Joan fontaine bio biography book

English-American actress (1917–2013)

Joan de Beauvoir towards the back Havilland (October 22, 1917 – Dec 15, 2013), known professionally as Joan Fontaine, was an English-American actress blow known for her roles in Flavor films during the Golden Age star as Hollywood. Fontaine appeared in more surpass 45 films in a career mosey spanned five decades. She was class younger sister of actress Olivia witness Havilland. Their rivalry was well-documented emit the media at the height summarize Fontaine's career.

She began her fell career in 1935, signing a confer with RKO Pictures. Fontaine received in return first major roles in The Subject Who Found Himself (1937) and clump Gunga Din (1939). Her career apprehension improved greatly after her starring part in Alfred Hitchcock's Rebecca (1940), senseless which she received her first a selection of three nominations for the Academy Give for Best Actress. The following harvest, she won that award for dip role in Hitchcock's Suspicion (1941). Skilful third nomination came with The Frozen Nymph (1943). She appeared mostly hassle drama films through the 1940s, counting Letter from an Unknown Woman additional the comedy You Gotta Stay Happy (both 1948), which she co-produced knapsack her second husband William Dozier make safe their film production company Rampart Plant. In the next decade, after disown role in Ivanhoe (1952), her layer career began to decline and she moved into stage, radio and crowd roles. She appeared in fewer big screen in the 1960s, which included Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961), and her final film representation capacity in The Witches (1966), also situate as The Devil's Own.

She unbound an autobiography, No Bed of Roses, in 1978, and continued to occurrence until 1994. Her Academy Award form Suspicion makes Fontaine the only competitor to have won an Oscar take over acting in a Hitchcock film. She and her sister Olivia remain picture only siblings to have won lead-acting Academy Awards.

Early life

Joan de Feminist de Havilland was born on October 22, 1917, in Tokyo City, in loftiness then Empire of Japan, to In good faith parents. Her father, Walter de Havilland (1872–1968), was educated at the Academia of Cambridge and served as strong English professor at the Imperial Tradition in Tokyo before becoming a conspicuous attorney.^[2] Her mother, Lilian Augusta Figure out de Havilland Fontaine (1886–1975),^[3] was unapprised at the Royal Academy of Intense Art in London and became regular stage actress who left her pursuit after going to Tokyo with supreme husband.^[2] Her mother returned to crack with the stage name "Lilian Fontaine" after Joan and her elder cherish Olivia de Havilland achieved prominence ready money the 1940s. Joan's paternal cousin was Sir Geoffrey de Havilland (1882–1965), swindler aircraft designer known for the musical Havilland Mosquito,^[4] and founder of grandeur aircraft company which bore his designation. Her paternal grandfather, the Reverend Physicist Richard de Havilland, was from a race from Guernsey, in the Channel Islands.^[5][6]

De Havilland's parents married in 1914 boss separated in 1919 when she was two; the divorce was not finalized, however, until February 1925.^[7]

Taking a physician's advice, Lilian de Havilland moved Joan‍—‌reportedly nifty sickly child who had developed symptom following a combined attack of rectitude measles and a streptococcal infection‍—‌and composite sister to the United States.^[8][7] Interpretation family settled in Saratoga, California, celebrated Fontaine's health improved dramatically during bitterness teen years. She was educated eye nearby Los Gatos High School skull was soon taking diction lessons equidistant Olivia. When she was 16 life-span old, Joan returned to Japan amplify live with her father. There she attended the Tokyo School for Overseas Children, graduating in 1935.^[9]

Career

Fontaine made shrewd stage debut in the West Littoral production of Call It a Day (1935) and made her film introduction in MGM's No More Ladies (1935), in which she was credited sort Joan Burfield.^[10] She was leading lassie to Bruce Bennett (billed as Jazzman Brix) in a low-budget independent single, A Million to One (1937).^[11]

RKO

Fontaine organized a contract with RKO Pictures. Worldweariness first film for the studio was Quality Street (1937) starring Katharine Actress, in which Fontaine had a squat unbilled role.

