Joan Taylor

This article is about the American actress. For other people with the same name, seeJoan Taylor (disambiguation).

Joan Taylor
Taylor inThe Rifleman(1960)
Born	Rose Marie Emma (1929-08-18)August 18, 1929 Geneva, Illinois,U.S.
Died	March 4, 2012(2012-03-04)(aged 82) Santa Monica,California,U.S.
Other names	Rose Freeman
Occupation(s)	Actress and screenwriter
Years active	1949–1989
Spouses	Leonard Freeman ​ ​ (m.1953; died 1974)​ Walter Grauman ​ ​ (m.1976;div.1980)​
Children	3

Joan Taylor(August 18, 1929 – March 4, 2012) was an American television and film actress.

Personal life

Taylor was bornRose Marie EmmainGeneva, Illinois.Her father, Joseph Emma, fromSicily,was aprop manin Hollywood in the 1920s. After his daughter's birth he became the manager of the Deerpath movie theatre inLake Forest, Illinois,where Joan was brought up.Her mother, Amelia Berky, was fromAustria,and was a vaudeville singing-dancing star in the 1920s.

Taylor marriedLeonard Freeman,later the creator ofHawaii Five-O,in 1953. The couple had three daughters. After her contract forThe Riflemanran out, she retired from acting to raise her children.

When Freeman died in January 1974, following heart surgery, Taylor began managing Leonard Freeman Productions and the business ofHawaii Five-Ounder the nameRose Freeman.She attended at least oneHawaii Five-Oconvention to talk to fans.

With her children older, she found herself writing, including co-author credit for the comedyFools Rush InstarringMatthew PerryandSalma Hayek.She remarried, to television producer-directorWalter Graumanin 1976; the couple divorced in 1980.

Career

Taylor's career began at thePasadena Playhouse.She met Freeman there when both were involved with putting onHere Comes Mr. Jordan.In the early 1950s, she was chosen byParamount Picturesas a member of the studio's "Golden Circle", described as a "group consisting of a dozen unusually talented young actors for whom Paramount held high hopes." Her first film wasFighting Man of the Plains,starringRandolph Scott.Her producer had also insured the 19-year-old's legs for $100,000 against injury.

Her television career consisted of guest appearances on popular shows, in only one or two episodes. However, she had a successful recurring role in eighteen episodes ofThe Rifleman,starringChuck Connorsfrom 1960 to 1962.

Death

Taylor died of natural causes March 4, 2012, inSanta Monica, California.

Selected filmography

Television

• Mike Hammeras Diane Baxter / (2 episodes, 1958)
• Zane Grey Theateras Rose Bailey (1 episode, 1958)
• Yancy Derringeras Lavinia Lake (1 episode, 1958)
• Peter Gunnas Liz Hatton (1 episode, 1958)
• Wagon Trainas Bright Star (1 episode "A Man Called Horse", 1958)
• Gunsmokeas Anna Wheat (1 episode, 1959)
• 21 Beacon Streetas Ruth (2 episodes, 1959)
• Men into Spaceas Carol Gordon (1 episode, 1959)
• The Texanas Rita Maynor (1 episode, 1959)
• The Millionaireas Mary Ann Wilson (1 episode, 1959)
• Colt.45as Dr. Ellen McGraw (1 episode, 1959)
• Lock Upas Lauren Bodret (1 episode, 1960)
• The Detectives Starring Robert Tayloras Myrna Fontaine (1 episode, 1961)
• Rawhide(1961) – Paibada in S3:E27, "Incident Before Black Pass"
• My Three Sonsas Muriel Stewart (1 episode, 1961)
• Broncoas Lorain (1 episode, 1962)
• The Dick Powell Show(1 episode, 1962)
• The Riflemanas Milly Scott (18 episodes, 1960–1962)
• 77 Sunset Stripas Beth Collins (1 episode, 1963)

Feature films

• Fighting Man of the Plains(1949) as Evelyn Slocum
• On Dangerous Ground(1952) as Hazel (uncredited)
• The Savage(1952) as Luta
• Off Limits(1953) as Helen
• War Paint(1953) as Wanima
• Rose Marie(1954) as Wanda
• Apache Woman(1955) as Anne LeBeau
• Fort Yuma(1955) as Francesca
• Earth vs. the Flying Saucers(1956) as Carol Marvin
• Girls in Prison(1956) as Anne Carson
• War Drums(1957) as Riva
• 20 Million Miles to Earth(1957) as Marisa Leonardo
• Omar Khayyam(1957) as Yaffa

External links

• Joan TayloratIMDb
• Joan TayloratAllMovie
• Joan Taylorat theTCM Movie Database