Brenda Joyce (actress)
Encyclopedia
Brenda Joyce 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-movie
s 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.
. She was entombed at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery
.
Excelsior Springs, Missouri
Excelsior Springs is a city in Clay and Ray counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 11,084 at the 2010 census. It is located approximately northeast of central Kansas City, Missouri.- Geography :...
, although family and friends referred to her as Graftina.
Although she appeared in many B-movie
B-movie
A B movie is a low-budget commercial motion picture that is not definitively an arthouse or pornographic film. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified a film intended for distribution as the less-publicized, bottom half of a double feature....
s of the 1940s, she was cast as Maris Hanover in the 1942 film, Little Tokyo, U.S.A.
Little Tokyo, U.S.A.
Little Tokyo, U.S.A. is an American film, produced during World War II, that was condemned by United States Office of War Information as an "invitation to the Witch Hunt", preaching hate for all people of Japanese descent.-Plot:...
, she is best-remembered as the seventh actress to play Jane
Jane Porter (Tarzan)
Jane Porter is a major character in Edgar Rice Burroughs's series of Tarzan novels, and in adaptations of the saga to other media, particularly film.- In the novels :...
in the Tarzan
Tarzan
Tarzan is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungles by the Mangani "great apes"; he later experiences civilization only to largely reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adventurer...
series of films. She succeeded Maureen O'Sullivan
Maureen O'Sullivan
Maureen Paula O’Sullivan was an Irish actress.-Early life:O'Sullivan was born in Boyle, County Roscommon, Ireland, the daughter of Roman Catholic parents Mary Lovatt and Charles Joseph O'Sullivan, an officer in The Connaught Rangers who served in The Great War...
in the series and appeared in the role five times.
Her first four appearances as Jane were opposite Johnny Weissmuller
Johnny Weissmuller
Johnny Weissmuller was an Austro-Hungarian-born American swimmer and actor best known for playing Tarzan in movies. Weissmuller was one of the world's best swimmers in the 1920s, winning five Olympic gold medals and one bronze medal. He won fifty-two US National Championships and set sixty-seven...
. However, her last performance as Jane, in Tarzan's Magic Fountain
Tarzan's Magic Fountain
Tarzan's Magic Fountain is a 1949 Tarzan film starring Lex Barker as Tarzan and Brenda Joyce as his companion Jane. The film also features Albert Dekker and Evelyn Ankers, was co-written by Curt Siodmak, and directed by Lee Sholem....
(1949), was with Lex Barker
Lex Barker
Lex Barker was an American actor best known for playing Tarzan of the Apes and leading characters from Karl May's novels.-Early life:...
as Tarzan. Joyce and Karla Schramm
Karla Schramm
Karla Schramm , a lifelong resident of Los Angeles, California, was most famous for being the second actress to play Jane in films. She first appeared in the 1920 production The Revenge of Tarzan opposite Gene Pollar as Tarzan. Later that same year she again played the role in the movie serial The...
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, CaliforniaSanta Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
. She was entombed at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery
Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery
The Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery is a cemetery in the Westwood Village area of Los Angeles, California. It is located at 1218 Glendon Avenue in Westwood....
.