Joyce Compton

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Olivia Joyce Compton (January 27, 1907 – October 13, 1997) was an American actress. Compton was born in Lexington, Kentucky. (Despite frequent reports to the contrary, her name was not originally "Eleanor Hunt"; she had appeared in the film Good Sport (1931) with Hunt and this confusion in an early press article followed Compton throughout her career.) After graduating high school she spent two years studying at the University of Tulsa, studying dramatics, art, music and dancing. She won a personality and beauty contest and spent two months in a film studio as an extra. Compton first made a name for herself when she was named one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars in 1926, alongside Mary Brian, Dolores Costello, Joan Crawford, Dolores del Río, Janet Gaynor and Fay Wray. Compton appeared in a long string of mostly B-movies from the 1920s through the 1950s. She was a comedy actress and protested at being stereotyped as a "dumb blonde". Among her over two hundred films were Imitation of Life, Magnificent Obsession, The Awful Truth, Mildred Pierce, and The Best Years of Our Lives. A devout Christian, on her gravestone, just beneath her dates of birth and death, is written "Christian Actress". She died from natural causes, aged 90, and was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills.

Most Known For

Richard Diamond, Private Detective

as Waitress

The Abbott and Costello Show

as Girl at Drivers License Bureau

The Adventures of Jim Bowie

Exposed

as Emmy

Pete and Gladys

Ellis Island

as Adele

Mighty Joe Young

as Alice (uncredited)

Ziegfeld Girl

as Miss Sawyer, Auditioning Showgirl (uncredited)

Salute

as Marian Wilson

Westward Passage

as Lillie, the Model (uncredited)

Luxury Liner

as Girl Overboard (uncredited)

Sorry, Wrong Number

as Cotterell's Blonde Girlfriend (uncredited)

The Best Years of Our Lives

as Hat Check Girl (uncredited)

College Scandal

as Toby Carpenter

Mildred Pierce

as Waitress (uncredited)

Thunder Birds

as Saleswoman

Lady and Gent

as Betty

Ankles Preferred

as Virginia

Christmas in Connecticut

as Nurse Mary Lee

I Take This Oath

as Betty Casey