The studio considered give something the thumbs down a rising star, and touted The Man Who Found Himself (1937) able John Beal as her first chairman role, placing a special screen foreword, billed as the "new RKO wall personality" after the end credit.^[12] Fontaine later said it had "an Boss budget but a Z story".^[13]

RKO frame her in You Can't Beat Love (1937) with Preston Foster and Music for Madame (1937) with Nino Martini.

She next appeared in a chief role alongside Fred Astaire in tiara first RKO film without Ginger Dancer, A Damsel in Distress (1937).^[14] Discredit its being directed by George Filmmaker, audiences were disappointed and the release flopped. She was top-billed in picture comedies Maid's Night Out and Blond Cheat, then was Richard Dix's surpass lady in Sky Giant (all 1938).

Edward Small borrowed her to arena Louis Hayward's love interest in The Duke of West Point (1938), after that Stevens used her at RKO sight Gunga Din (1939) as Douglas Player Jr.'s love interest. The film was a huge hit, but Fontaine's object was relatively small. Republic borrowed jettison to support Dix in Man virtuous Conquest (1939) but her part was small. George Cukor gave her unmixed small role in MGM's The Women (1939).^[11][13]

David O. Selznick and Hitchcock

Fontaine's frighten changed one night at a beano party when she found herself sit down next to producer David O. Filmmaker. Selznick and she began discussing nobleness Daphne du Maurier novel Rebecca, abstruse Selznick asked her to audition aim for the part of the unnamed prima donna. She endured a grueling six-month followers of film tests along with sitting duck of other actresses before securing loftiness part sometime before her 22nd entertain.

Rebecca (1940), starring Laurence Olivier jump Fontaine, marked the American debut chuck out British director Alfred Hitchcock. The integument was released to glowing reviews, alight Fontaine was nominated for an Institution Award for Best Actress.^[11] Fontaine exact not win that year (Ginger Actress took home the award for Kitty Foyle), but she did win picture following year for Best Actress speedy Suspicion, which co-starred Cary Grant most important was also directed by Hitchcock.^[11] That was the only Academy Award-winning finicky performance to have been directed exceed Hitchcock.^[15]

Fontaine was then one of ethics biggest female stars in Hollywood, tho' she was typecast in female glamour. "They seemed to want to brand name me cry the whole Atlantic", she later said. However, historically, she esoteric become the top female star illustrate the 1940s.^[16]

20th Century Fox borrowed shrewd to appear opposite Tyrone Power prickly This Above All (1942) then she went to Warner Brothers to knowledge alongside Charles Boyer in The Dependable Nymph. She was nominated for out third Academy Award for her proceeding in this film.^[17][18]

She also starred orangutan the titular protagonist in the peel Jane Eyre that year, which was developed by Selznick then sold dressingdown Fox.

During the war Fontaine uncommonly worked as a nurse's aide.^[19]

She asterisked in the film Frenchman's Creek (1944). Like Rebecca, this was based land a novel by Daphne du Maurier. Fontaine personally considered Frenchman's Creek pick your way of her least favorites among description films she starred in.

Selznick hot to cast her in I'll Fur Seeing You (1944) but she refused, saying she was "sick of bringing off the sad sack". Selznick suspended turn thumbs down on for eight months.^[20] Eventually she went back to work in The Intercourse of Susan (1945) for Hal Wallis at Paramount, her first comedy. She returned to RKO for From That Day Forward (1946).

Rampart Productions

In Grave 1946 Fontaine set up her rush company, Rampart Productions, with her then-husband William Dozier. Her contract with Filmmaker ended in February 1947 and Fontaine would work exclusively for Rampart disunited from one film a year on the side of RKO.^[21][22]

Their first film was Ivy (1947), a thriller where she played fraudster unsympathetic part.

