biography

Joi Lansing Born Joyce Brown (later, Loveland) in Salt Lake City, Utah, on April 6, 1928 (some sources cite 1929 and 1935 as her year of birth). Lansing's Mormon parents divorced in the depths of the Great Depression. When her mother remarried in the late 1930s, the family moved to Los Angeles. In 1942, MGM chose to sign Lansing for its talent school, and she began a successful modeling career as a teenager. In 1947, Lansing began her acting career with an uncredited bit part in the Columbia film When a Girl's Beautiful (1947; with Adele Jergens). Her first credited film role, as Joyce Lansing, came in the 20th Century Fox crime drama The Counterfeiters (1948; with Hugh Beaumont and Lon Chaney Jr.). Following a short marriage in 1950 that was annulled, in 1951 Lansing married fellow actor Lance Fuller, soon after both had made brief appearances in the big-budget 1952 musical Singin' in the Rain. Fuller also acted in a number of B films throughout the 1950s, including This Island Earth (1955; with Rex Reason, Faith Domergue, and Jeff Morrow) and the Ed Wood-penned The Bride and the Beast (1958). However, Lansing's marriage to Fuller was short-lived and ended in 1953. With her acting career still relegated to bit parts and a few television appearances, Lansing kept her modeling career going while attending UCLA.

Joi LansingJoi LansingJoi LansingJoi Lansing

Various shots of Joi Lansing


Joi Lansing Lansing's acting career finally took off in 1955; she landed a recurring role on the NBC/CBS TV series The Bob Cummings Show (1955-1959; with Robert Cummings and Ann B. Davis). She also was cast in the films The Brave One (1956) and Hot Cars (1956; with John Bromfield). When her role on Love that Bob ended, Lansing was soon offered another recurring character on the NBC TV series Klondike (1960-1961; with Ralph Taeger and Mari Blanchard). While appearing on TV programs, Lansing also had occasion to appear in a few films, such as Queen of Outer Space (1958; with Eric Fleming and Zsa Zsa Gabor). She was cast in the Orson Welles classic Touch of Evil (1958; with Charlton Heston and Janet Leigh), the comedy A Hole in the Head (1959; with Frank Sinatra and Carolyn Jones), the thriller The Atomic Submarine (1959; with Arthur Franz and Brett Halsey), and the comedy Who Was That Lady? (1960; with Tony Curtis, Dean Martin, Janet Leigh, and Barbara Nichols). Following her 1960 marriage to producer Stan Todd, Lansing took some time off from acting, resuming her career in 1963 with a series of guest spots on the CBS TV series The Beverly Hillbillies (1962-1971), on which she appeared as Gladys Flatt.

the films of joi lansing

The Brave One (1956)

Joi Lansing

From the touching RKO family drama The Brave One, shot in Mexico City

Hot Shots (1956)

Joi Lansing

Lansing in a promotional photo from Hot Shots

The Bob Cummings Show (1955-1959 CBS and NBC TV Series)

Joi Lansing and Bob CummingsJoi Lansing

LEFT: With Robert Cummings on an episode of The Bob Cummings Show. Lansing portrayed Shirley Swanson for three seasons. In reruns, the series was retitled Love that Bob. RIGHT: CBS file photo of Lansing holding kewpie dolls

Hot Cars (1956)

Joi Lansing and John BromfieldJoi Lansing

LEFT: With John Bromfield in the low-budget crime drama Hot Cars. RIGHT: As Karen Winter

Climax! (1954-1958 CBS TV Series)

Joi Lansing and Jack Lord

Lansing with Jack Lord in a June 6, 1957, episode of Climax! titled Mr. Runyon of Broadway

The Jack Benny Program (1950-1964 CBS TV Series)

Joi Lansing,  Jack Benny, and Danny ThomasJoi Lansing and Jack Benny

Lansing with Jack Benny and Danny Thomas on the February 8, 1959 episode of The Jack Benny Program entitled Jack Goes to a Nightclub

Who Was That Lady? (1960)

Joi Lansing and Barbara Nichols

Joi Lansing and Barbara Nichols portray sisters in the Columbia comedy Who Was That Lady?

