Beatrice Joan Caulfield (June 1, 1922 – June 18, 1991) was an American actress and model. After being discovered by Broadway producers, she began a stage career in 1943 that eventually led to signing as an actress with Paramount Pictures.
Beatrice Joan Caulfield was born on June 1, 1922, in West Orange, New Jersey.[1][2] She attended Miss Beard's SchoolinOrange, New Jersey.[3] Caulfield was the niece of Genevieve Caulfield, who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1963 for her work with blind children.[4] During her teenage years, the family moved to New York City, where she attended Columbia University. While at Columbia, Caulfield acted in many plays presented by the university's drama group. She also was a model with the Harry Conover Agency and "became a favorite with top-drawer fashion magazines", with her pictures appearing in many national magazines,[5] including being on the cover of Life magazine's May 11, 1942, issue.[6]
Caulfield appeared on Broadway in Beat the Band in 1942. It ran for 67 performances.[7]
She acted as Corliss Archer in the 1943 comedy Kiss and Tell. It was a huge success, running for 956 performances until 1945. After a year in the role, Caulfield left to pursue offers from Hollywood and she was replaced by her sister Betty Caulfield.[citation needed]
In July 1944, Paramount put Caulfield in a lead role in her first film: Miss Susie Slagle's (1946).[8] Made after but released earlier was Duffy's Tavern (1945), in which Caulfield had a cameo along with most of Paramount's talent roster.[citation needed]
In 1950, Caulfield married film producer Frank Ross, with whom she had a son, Caulfield Kevin Ross (born 1959). Ross produced and directed her 1951 film The Lady Says No, with David Niven taking second billing as her romantic interest.[21] She separated from Ross, blaming the stress of working on Sally, then found out she was pregnant. Ross and Caulfield divorced in 1960.[22][23][24][25]
In 1960, Caulfield married dentist Robert Peterson, with whom she had her second son, John Caulfield Peterson (born 1962). In 1966, they divorced.[26][27]
^"Joan Caulfield, Actress". Obituaries Today. Retrieved October 23, 2007. At Miss Beard's, a local private school, Joan made her stage debut in A Kiss for Cinderella
^ abHedda Hopper (20 October 1946). "Joan Caulfield Keeps Cool: Neither Failure Nor Success Fazes Her". Los Angeles Times. p. B1.
^"Joan Caulfield". Chicago Daily Tribune. May 2, 1948. p. f2.
^Thomas F. Brady (Jan 4, 1947). "Kanin to Produce 'Art of Murder': First Independent Films Will Be Released by U-l -- Curtiz Borrows Joan Caulfield". New York Times. p. 11.
^John L Scott (18 Sep 1949). "Sweet Little Joan Caulfield Now Playing Sophisticated 'Petty Girl'". Los Angeles Times. p. D1.
^E J Strong (24 September 1950). "Sweet Joan Caulfield Heeds Call to Try Talent as Comedienne: Joan Caulfield Trading Sweet Roles for Comedy". Los Angeles Times. p. D1.
^Walter Ames (26 December 1952). "Joan Caulfield Is Real TV Convert; Benny Opposes Any Format for Air Show". Los Angeles Times. p. 18.
^"Joan Caulfield Gets Wish". The Washington Post. 8 Nov 1953. p. L4.
^"Joan Caulfield Quits TV for Theater Films". Los Angeles Times. 12 August 1955. p. B5.
^Oscar Godbout (25 August 1957). "Frank – A Family Affair: Movie Man and Wife Joan Caulfield, Turn To TV With 'Sally' Separate Drawbacks". New York Times. p. 123.
^Folkart, Burt A. (19 June 1991). "Joan Caulfield; Actress in TV and Movies". Los Angeles Times (Home ed.). p. 20.
^"Joan Caulfield to Wed". The Washington Post. Feb 28, 1950. p. 6.