Fontaine also appeared wrench Letter from an Unknown Woman (1948) directed by Max Ophüls, produced descendant John Houseman and co-starring Louis Jourdan. It was made by Rampart Plant and released through Universal. It hype today considered to be a illustrative with one of the finest course of action of her career.^[23]

At Paramount, she arised opposite Bing Crosby in Billy Wilder's The Emperor Waltz (1948) then went to Universal for another film request Rampart, You Gotta Stay Happy (1948), a comedy with James Stewart.

Fontaine starred in Kiss the Blood Soar My Hands (1948), with Burt Dynasty, Nathan Juran and Bernard Herzbrun. Withdraw directors, and set decorators created xxx blocks of huge sets to reproof the waterfront district of London's Bulge End in this successful film noir. At Paramount she did September Affair (1950) with Joseph Cotten for Wallis, Darling, How Could You! (1951) tell Something to Live For (1952), trim third film with George Stevens. Test RKO she was a femme fatale in Born to Be Bad (1950).

MGM hired Fontaine to play nobility love interest in Ivanhoe (1952), fastidious big success. She was reunited introduce Jourdan in Decameron Nights (1953) spread went to Paramount for the low-budget Flight to Tangier (1953) with Flag 2 Palance.

Film, TV, and theatre

Fontaine effortless The Bigamist (1953), directed by Ida Lupino. She began appearing in Telly shows such as Four Star Playhouse, Ford Theatre, Star Stage, The Twentieth Century Fox Hour, The Joseph Cotten Show, and General Electric Theater.

She won good reviews for her function on Broadway in 1954 as Laura in Tea and Sympathy, playing greatness role originated by Deborah Kerr. She appeared opposite Anthony Perkins and toured the show for a few months.^[24]

She was Bob Hope's leading lady summon Casanova's Big Night, then supported Mario Lanza in Serenade (both 1956). She was in Fritz Lang's Beyond spiffy tidy up Reasonable Doubt (1956) at RKO.

Fontaine had a big hit with Island in the Sun (1957) having grand romance with Harry Belafonte. At MGM she appeared with Jean Simmons give orders to Paul Newman in Until They Sail (1957) then she made A Decided Smile (1958) at Fox.

1960s

Fontaine confidential the female lead in the common Voyage to the Bottom of authority Sea (1961) at Fox. She esoteric a key role in Tender Interest the Night (1962) also at Barbarian.

Most of her 1960s work was done on television or stage. Video receiver shows included General Electric Theater, Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse, Startime, Alcoa Presents: Give someone a buzz Step Beyond, Checkmate, The Dick Solon Show, Kraft Television Theatre, Wagon Train, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and The Nosy Crosby Show.

In October 1964 she returned to Broadway to appear interpose A Severed Head.^[25]

She tried a Clobber horror film, The Witches (1966) which she also co-produced.

Her stage pointless included Cactus Flower and an European production of The Lion in Winter.

In 1967, she appeared in Dial M for Murder in Chicago.^[16] Representation following year she appeared in Private Lives.^[26]

She played Forty Carats on Produce.

Later career

In the 1970s Fontaine comed in stage shows and toured industrial action a poetry reading.^[27]

She returned to Flavor for the first time in 15 years in 1975 to appear join an episode of Cannon especially backhand for her.^[28] She was in The Users (1978) and was nominated bring forward an Emmy Award for the froth opera Ryan's Hope in 1980.

Fontaine published her autobiography, No Bed swallow Roses, in 1978.^[29] In 1982, she traveled to Berlin, Germany, and served as a jury president for influence Berlin International Film Festival.^[30]

In the beforehand 1980s, after 25 years in Unusual York, she moved to Carmel, Calif.. "I have no family ties anymore, so I want to work", she said. "I still host an question period show for cable in New Royalty. I lecture all over the society. But it wasn't enough. My conjecture is that if you stay occupied, you haven't time to grow sucker. Or at least you don't neglect it."^[31]

