Joyce Arleen (born Joyce Arleen Novotny; May 20, 1931 – February 17, 2023), also credited as Arleen Joyce and Mary Thomas, was an American actress.
Early life
Born in
Hackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack is the most populous municipality in and the county seat of Bergen County, New Jersey, Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. on May 20, 1931,
Arleen was a native of
Garfield
''Garfield'' is an American comic strip created by Jim Davis (cartoonist), Jim Davis. Originally published locally as ''Jon'' in 1976 (later changed to ''Garfield'' in 1977), then in nationwide Print syndication, syndication from 1978, it chro ...
. Her parents were Joseph and Mary Novotny.
Her sister was Dorothy Joyce, who would appear in
''The Blue Bird'' (1940) and
''Please Don't Eat the Daisies'' (1960).
Career
In 1939, Arleen signed with
Charles R. Rogers for a seven-year option for the
Paramount
Paramount (from the word ''paramount'' meaning "above all others") may refer to:
Entertainment and music companies
* Paramount Global, also known simply as Paramount, an American mass media company formerly known as ViacomCBS.
**Paramount Picture ...
film
''The Star Maker''.
["More Moppets". '' Variety''. Jan 18, 1939. p. 12. ] That same year, Arleen, going by the name Mary Thomas, appeared in ''
Our Neighbors – The Carters''. A ''
Variety'' review commented that her performance was "excellent throughout, especially capable in scenes in which she decides to be adopted by the rich city friends",
["Pictures: Film Reviews - Our Neighbors – The Carters". ''Variety''. Nov 8, 1939. p. 18. ] and ''
The Hollywood Reporter
''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film industry, film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade pap ...
'' wrote that she was "superb".
Arleen appeared as Mary in the 1940 film ''
The Great McGinty''.
["Down Went McGinty". '' Kinematograph Weekly''. London. Vol. 281. Iss. 1736. Jul 25, 1940. p. 15. .]
In 1942, Arleen portrayed the young Cassandra Tower in the
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (WBEI), commonly known as Warner Bros. (WB), is an American filmed entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California and the main namesake subsidiary of Warner Bro ...
film ''
Kings Row
''Kings Row'' is a 1942 film starring Ann Sheridan, Robert Cummings, Ronald Reagan and Betty Field that tells a story of young people growing up in a small American town at the turn of the twentieth century. The picture was directed by Sam Woo ...
''. A ''Variety'' review noted she gave the best performance of the film's child actors.
[Hobe. "Film reviews: Kings Row". ''Variety''. Dec 24, 1941. p. 8. ] Arleen also appeared as the main character during childhood in ''
The Gay Sisters'' to a positive review by ''The Hollywood Reporter'',
['Gay Sisters' powerfully acted and directed drama: well written script soundly produced. ''The Hollywood Reporter''. Vol. 68, Iss. 24. Jun 2, 1942. p. 3. ] and in
''Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch''.
[Walt. "Film Reviews: Mrs. Wiggs of The Cabbage Patch". ''Variety''. Oct 7, 1942. p. 8. ]
Personal life and death
Arleen married Alvin Baldock and they had one daughter.
On February 17, 2023, Arleen died in
Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield is a city in and the county seat of Kern County, California, United States. The city covers about near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley, which is located in the Central Valley region.
Bakersfield's population as of th ...
.
Selected filmography
* ''
The Star Maker'' (1939)
* ''
Our Neighbors – The Carters'' (1939)
* ''
The Great McGinty'' (1940)
* ''
Kings Row
''Kings Row'' is a 1942 film starring Ann Sheridan, Robert Cummings, Ronald Reagan and Betty Field that tells a story of young people growing up in a small American town at the turn of the twentieth century. The picture was directed by Sam Woo ...
'' (1942)
* ''
The Gay Sisters'' (1942)
*
''Wake Island'' (1942)
* ''
Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch'' (1942)
["Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch". ''Kinematograph Weekly''. London Vol. 307, Iss. 1848. Sep 24, 1942. p. 45. ]
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Arleen, Joyce
1931 births
2023 deaths
20th-century American actresses
American child actresses
People from Garfield, New Jersey
Actors from Hackensack, New Jersey
Actresses from New Jersey