Joan Weldon

Joan Weldon (born Joan Louise Welton; August 5, 1930 – February 11, 2021) was an American actress and singer in film, television, and theatre.

Early years

Weldon was born in San Francisco, California in 1930. Her grandmother, Olio Cornell, raised her there after she "was left motherless at five." Weldon's great-grandfather was an actor on stage and in vaudeville. She attended Galileo High School, and was inducted into their Hall of Merit in 2019.

Stage

Weldon began her career singing in the San Francisco Grand Opera Company chorus. She also sang with the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera. On Broadway, she appeared in '' Kean''. She sang at the opening of the New York State Theater at Lincoln Center in 1964.

After working in film and television, she resumed her career as a singer in road company productions including ''The Music Man'' and ''Oklahoma!'' Weldon retired in 1980.

Radio

In 1953, Weldon appeared as the soprano soloist on a broadcast of '' The Standard Hour'' on NBC radio.

Film

Weldon's film debut came in the 1953 film '' The System''. Although her background was singing in operas, ''The System'' and her next two films, '' So This Is Love'' and ''Rear Guard'', all had her in non-singing roles.

She became a contract actress with Warner Bros. where she remained until her contract ended in 1954. Her most prominent film was the cult thriller '' Them!''

Television

Weldon had a brief television career in the 1950s. Her first appearance in 1955 was in an episode of '' The Millionaire'', starring Marvin Miller. She made three appearances on ''Lux Video Theater'' in various roles. She also played Marian Keats in the title role of the ''Perry Mason'' episode, "The Case of the Angry Mourner" in 1957 (Season 1, episode 7). In 1958, she portrayed Grace Wheeler in an episode of ''Maverick'' titled " Plunder of Paradise" starring Jack Kelly, Leo Gordon and Ruta Lee. She appeared in the '' Have Gun-Will Travel'' episode “The Singer”. Her final television appearance was in 1958 on '' Shirley Temple Theater''.

In 1955, Weldon was one of the regular singers on the syndicated program ''This Is Your Music''.Terrace, Vincent (2011). ''Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010''. McFarland & Company, Inc. . P. 1074.

Filmography

*'' The System'' (1953) as Felice Stuart
*'' So This Is Love'' (1953) as Ruth Obre
*''The Stranger Wore a Gun'' (1953) as Shelby Conroy
*'' The Command'' (1954) as Martha Cutting
*'' The Boy from Oklahoma'' (1954) as Maybelle - Saloon Girl on Porch (uncredited)
*'' Riding Shotgun'' (1954) as Orissa Flynn
*'' Them!'' (1954) as Dr. Patricia Medford
*'' Deep in My Heart'' (1954) as Performer in 'New Moon'
*''Lux Video Theatre'' (1954–1956, TV Series) as Anne / Patricia Dean
*'' The Millionaire'' (1955, TV Series) as Star Conway
*'' Gunsight Ridge'' (1957) as Molly Jones
*''Cheyenne'' (1957, TV Series) as Nellie Merritt
*''Perry Mason'' (1957, TV Series) as Marion Keats
*''Day of the Badman'' (1958) as Myra Owens
*'' Have Gun - Will Travel'' (1958, TV Series) as Faye Hollister
*'' Colt .45'' (1958, TV Series) as Edith Murrow
*''Maverick'' (1958, TV Series) as Grace Wheeler
*''Shirley Temple's Storybook'' (1958, TV Series) as Amelia
*''Home Before Dark'' (1958) as Frances Barrett (final film role)

References

External links

*

Joan Weldon
at Yahoo Movies
*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Weldon, Joan
1930 births
2021 deaths
20th-century American actresses
Actresses from California
Actresses from San Francisco
American film actresses
American musical theatre actresses
American radio actresses
American stage actresses
American television actresses
Warner Bros. contract players
21st-century American women