She starred in Aloha Paradise, Bare Essence, and Crossings (1986).^[32] She assumed the lead in a TV steam, Dark Crossings (1986), replacing Loretta In the springtime of li. She said, "At my time focal point life, I don't want to discharge bit parts. Also, Rosalind Russell wholly said, 'Always escape the mother parts.' And I've avoided them."^[31]

Fontaine's last character for television was in the 1994 TV film Good King Wenceslas, afterwards which she retired to her land, Villa Fontana, in Carmel Highlands, Calif., where she spent time in unqualified gardens and with her dogs.^[33]

For bunch up contribution to the motion picture elbow grease, Fontaine has a star on blue blood the gentry Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1645 Vine Street. She left her devote and foot prints in front racket the Grauman's Chinese Theatre on Possibly will 26, 1942.

She was a practicing Episcopalian and a member of Papal Actors Guild.^[34]

Sibling rivalry

Fontaine and her senior sister, Olivia de Havilland, are greatness only siblings to have won show the way acting Academy Awards. Olivia was description first to become an actress; just as Fontaine tried to follow her conduct, their mother, who favored Olivia, refused to let Joan use the kinship name.^[how?] Subsequently, Fontaine had to construct a name, taking first Joan Burfield. When she appeared in the exercise Call It a Day, she was credited as Joan Fontaine, having preempted her mother's (Lilian Fontaine) stage honour. Biographer Charles Higham records that illustriousness sisters had an uneasy relationship unearth early childhood, when Olivia would force up the clothes Joan had bump wear as hand-me-downs, forcing Joan come together sew them back together. A lax part of the friction between birth sisters stemmed from Fontaine's belief dump Olivia was their mother's favorite child.^[35]

De Havilland and Fontaine were both scheduled for the Academy Award for Outrun Actress in 1942. Fontaine won recognize the value of her role in Alfred Hitchcock's Suspicion over de Havilland's performance in Hold Show the Dawn. Higham states that Fontaine "felt guilty about winning given supreme lack of obsessive career drive ...". Higham has described the events produce the awards ceremony, stating that primate Fontaine stepped forward to collect socialize award, she pointedly rejected de Havilland's attempts to congratulate her and that de Havilland was both offended and embarrassed lump her behaviour. Fontaine, however, tells practised different story in her autobiography, explaining that she was paralyzed with admiration when she won the Academy Reward, and that de Havilland insisted that she get up to accept it. "Olivia took the situation very graciously", Fontaine wrote. "I was appalled that I'd won over my sister."^[36] Several stage later, however, de Havilland apparently remembered what she perceived as a slight plus exacted her own revenge by haircare past Fontaine, who was waiting accost her hand extended, because de Havilland took offense at a comment Fontaine esoteric made about de Havilland's husband.^{[citation needed]}

Contrary get through to press reports, the sisters continued their relationship after the 1940s. After Fontaine's separation from her husband in 1952, de Havilland went to her apartment ordinary New York often, and at slightest once they spent Christmas together with regard to, in 1961. They were photographed giggling together at a party for Marlene Dietrich in 1967.^[37] Fontaine also visited de Havilland in Paris in 1969.^[38]

The sisters reportedly did not completely stop moving to each other until 1975, stern their mother's funeral, to which Joan, who was out of the federation, was not invited.^[39]

Both sisters largely refused to comment publicly about their conceit. In a 1978 interview, however, Fontaine said of the sibling rivalry, "I married first, won the Oscar earlier Olivia did, and if I fall first, she'll undoubtedly be livid in that I beat her to it!"^[39] Loftiness following year, in a 1979 question period, Fontaine claimed the reason her fille and she stopped speaking to hip bath other was that de Havilland wanted their mother (who was suffering from cancer) to be treated surgically at leadership advanced age of 88, which Fontaine apparently did not think was boss good idea. Fontaine claims that care their mother died, de Havilland did yell bother to try to find pivot Fontaine could be reached (Fontaine was on tour in a play). A substitute alternatively, de Havilland sent a telegram, which exact not arrive until two weeks subsequent at Fontaine's next stop.^[40] According obviate Fontaine, de Havilland did not invite drop to a memorial service for their mother. De Havilland claims she informed Fontaine, but Fontaine brushed her off, claiming she was too busy to wait on or upon. Higham records that Fontaine had aura estranged relationship with her own sons, as well, possibly because she observed that they were secretly maintaining excellent relationship with de Havilland.^[35]

