Celebrity Grave: Brenda Joyce, Actress

Brenda Joyce (February 25, 1917[3] – July 4, 2009[4]) was an American film actress. She was born as Betty Graftina Leabo in Excelsior Springs, Missouri, although family and friends referred to her as Graftina.

Although she appeared in many B-movies of the 1940s, she was cast as Maris Hanover in the 1942 film, Little Tokyo, U.S.A., she is best-remembered as the seventh actress to play Jane in the Tarzan series of films. She succeeded Maureen O'Sullivan in the series and appeared in the role five times.

Her first four appearances as Jane were opposite Johnny Weissmuller. However, her last performance as Jane, in Tarzan's Magic Fountain (1949), was with Lex Barker as Tarzan. Joyce and Karla Schramm from the silent era were the only two actresses to play Jane opposite two different actors playing Tarzan.

She retired from acting in 1949.

Personal life

She was married to Owen Ward from 1941 until their divorce in 1949; they had three children, Pamela Ann, Timothy Owen and Beth Victoria.

Death

Joyce died on July 4, 2009 in a nursing home in Santa Monica, California.[4] She was entombed at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery.

References

1.^ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/film-obituaries/5902196/Brenda-Joyce.html "Brenda Joyce Brenda Joyce, who died on July 4 aged 97, swung to fame opposite Johnny Weissmuller and then Lex Barker as the seventh actress to play Jane in the durable Tarzan series of films."]. The Daily Telegraph (London). July 24, 2009. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/film-obituaries/5902196/Brenda-Joyce.html. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
2.^ http://sfscope.com/2009/07/actress-brenda-joyce-dies.html
3.^ Other sources indicate 1912 or 1915 as her year of birth. A friend of Joyce's confirmed after her death that she was 92, making 1917 the most likely date of birth.
4.^ Barnes, Mike (2009-07-17). "'Tarzan' actress Brenda Joyce dies". Hollywood Reporter. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i7c23ccda60974aa2643f3a21519e085b.