Joan Blondell

Biography

Rose Joan Blondell (August 30, 1906 – December 25, 1979) was an American actress.

After winning a beauty pageant, Blondell embarked upon a film career. Establishing herself as a sexy wisecracking blonde, she was a pre-Code staple of Warner Brothers and appeared in more than 100 movies and television productions. She was most active in films during the 1930s, and during this time she co-starred with Glenda Farrell in nine films, in which the duo portrayed gold-diggers. Blondell continued acting for the rest of her life, often in small character roles or supporting television roles. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her work in The Blue Veil (1951).

Blondell was seen in featured roles in two films, Grease (1978) and the remake of The Champ (1979), released shortly before her death from leukemia.

Known for

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Public Enemies: The Golden Age of the Gangster Film

2008 ⭐ 6.9

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You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story

2008 ⭐ 8.5

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Complicated Women

2003 ⭐ 6.9

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Barbara Stanwyck: Fire and Desire

1991 ⭐ 6.5

Career timeline

2009

Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1930s: Dancing Away the Great Depression

Self (archive footage) · 2009

2008

Public Enemies: The Golden Age of the Gangster Film

Self (archive footage) · 2008

⭐ 6.9

You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story Notable

Self · 2008

⭐ 8.5

2006

Gold Diggers: FDR'S New Deal... Broadway Bound

Self (archive footage) · 2006

⭐ 4.9

2003

Complicated Women

Self (archive footage) · 2003

⭐ 6.9

1991

Barbara Stanwyck: Fire and Desire

Self (archive footage) · 1991

⭐ 6.5

1990

Steve McQueen: Man on the Edge Notable

Self (archive footage) · 1990

⭐ 7.0

1984

Going Hollywood: The '30s Notable

(archive footage) · 1984

⭐ 9.0

1981

The Woman Inside

Aunt Coll · 1981

⭐ 4.3

1979

The Glove

Mrs. Fitzgerald · 1979

⭐ 5.1

The Champ Notable

Dolly Kenyon · 1979

⭐ 7.0

1978

Battered Notable

Edna Thompson · 1978

⭐ 9.0

Grease Notable

Vi · 1978

⭐ 7.4

1977

Opening Night Notable

Sarah Goode · 1977

⭐ 7.6

The Baron

Mama Lou · 1977

⭐ 5.6

1976

Death at Love House

Marcella Geffenhart · 1976

⭐ 5.0

Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood

Landlady · 1976

⭐ 4.3

1975

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

Self (archive footage) · 1975

⭐ 6.3

Winner Take All Notable

Beverly Craig · 1975

⭐ 7.4

The Dead Don't Die

Levenia · 1975

⭐ 6.0

1971

Support Your Local Gunfighter

Jenny · 1971

⭐ 6.6

1970

The Phynx

Ruby · 1970

⭐ 3.7

1969

Big Daddy Notable

1969

⭐ 8.0

1968

Kona Coast

Kittibelle Lightfoot Clark · 1968

⭐ 3.3

Stay Away, Joe

Glenda Callahan · 1968

⭐ 5.5

1967

Waterhole #3

Lavinia · 1967

⭐ 5.9

Winchester '73

Larouge · 1967

⭐ 6.7

The Spy in the Green Hat

Mrs. 'Fingers' Stilletto · 1967

⭐ 6.6

1966

Ride Beyond Vengeance

Mrs. Lavender · 1966

⭐ 6.0

1965

The Cincinnati Kid

Lady Fingers · 1965

⭐ 7.0

Kilroy

Rose Kelsey · 1965

The Cincinnati Kid Plays According to Hoyle Notable

Self · 1965

⭐ 8.0

Frequently appears with

Alec Baldwin

Narrator (voice)

Humphrey Bogart

Self (archive footage)

James Cagney

Self (archive footage)

Virginia Mayo

Self (archive footage)

Clint Eastwood

Narrator

Carroll Baker

Self

Warren Beatty

Self

Alexis Smith

Self

Full filmography

HD

Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1930s: Dancing Away the Great Depression

2009

HD

Public Enemies: The Golden Age of the Gangster Film

2008 ⭐ 6.9

HD

You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story

2008 ⭐ 8.5

HD

Gold Diggers: FDR'S New Deal... Broadway Bound

2006 ⭐ 4.9

HD

Complicated Women

2003 ⭐ 6.9

HD

Barbara Stanwyck: Fire and Desire

1991 ⭐ 6.5

HD

Steve McQueen: Man on the Edge

1990 ⭐ 7.0

HD

Going Hollywood: The '30s

1984 ⭐ 9.0

HD

The Woman Inside

1981 ⭐ 4.3

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The Glove

1979 ⭐ 5.1

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The Champ

1979 ⭐ 7.0

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Battered

1978 ⭐ 9.0

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Grease

1978 ⭐ 7.4

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Opening Night

1977 ⭐ 7.6

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The Baron

1977 ⭐ 5.6

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Death at Love House

1976 ⭐ 5.0

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Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood

1976 ⭐ 4.3

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Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

1975 ⭐ 6.3

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Winner Take All

1975 ⭐ 7.4

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The Dead Don't Die

1975 ⭐ 6.0