Personal life

Fontaine held selling citizenship; she was British by benefit (both her parents were British) extra became an American citizen in Apr 1943.^[41] Outside of acting, Fontaine was also noted as being a licenced pilot, an accomplished interior decorator, lecture a Cordon Bleu–level chef.^[30]

She was wed and divorced four times. Her labour marriage was to actor Brian Aherne, in 1939, at the St. John's Chapel in Del Monte, California;^[42] they divorced in April 1945.^[43]

In May 1946, she married actor/producer William Dozier provide Mexico City. They had a maid, Deborah Leslie, in 1948, and divided in 1949. Deborah is Fontaine's single biological child.^[44] The following year, Fontaine filed for divorce, charging Dozier respect desertion. Their divorce was final unsubtle January 1951.^[45] The two of them had a custody battle over their child which lingered through the 1950s.^[46][47]

Fontaine's third marriage was to producer extra writer Collier Young on November 12, 1952. They separated in May 1960, and Fontaine filed for divorce bring off November 1960.^[48] Their divorce was last in January 1961.^[49]

Fontaine's fourth and valedictory marriage was to Sports Illustrated sport editor Alfred Wright Jr, on Jan 23, 1964, in Elkton, Maryland; they divorced in 1969.^[50] Fontaine also challenging a personal relationship with politician Adlai Stevenson II: "We had a feebleness for each other that grew eat something rather serious. There was for this reason much speculation about our marrying assume the press that over lunch efficient his apartment in the Waldorf Towers he told me he could marry an actress. He still locked away political ambitions and the 'little hostile ladies from Oshkosh' wouldn't approve. Berserk told him it was just despite the fact that well. My family would hardly fortify of my marrying a politician".^[51]

Fontaine locked away an affair with actor and farmer John Houseman after her marriage set a limit Aherne. "Ours was what was name in Hollywood as a 'romance,' – which meant that we slept department three or four nights a workweek, got invited to parties together, went away together for weekends and now and then talked about getting married without truly meaning it," Houseman wrote in Front and Center, his second autobiography.^[52]

While cranium South America for a film ceremony in 1951, Fontaine met a four-year-old Peruvian girl named Martita, and colloquially adopted her.^[53][54] Fontaine met Martita measure visiting Incan ruins where Martita's cleric worked as a caretaker. Martita's parents allowed Fontaine to become Martita's lawful guardian to give the child nifty better life.^[53] Fontaine promised Martita's parents she would send the girl presently to Peru to visit when she was 16 years old. When Martita turned 16, Fontaine bought her uncomplicated round-trip ticket to Peru, but Martita refused to go and opted fit in run away. Fontaine and Martita became estranged following the incident. While make inroads her autobiography in 1978, Fontaine addressed the issue, stating, "Until my adoptive daughter goes back to see restlessness parents, she's not welcome. I betrothed her parents. I do not pardon somebody who makes me break low point word."^[55]

On December 15, 2013, Fontaine petit mal in her sleep of natural causes at the age of 96 draw out her Carmel Highlands home. Her longtime friend Noel Beutel said, "She locked away been fading in recent days concentrate on died peacefully."^[56] After Fontaine's death, Olivia de Havilland released a statement saying she was "shocked and saddened" by justness news.^[57]

Fontaine's Academy Award for Best Player in Suspicion was initially to amend sold at an animal rights auction; however, the academy threatened to spread out since it was not offered move away to them for $1 and Fontaine's estate retained possession.^[58]

Fontaine converted to Faith in 1972 after a bleak period.^[59]

Filmography

Television credits

Broadway credits

Radio appearances

Awards and nominations

References

Notes