Happy Birthday Joan Leslie

Today is Joan Leslie's birthday. The first thing that stands out to me about Joan aside from her obvious beauty is that she is a multi-talented individual who could perform in comedies, dramas, and vaudeville. Those kind of individuals are rare. She is yet another reason why I wish I was born in the early part of the 20th century, so I could had at least had an opportunity to have worked on Hollywood movies.

Joan was able to hold her own against Hollywood legends like Gary Cooper, Humphrey Bogart and James Cagney. To think she was able to do it as a teenager is even more impressive. My favorite movie that she appeared in largely for sentimental reasons is Sargeant York (often simply referred to as Sgt. York). But it is her other movies like Yankee Doodle Dandy and The Sky's The Limit with Fred Astaire that enabled her to demonstrate her talents as a dancer and singer.

In her adult years, she appeared in some other movies like Born To Be Bad and The Woman They Almost Lynched before embarking on a successful career as a dress designer and having twin daughters who are both college professors.

Her husband, Dr. William Caldwell passed away in 2000 several weeks after celebrating their 50th anniversary. Joan has appeared at various film festivals over the years.

Feel free to join my Joan Leslie Group.