Joan Banks (October 30, 1918 – January 18, 1998) was an American film, television, stage, and radio actress (described as "a soapbox queen"), who often appeared in dramas with her husband, Frank Lovejoy.

Early life Banks attended a school of Russian ballet as a little girl and excelled as a swimmer during high school. Her talent earned her a scholarship to the American Academy of Dramatic Art, and she attended Hunter College.

Career

Radio Banks first appeared on radio with Walter O'Keefe in 1936, when she was 18. At that same age, she became the first "feminine stooge" for Stoopnagle and Budd on their show. Her other roles on radio programs include: Program Role Bringing Up FatherNora Buck Private and His Girl "snooty" deb Gangbusters various Her Honor, Nancy James secretary John's Other Wife Roberta Lansing My Friend Irma Jane Stacy The Home of the Brave N/A Nightbeat various The O'Neills Peggy O'Neill Kayden This Day Is Ours Eleanor MacDonald Valiant Lady Joan Hargrave-ScottBuxton, Frank and Owen, Bill (1972). The Big Broadcast: 1920–1950. The Viking Press. . p. 249. Young Widder Brown Camilla DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960. McFarland & Company, Inc. . p. 22.

Film Banks began her Hollywood career with small roles in such films as Cry Danger (1951) and Washington Story (1952). She became better known in the 1950s and early 1960s for her many appearances as a supporting actress in films such as My Pal Gus. In 1961, Banks appeared in the movie Return to Peyton Place.

Television On March 25, 1958, Banks co-starred with husband Lovejoy in an episode of his Meet McGraw program.

She made five appearances on Perry Mason, including four roles as the murderer: in 1957, she played Karen Alder in "The Case of the Negligent Nymph"; in 1958, she played Valerie Brewster in "The Case of the Fancy Figures"; in 1960, she played Mrs. Joseph Manley in "The Case of the Mythical Monkeys"; in 1961, she played Rhonda Houseman in "The Case of the Left-Handed Liar"; and in 1964, she played Nellie Conway in "The Case of the Woeful Widower". In 1958, she appeared as Clara Hood in the episode, "Fatal Memory," on the TV series Wanted: Dead or Alive. She also made four appearances on National Velvet, two appearances on Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and single appearances on shows such as Ford Theatre, I Love Lucy, Private Secretary, Date with the Angels, The Rough Riders, Mr. Adams and Eve, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, Bewitched, and again two appearances on Hazel.

On October 2, 1962, Frank Lovejoy died of a heart attack in bed in his sleep at the Warwick Hotel in New York City. At the time, Banks and he had just finished appearing together in a run of a New Jersey stage production of Gore Vidal's play The Best Man. Banks' career in radio continued after her work in television subsided, and she appeared in 33 episodes of CBS Radio Mystery Theater from 1974 to 1980.

Personal life and death Banks married fellow actor Frank Lovejoy, whom she met when both had roles on the radio soap opera This Day Is Ours. The couple had two children, Judy and Steve. She died of lung cancer on January 18, 1998.Los Angeles Times, January 28, 1998, p.18.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes1950Stars Over HollywoodSeason 1 Episode 5: "Some Small Nobility"1951 Cry Danger Alice Fletcher 1951 Bright Victory Janet Grayson 1952ReboundSeason 1 Episode 7: "Joker's Wild"1952 Washington Story Mrs. Vatek 1952 My Pal Gus Ivy Tolliver 1953–1954Four Star PlayhouseLaughing Woman (uncredited) / Madeline / Celeste3 episodes1953–1955Private SecretarySylvia Platt13 episodes (Recurring role)1954I Love LucyEleanor HarrisSeason 3 Episode 17: "Fan Magazine Interview"1954Robert Montgomery PresentsSeason 6 Episode 3: "Two Wise Women"1954–1955Alice Rogers / Miss Gardner2 episodes1955EstelleSeason 1 Episode 5: "Safe Journey"1955Make Room for DaddySeason 2 Episode 21: "Danny Tries Real Estate"1955Stage 7Letty Bowman / Fran2 episodes1956Star StageSeason 1 Episode 21: "Screen Credit"1956It's a Great LifeSalesgirlSeason 2 Episode 27: "All for Amy"1956December BrideMary Lou BigelowSeason 2 Episode 31: "Swimming Pool"1956Hilda PomeroySeason 4 Episode 39: "A Part Remembered"1956Karen GrantSeason 1 Episode 3: "Fatal Charm"1956–1957 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Margaret / Lee 2 episodes1957Schlitz Playhouse of StarsSeason 6 Episode 19: "One Left Over"1957 Mister Cory Lily 1957Ruth FerrisSeason 4 Episode 7: "The Ruth Ferris Story"1957Goodyear TheatreCynthia RolandSeason 1 Episode 4: "Voices in the Fog"1957Code 3Bonnie BensonSeason 1 Episode 39: "The Benson Case"1957–1958Meet McGrawLaura / Doris Stark2 episodes1957–1964Perry MasonKaren Alder / Valerie Brewster / Mrs. Manley / Rhonda Houseman / Nellie Conway5 episodes1958Date with the AngelsDottieSeason 2 Episode 18: "The Train"1958Mr. Adams and EveLoveySeason 2 Episode 29: "The Lovey Doveys"1958Mike HammerSandra RyanSeason 1 Episode 19: "Music to Die By"1958State TrooperEdna LinkmanSeason 2 Episode 31: "Hardrock Man"1958Wanted: Dead or AliveClara HoodSeason 1 Episode 2: "Fatal Memory"1958Zane Grey TheatreMelanie FlemingSeason 3 Episode 5: "Legacy of a Legend"1959Colonel Humphrey FlackDeborahSeason 2 Episode 29: "Colonel Flack's New Muffler"1959NoraSeason 1 Episode 5: "The Twist of the Key"1959Norah EddimanSeason 1 Episode 35: "The Wagon Raiders"1959Philip MarloweSeason 1 Episode 4: "Death in the Family"1960Richard Diamond, Private DetectiveLee SwinnertonSeason 3 Episode 34: "The Fine Art of Murder"1960Hawaiian EyeAunt 'Birdie' BirdwellSeason 1 Episode 17: "Then There Were Three"1960JuneSeason 1 Episode 28: "Surprise Party"1960Mrs. Edna GilroySeason 1 Episode 37: "Here Comes the Groom"1960 Let's Make Love Secretary Uncredited1961 Return to Peyton Place Mrs. Humphries Uncredited1961–1962HazelFrancesca Kettering / Jane Edwards2 episodes1961–1962National VelvetMrs. Helen Hadley4 episodes1967BewitchedMargaret BaxterSeason 4 Episode 7: "Birdies, Bogies and Baxter"

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