Joan Taylor

Joan Taylor (August 18, 1929 – March 4, 2012) was an American television and film actress.

This article is about the American actress. For other people with the same name, see Joan Taylor (disambiguation).
Joan Taylor
Born
Rose Marie Emma

(1929-08-18)August 18, 1929
Geneva, Illinois, U.S.
DiedMarch 4, 2012(2012-03-04) (aged 82)
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Resting placeWoodlawn Memorial Cemetery, Santa Monica
Other namesRose Freeman
OccupationActress and screenwriter
Years active1949–1989
Spouse(s)Leonard Freeman
(m. 1953-1974; his death) (3 children)
Walter Grauman
(m. 1976-1980; divorced)

Personal life

Taylor was born Rose Marie Emma in Geneva, Illinois. Her father, Joseph Emma, from Sicily, was a prop man in Hollywood in the 1920s. After his daughter's birth he became the manager of the Deerpath movie theatre in Lake Forest, Illinois, where Joan was brought up.[1] Her mother, Amelia Berky, was from Austria, and was a vaudeville singing-dancing star in the 1920s.[2]

Taylor married Leonard Freeman, later the creator of Hawaii Five-O, in 1953. The couple had three daughters. After her contract for The Rifleman ran out, she retired from acting to raise her children.[3]

When Freeman died in January 1974, following heart surgery, Taylor began managing Leonard Freeman Productions and the business of Hawaii Five-O under the name Rose Freeman.[4] She attended at least one Hawaii Five-O convention to talk to fans.[5]

With her children older, she found herself writing, including co-author credit for the comedy Fools Rush In starring Matthew Perry and Salma Hayek.[6] She remarried, to television producer-director Walter Grauman in 1976; the couple divorced in 1980.[7]

Career

Taylor's career began at the Pasadena Playhouse. She met Freeman there when both were involved with putting on Here Comes Mr. Jordan.[8] In the early 1950s, she was chosen by Paramount Pictures as a member of the studio's "Golden Circle", described as a "group consisting of a dozen unusually talented young actors for whom Paramount held high hopes." Her first film was Fighting Man of the Plains, starring Randolph Scott.[9] Her producer had also insured the 19-year-old's legs for $100,000 against injury.[9]

Her television career consisted of guest appearances on popular shows, in only one or two episodes. However, she had a successful recurring role in eighteen episodes of The Rifleman, starring Chuck Connors from 1960-1962.

Death

Taylor died of natural causes March 4, 2012, in Santa Monica, California.[10]

She was survived by three daughters, two brothers and six grandchildren.[8]

Filmography

Television

Feature films

References
  1. "Joan Taylor - 20 Million Miles of Memories". Riflemanconnors.com. Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  2. "The Private Life and Times of Joan Taylor". Glamourgirlsofthesilverscreen.com. Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  3. Morrison, Pat (December 25, 1960), "Joan Taylor Brings Romantic Interest to 'The Rifleman' Series", The Modesto Bee
  4. "Rose Freeman dies at 82". Variety.com. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
  5. "The Hawaii Five-O FAQ". Mjq.net. Archived from the original on 2017-05-30. Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  6. "Actress Joan Taylor Dies at 82", Hollywoodreporter.com, 2012, retrieved 2012-03-07
  7. Lentz, Harris M. (2013). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2012. McFarland. p. 285. ISBN 9780786470631.
  8. "Rose Freeman dies at 82". Variety. March 6, 2012.
  9. "Ambition and Determination Key To Success of Joan Taylor". The Titusville Herald. November 5, 1960. p. 7. Retrieved May 14, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. Barnes, Mike (March 6, 2012). "Actress Joan Taylor Dies at 82". The Hollywood Reporter.
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