@michaelmcgee8543]

Enjoyed!

[@julietrask7497]

A great actress, if I see her as I’m flipping through channels I stop and watch her.

[@FactsVerse]

We absolutely agree! Thank you for your watching our video. Which role of Joan appealed to you the most?

[@julietrask7497]

@@FactsVerse The Cincinnati Kid with Steve McQueen she should of been on camera more.

[@Deepbluecat]

I always liked and respected her. She wasn't all flash...played the cool, REAL lady. IMO should have been offered more leading roles...very pretty dame ;-) RIP love

[@FactsVerse]

Beautiful words, thank you for your message for Joan. Made us miss her more! May she find peace 😥

[@0530evan]

i actually saw her in the musical...the full monty...on broadway before she died.......she was great in the role....played the piano/etc

[@FactsVerse]

Absolutely, we feel the same way! Thank you for sharing your sentiments and for watching our content. What other types of video would you like to see on our channel?

[@grammydave1]

She is not forgotten

[@FactsVerse]

Absolutely! Thank you for sharing your message ❤

[@rmiller334]

I always thought she was beautiful and feisty right to the end. Remember the TV show HERE COME THE BRIDES? Lots of fun.

[@saifonlawrence2044]

A lovely woman in all ways

[@debdelosreyes8920]

She was also good in an episode of The a twilight zone .

[@FactsVerse]

Well said, we strongly concur! Thank you for watching our content and for sharing your thoughts. What other types of video would you like to see?

[@gold5398]

00:49 It's Ziegfeld Follies (ZEEG-feld) not Zig-field.

[@terrymyers3617]

What about Her with,Tyrone Power,in Nightmares Ally,Her best,and one of His, It's throw downGreat.

[@OldMusicFan83]

Topper Returns

[@hcombs0104]

Without watching the video, I'll bet Elizabeth Taylor and Mike Todd had something to do with her needing to work right up to the end.

[@hcombs0104]

I figured it had something to do with those two. When Todd married Taylor, Joan noticed some of her own jewelry on Taylor. When Mike Todd died in that plane crash, Joan was quoted as saying she hoped he screamed all the way down. I never thought Elizabeth Taylor was "all that." I was watching Cleopatra last night and I thought, even at the age of thirty, she was already taking on a blowsy look.

[@cadeevans4623]

Can't believe she was forced to worked until her death news to me

[@exitscreaming4637]

So she didn't handle her finances well , is that why they are saying she was " forced to work until her death " ? The title seems misleading---as if someone else forced her to work

[@ridgerunner5772]

@@exitscreaming4637, Todd was a gambler, embezzler and robbed her blind allied with crooked book keeping. Her early years she supported an extended family....

[@kitoiney12]

Gold Diggers of 1933 🎉🎉

[@jons.6216]

I still don't understand the "debts" part! Did she have to pay her ex husbands alimony or something???! She was an indelible actress and personality! A couple of other roles she played was as Edith Potter in the remake of The Women - The Opposite Sex in 1956. Also unforgettable was her playing the taunting wife to William Demerest on The Twilight Zone episode!! "Now whaddya see in your TV Joe?! Maybe it's a burlesque show with some fan dancers from Yonkers...!" Haha!

[@tomkelly1442]

She was irresistible in golddiggers of 1933

[@FactsVerse]

We absolutely agree! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. Be safe and have a great day!

[@MinnPinny]

I'm in my 50s and have never heard of her.

[@FactsVerse]

We're happy to know that you had a chance to discover Joan Blondell. What other types of video would you like to see on our channel?

[@Fentvids]

I'm early yay a video for me react to

[@alancrisp1582]

🤔 Wow 👏 how exciting for you. Your mom 👩must be so proud of you....

[@FactsVerse]

Congratulations, we would love also see you be first on our next video! Are you up to our challenge?

[@inkey2]

I still do not understand "what kind of debts"?.....as far as the marriages, "back then" it was the man stuck with alimony "usually" Can anyone clear this up for me?

[@sixflagsshowspast9616]

She didn't work herself to death, she died from cancer. Facts verse is not full of the facts.

[@mckeek8115]

My favorite memories of Joan Blondel .. Are those bathtub scenes.

[@alsehl3609]

Debts from the divorces? Did she have to pay alimony to the ex husbands? Paying the lawyers? Doesn't sound RIGHT. The debt must have been something else. Where was she living during this time? In a rooming house?

[@davidallen508]

I prefer Joan to Celeste Holm who had a similar look and comic style.

[@barbarahenderson2101]

My fav Remember was Topper She was So Beautiful I Remember So Many fav Movies She Play in .....R.I.P Keep making Movies Remember I love all the Movies u Played In God will take care of you & your family Take your Rest Joan you Need it but I know u Not In Jesus Name Amen

[@FactsVerse]

We absolutely agree! Thank you for your watching our video. Be on the lookout for the next one!

[@treestandsafety3996]

Owed who? The facts puhleeease?

[@TFABMN]

What you don't say is HOW the divorces put her into debt... Was she forced to pay alimony to her ex-husbands? The 2nd husband made more money than her... So how did the divorces put her into debt? Or was it her marriage to Todd that bankrupted her?

[@shellyblanchard5788]

I thought she was an brilliant actress. 🤗

[@FactsVerse]

We feel the same way! Which film of Joan appealed to you the most?

[@shellyblanchard5788]

@@FactsVerse I thought here comes the bride was a good series she was in.

[@tammyevans7333]

What a shame

[@esthertyndall9356]

Hii

[@FactsVerse]

Hello there. How can we help you? Is there any video you would like to see?

[@ohkay7418]

I finally realized that this Mike Todd is the one that married Elizabeth Taylor was married to her when he died

[@garrettdavis6500]

Yeah, Chick still owes me 50$$ !!!!

[@FactsVerse]

Why, what happened?

[@ohkay7418]

Her second husband Dick Powell left her for a younger thinner women June Allyson that didn't help matters at all

[@FactsVerse]

Very interesting, thank you so much for sharing this info. May Joan find peace 🙏

[@MariaPerez-zm6hj]

No. She left Dick Powell for Mike Tood. Powell met June Allyson in the rebound. A year later of their divorce he married Allyson and it lasted till his death.