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Biography
Joi Lansing was born Joyce Wassmansdoff in Salt Lake City, Utah on
April 6, 1928. Joi was a young lady who developed, physically,
early as a teen. Because of her striking good looks, she began to
model and was extremely successful throughout the forties. It was
only natural that her physical assets, eventually, landed her on
the silver screen. Joi's first go at films occurred in 1948 with
roles as, what else, a model, in THE COUNTERFEITERS, JULIA
MISBEHAVES, and EASTER PARADE. She was 20 years old. Her acting
wasn't exactly polished in the beginning, but the producers didn't
care. Joi was hired because of her beauty. The following year
brought more of the same with uncredited parts in films as nothing
more than a show piece. Joi took a hiatus from films in 1950 while
she concentrated on her modeling career. She returned to the big
screen, in 1951, to play minor roles, but this time it was a little
better. She played Susan Matthews and Marilyn Turner in FBI GIRL
and ON THE RIVIERA, respectively. At least she had names to go
along with her characters. Then it was back to being a showpiece.
In 1952, she played a uncredited role in one of the most popular
movies of all time, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN. Another minor role as the
Maxim Girl in THE MERRY WIDOW followed. Joi began to take on roles
in television in 1955 when she appeared in one episode of "The
Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok" and one of "I Love Lucy" the
following year. In 1955, Joi landed a recurring role as Shirley
Swanson in the TV series, "Love That Bob". It was this show that
proved to all that Joi could, indeed, act and act well. Because of
this series, Joi began to get a few more substantial parts in films
such as THE BRAVE ONE, HOT CARS, and SO YOU THINK THE GRASS IS
GREENER, all in 1956. Then, it was back to bit roles. For the
balance of the fifties she continued to appear in B movies with
less than quality roles. After appearing in WHO WAS THAT LADY? in
1960, Joi landed the part of Goldie in the "Klondike" TV series.
However, most viewers remember her as the wife of Lester Flatt in
"The Beverly Hillbillies", which she appeared on and off from
1965-1968. As Gladys Flatt, her beauty even surpassed that of Ellie
May played by Donna Douglas. Her film career was winding down. In
1967, Joi appeared as Boots Malone in HILLBILLIES IN A HAUNTED
HOUSE. This B movie went nowhere. In 1972, Joi filmed in two final
films, BIGFOOT and SUPERMAN. Sadly, she never saw them make the big
screen. Joi had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She died at the
age of 44 on August 7, 1972 in Santa Monica, California. Her last
two films were, ultimately, released the following year. As for her
film career, she deserved better.
Biography courtesy of the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com).
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Joi Lansing
