Advanced search

Born Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland on October 22, 1917, in Tokyo, Japan, in what was known as the International Settlement, to British parents, Lilian Augusta (Ruse), a former actress, and Walter Augustus de Havilland, an English professor and patent attorney. Her paternal grandfather's family was from Guernsey in the Channel Islands. Her father had a lucrative practice in Japan, but due to Joan and older sister Olivia de Havilland's recurring ailments the family moved to California in the hopes of improving their health. Mrs. de Havilland and the two girls settled in Saratoga while their father went back to his practice in Japan. Joan's parents did not get along well and divorced soon afterward. Mrs. de Havilland had a desire to be an actress but her dreams were curtailed when she married, but now she hoped to pass on her dream to Olivia and Joan. While Olivia pursued a stage career, Joan went back to Tokyo, where she attended the American School. In 1934 she came back to California, where her sister was already making a name for herself on the stage. Joan likewise joined a theater group in San Jose and then Los Angeles to try her luck there. After moving to L.A., Joan adopted the name of Joan Burfield because she didn't want to infringe upon Olivia, who was using the family surname.

She tested at MGM and gained a small role in No More Ladies (1935), but she was scarcely noticed and Joan was idle for a year and a half. During this time she roomed with Olivia, who was having much more success in films. In 1937, this time calling herself Joan Fontaine, she landed a better role as Trudy Olson in You Can't Beat Love (1937) and then an uncredited part in Quality Street (1937). Although the next two years saw her in better roles, she still yearned for something better. In 1940 she garnered her first Academy Award nomination for Rebecca (1940). Although she thought she should have won, (she lost out to Ginger Rogers in Kitty Foyle (1940)), she was now an established member of the Hollywood set. She would again be Oscar-nominated for her role as Lina McLaidlaw Aysgarth in Suspicion (1941), and this time she won. Joan was making one film a year but choosing her roles well. In 1942 she starred in the well-received This Above All (1942).

The following year she appeared in The Constant Nymph (1943). Once again she was nominated for the Oscar, she lost out to Jennifer Jones in The Song of Bernadette (1943). By now it was safe to say she was more famous than her older sister and more fine films followed. In 1948, she accepted second billing to Bing Crosby in The Emperor Waltz (1948). Joan took the year of 1949 off before coming back in 1950 with September Affair (1950) and Born to Be Bad (1950). In 1951 she starred in Paramount's Darling, How Could You! (1951), which turned out badly for both her and the studio and more weak productions followed.

Absent from the big screen for a while, she took parts in television and dinner theaters. She also starred in many well-produced Broadway plays such as Forty Carats and The Lion in Winter. Her last appearance on the big screen was The Witches (1966) and her final appearance before the cameras was Good King Wenceslas (1994). She is, without a doubt, a lasting movie icon.

Faith Geer was born on 13 January 1919 in Holland, New York, USA. She was an actress, known for Blue Steel (1990), Wall Street (1987) and Fatal Attraction (1987). She died on 15 December 2013 in Oakland, California, USA.

Denis Gravereaux was born on 21 January 1961 in Argenton-sur-Creuse, Indre, France. He was an actor, known for Les rescapés (2010), Games of the Heart (2001) and The Woman Who Drinks (2001). He died on 15 December 2013 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Jon Abel was born on 6 June 1932 in New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007), The F.B.I. Files (1998) and The Prosecutors: In Pursuit of Justice (2000). He died on 15 December 2013 in Alexandria, Virginia, USA.

Sandeep Acharya was born on 8 February 1984 in Bikaner, India. He is known for Do Dilon Ke Khel Mein (2010) and Indian Idol (2004). He was married to ???. He died on 15 December 2013 in Gurgaon, Harayan, India.

Hubert Trimmel was born on 12 October 1924 in Vienna, Austria. He was married to Erika. He died on 15 December 2013 in Vienna, Austria.

Gennaro Langella was born on 30 December 1938 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. He died on 15 December 2013 in Springfield, Missouri, USA.

Charles Schoenlein was born on 19 March 1929 in New York, New York, USA. He is known for Crescendo! (2003). He died on 15 December 2013 in Richfield Springs, New York, USA.

Marta Russell is known for Tron (1982). She died on 15 December 2013.

Doug Carlile died on 15 December 2013 in Spokane, Washington, USA.

Atilla Ertüz was an actor, known for Sah Mat (1990), Deniz Yildizi (1988) and The Junkman and His Sons (1991). He died on 15 December 2013 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Harold Camping was born on 19 July 1921 in Boulder, Colorado, USA. He was married to Shirley Vander Schuur. He died on 15 December 2013 in Alameda, California, USA.