Joyce Compton
Olivia Joyce Compton (January 27, 1907 – October 13, 1997) was an American actress. Compton was born in Lexington, Kentucky. (Despite frequent reports to the contrary, her name was not originally "Eleanor Hunt"; she had appeared in the film Good Sport (1931) with Hunt and this confusion in an early press article followed Compton throughout her career.) After graduating high school she spent two years studying at the University of Tulsa, studying dramatics, art, music and dancing. She won a personality and beauty contest and spent two months in a film studio as an extra.
Compton first made a name for herself when she was named one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars in 1926, alongside Mary Brian, Dolores Costello, Joan Crawford, Dolores del Río, Janet Gaynor and Fay Wray. Compton appeared in a long string of mostly B-movies from the 1920s through the 1950s. She was a comedy actress and protested at being stereotyped as a "dumb blonde".
Among her over two hundred films were Imitation of Life, Magnificent Obsession, The Awful Truth, Mildred Pierce, and The Best Years of Our Lives.
A devout Christian, on her gravestone, just beneath her dates of birth and death, is written "Christian Actress". She died from natural causes, aged 90, and was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills.
Filmography (142 Appearances)
Pete and Gladys
Girl in the Woods
Jet Pilot
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
The Persuader
The Adventures of Jim Bowie
I Was a Burlesque Queen
The Abbott and Costello Show
Mighty Joe Young
Grand Canyon
Incident
Sorry, Wrong Number
A Southern Yankee
Linda, Be Good
Exposed
Scared to Death
The Best Years of Our Lives
Rendezvous with Annie
Dark Alibi
Behind the Mask
Danger Signal
Mildred Pierce
Christmas in Connecticut
Hitchhike to Happiness
Pillow to Post
Swing Out the Blues
Silver Spurs
Let's Face It
Silver Skates
Thunder Birds
Too Many Women
Bedtime Story
Blues in the Night
Moon Over Her Shoulder
Scattergood Meets Broadway
Manpower
Ziegfeld Girl
Let's Make Music
Who Killed Aunt Maggie?
The Villain Still Pursued Her
Sky Murder
City for Conquest
They Drive by Night
I Take This Oath
Turnabout
Honeymoon Deferred
Escape to Paradise
Balalaika
Reno
Hotel for Women
Rose of Washington Square
Hollywood Hobbies
The Flying Irishman
Going Places
Trade Winds
Artists and Models Abroad
The Last Warning
Spring Madness
How to Watch Football
You and Me
Women Are Like That
Love on a Budget
The Awful Truth
Small Town Boy
Sea Racketeers
The Toast of New York
Born Reckless
Rhythm in the Clouds
Kid Galahad
Pick a Star
Wings Over Honolulu
Top of the Town
We Have Our Moments
China Passage
Three Smart Girls
Country Gentlemen
Under Your Spell
Ellis Island
Murder with Pictures
Sitting on the Moon
Star for a Night
Trapped by Television
The Harvester
Love Before Breakfast
Valley of the Lawless
Public Ghost # 1
Suicide Squad
Life Hesitates at 40
Manhattan Monkey Business
College Scandal
Let 'em Have It
Go Into Your Dance
Rustlers of Red Dog
Caravan
Imitation of Life
The White Parade
Everything's Ducky
King Kelly of the U.S.A.
Million Dollar Ransom
Affairs of a Gentleman
Only Yesterday
Sing, Sinner, Sing
Roadhouse Queen
Dream Stuff
The Plumber and the Lady
Caliente Love
Luxury Liner
The Wrestler's Bride
If I Had a Million
Afraid to Talk
Madison Square Garden
False Faces
A Parisian Romance
Fighting for Justice
Lady and Gent
Beauty Parlor
Unholy Love
Westward Passage
Lena Rivers
Under Eighteen
Good Sport
The Spider
Annabelle's Affairs
Women of All Nations
Up Pops the Devil
Three Girls Lost
Three Rogues
Lightnin'
Wild Company
The Three Sisters
High Society Blues
Salute
Dangerous Curves
The Wild Party
The Sky Hawk
Thunder Riders
Soft Living
The Border Cavalier
Ankles Preferred
Syncopating Sue
A Broadway Lady
What Fools Men