Joan Valerie
Joan Valerie | |
|---|---|
| File:Joan Valerie photo.jpg | |
| Born | Helen Vlahakis July 15, 1911 Rhinelander, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | January 30, 1983 (aged 71) Long Beach, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | film actress |
| Years active | 1935-1953 |
| Spouse(s) | Paris Methusis Grant Richards (1940-1942) |
| Children | Jo-Ellen Rose (b. 1941) George (b. 1945)[1] |
Joan Valerie (born Helen Vlahakis;[2] July 15, 1911 – January 30, 1983) was a Greek-American actress, who appeared mainly in B movies in the late 1930s and 1940s.
Early years
Born in Sparta, Wisconsin,[3], Valerie was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Vlahakis, with a sister, Catherine,[4] and brothers Peter,[5] William,[6] Ted[7] and Chris.[8]
Vlahakis was a 1931 graduate of Rhinelander High School.[9] She participated in local play productions in her hometown[10][11] and was active in theatrical productions[2] at Morningside College.[12]
In 1934, Vlahakis was selected from a group of 44 women as Morningside College's "most beautiful girl,"[13] Miss Morningside.[3]
Film
Valerie initially changed her name to Helen Valkis for acting purposes.[2] Under that name, in 1928, she was the leading lady in Yukon Trails, a Rex Pictures production that was filmed in Valerie's hometown, Rhinelander, Wisconsin, with an all-local cast.[14]
Vlahakis' performance as the lead in Edward Elsner's Not So Long Ago in Hollywood led to two film studios' giving her tryouts, one of which resulted in a small part in Reckless (1935).[3] After signing a contract (as Helen Valkis) with the Independent Productions film company in 1935,[15] she received a long-term contract from Warner Bros. in 1936.[16]
She was discovered by Darryl F. Zanuck on stage at the Pasadena Playhouse. Films include Confession, The Prince and the Pauper, Day-Time Wife, Sergeant Murphy, and Rio Rita.
Personal life
She was married to Paris Methusis[17] and, in 1940,[18] to Grant Richards.[17] She and Richards, with whom she had a daughter, Jo-Ellen Rose, were divorced September 9, 1942. A newspaper report said that Valerie "sued under her true name of Helen Jaffe."[18] She also had a son, George.[5]
Partial filmography
- Fighting Youth (1935) - Sorority Girl (uncredited)
- Ready, Willing, and Able (1937) - Switchboard Operator (uncredited)
- The Prince and the Pauper (1937) - Lady Jane Seymour
- The Cherokee Strip (1937) - Ruth Valley
- The Go Getter (1937) - Skinner's Secretary
- Blazing Sixes (1937) - Barbara Morgan
- Talent Scout (1937) - Ruth - Secretary
- Confession (1937) - Wanda
- It's Love I'm After (1937) - Autograph Seeker (uncredited)
- Alcatraz Island (1937) - Drake's Secretary (uncredited)
- Missing Witnesses (1937) - Simpering Girl (uncredited)
- Hollywood Hotel (1937) - Girl at Premiere (uncredited)
- Sergeant Murphy (1938) - Bess Merrill
- The Old Barn Dance (1938) - Sally Dawson
- Topa Topa (1938) - Margaret Weston
- A Trip to Paris (1938) - Marguerite Varloff
- Safety in Numbers (1938) - Toni Stewart (replaced by Iva Stewart) (uncredited)
- Submarine Patrol (1938) - Anne
- Road Demon (1938) - Joan Rogers
- Kentucky (1939) - Lucy Pemberton (uncredited)
- Tail Spin (1939) - Sunny
- Day-Time Wife (1939) - Mrs. Dexter
- The Man Who Wouldn't Talk (1940) - Miss Norton
- Young as You Feel (1940) - Bonnie Jones
- Free, Blonde and 21 (1940) - Vickie
- Lillian Russell (1940) - Lillian Russell's Sister
- Girl in 313 (1940) - Francine Edwards
- Pier 13 (1940) - Helen Kelly
- The Great Profile (1940) - Understudy
- Charlie Chan at the Wax Museum (1940) - Lily Latimer
- Murder Over New York (1940) - June Preston
- Michael Shayne, Private Detective (1940) - Marsha Gordon
- Jennie (1940) - Clara Schermer
- Who Is Hope Schuyler? (1942) - Phyllis Guerney
- Rio Rita (1942) - Dotty
- Just Off Broadway (1942) - Rita Darling
- Government Girl (1943) - Miss Jane MacVickers (uncredited)
- Around the World (1943) - Countess Olga (uncredited)
- Lost Honeymoon (1947) - Nurse (uncredited)
- The Hucksters (1947) - Receptionist (uncredited)
- Three Daring Daughters (1948) - Hostess (uncredited)
- Any Number Can Play (1949) - Minor Role (uncredited)
- The Skipper Surprised His Wife (1950) - Nurse (uncredited)
- A Life of Her Own (1950) - Party Guest (uncredited)
- Mister 880 (1950) - Cashier (uncredited)
- Roaring City (1951) - Irma Rand
- Father Takes the Air (1951) - Blonde
- Westward the Women (1951) - Flashy Woman (uncredited)
- The Girl in White (1952) - Nurse Hanson
References
- ^ https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5600812/the_rhinelander_daily_news/
- ^ a b c "Beauty of Girl Here Is Lauded by Californian". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. January 4, 1935. p. 5. Retrieved June 15, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "Bright Future in Drama Predicted for Local Girl". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. March 29, 1935. p. 8. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Many Here for Wedding Rites". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. June 16, 1931. p. 5. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Muller, Pat (August 1, 1951). "Movie Actress Is Vacationing In Home Town". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. p. 5. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "William Vlakis Is Hollywood Theater Star". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. December 4, 1946. p. 5. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Joan Valerie (Helen Vlahakis) Home Today; Greets Friends". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. August 11, 1938. p. 2. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Joan Valerie Bring Sbeath of Hollywood to Her Home Town". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. February 10, 1943. p. 2. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Helen Valkis Was Active in School Plays". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. May 18, 1937. p. 5. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "(ad for play)". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. December 17, 1932. p. 2. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Announce Personnel for Historical Pageant Here". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. June 30, 1932. p. 2. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Orchestra Will Appear During Guild Program". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. December 17, 1932. p. 3. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Miss Vlahakis Wins Honor as Beauty Queen". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. May 26, 1934. p. 2. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Rhinelander Movie Is Shown This Week". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. December 26, 1928. p. 2. Retrieved June 15, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Signs Movie Contract". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. May 21, 1935. p. 3. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Warners Sign Helen Valkis". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. October 7, 1936. p. 2. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Joan Valerie". Omnilexica. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
- ^ a b "Wins Custody of Daughter". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Associated Press. September 10, 1942. p. 12. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
External links
- Joan Valerie at IMDb
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