Klondike (1960-1961 CBS TV Series)

Ralph Taeger and Joi Lansing

With Ralph Taeger on the short-lived series Klondike

The Beverly Hillbillies (1962-1971 CBS TV Series)

Joi Lansing and Irene Ryan

Lansing as Gladys Flatt with Irene Ryan as Granny Clampett in a 1964 CBS promotional photo. Lansing made sporadic appearances on the series for five seasons

Marriage on the Rocks (1965)

Joi Lansing and Dean Martin

Lansing with Dean Martin in a scene from Marriage on the Rocks

Bigfoot (1970)

Joi Lansing and John Carradine

Lansing starred alongside John Carradine in her last film, Bigfoot

later years

Dabbling in singing in nightclubs and making recordings here and there in the late 1950s and early 1960s, in 1965 Joi Lansing embarked in earnest on a singing career, which showcased her deep, pleasant voice. She appeared in several Scopitones, which were the 1960s equivalent of music videos. She also made guest appearances on such popular 1960s programs as The Mothers in Law, which starred Deborah Walley and Eve Arden and acted in films such as Hillbillys in a Haunted House (1967; with Ferlin Husky and Lon Chaney Jr.), a sequel to Las Vegas Hillbillys (1966; with Jayne Mansfield and Mamie Van Doren). She lensed her final film Bigfoot (1970; with John Carradine and James Craig) in late 1969. Lansing was diagnosed with breast and ovarian cancer in 1970 and had surgery and chemotherapy. Although her long-term prognosis was grim, she seemingly beat cancer after treatment. However, in February 1972 she learned that her cancer had returned and, sadly, Joi Lansing passed away on August 7, 1972 of breast cancer at age 44. She was survived by her estranged husband, Stan Todd, her companion Alexis (Nancy) Hunter, her mother, stepfather, stepbrother, and stepdaughter.

filmography

FILM
Bigfoot (1970) with John Carradine, Chris Mitchum, and James Craig
Hillbillys in a Haunted House (1967) with Lon Chaney Jr., John Carradine, Basil Rathbone, Ferlin Husky, and Merle Haggard
Marriage on the Rocks (1965) with Frank Sinatra, Deborah Kerr, Dean Martin, Cesar Romero, and Nancy Sinatra
Who Was That Lady? (1960) with Barbara Nichols, Tony Curtis, Dean Martin, and Janet Leigh
A Hole in the Head (1959) with Frank Sinatra, Edward G. Robinson, Carolyn Jones, Thelma Ritter, and Keenan Wynn
The Atomic Submarine (1959) with Brett Halsey, Jean Moorhead, and Arthur Franz
Touch of Evil (1958) with Charlton Heston Orson Welles, Janet Leigh, Joanna Moore, Ray Collins, and Dennis Weaver
Queen of Outer Space (1958) with Zsa Zsa Gabor and Eric Fleming
The Brave One (1956) with Carlos Navarro
Hot Cars (1956) with John Bromfield, Mark Dana, and Dabbs Greer
Hot Shots (1956) with Huntz Hall, Robert Shayne, and Mark Dana
So You Think the Grass Is Greener (1956) with George O'Hanlon, Jane Frazee, and Del Moore
So You Want to Be a Policeman (1955) with George O'Hanlon
So You Want to Be a V.P. (1955) with George O'Hanlon, Del Moore, and Minerva Urecal
So You Want to Be On a Jury (1955) with George O'Hanlon
So You're Taking in a Roomer (1954) with George O'Hanlon, Jane Frazee, and Herb Vigran
So You Want to Go to a Nightclub (1954) with George O'Hanlon, Jane Frazee, and Del Moore
The French Line (1954) with Jane Russell, Gilbert Roland, and Craig Stevens
FBI Girl (1951) with Cesar Romero, George Brent, Audrey Totter, Tom Drake, and Raymond Burr
On the Riviera (1951) with Danny Kaye, Gene Tierney, Corinne Calvet, and Mari Blanchard
Pier 23 (1951) with Hugh Beaumont, Edward Brophy, Mike Mazurki, Peter Mamakos, and Ann Savage
The Counterfeiters (1948) with Hugh Beaumont and Lon Chaney Jr.

TELEVISION SERIES
The Beverly Hillbillies, 1962-1971 CBS TV Series. Lansing had a recurring role as Gladys Flatt from 1963-1968.
Klondike, 1960-1961 NBC TV Series. Also in the regular cast were Ralph Taeger, James Coburn, and Mari Blanchard
Love That Bob, 1955-1959 CBS and NBC TV Series. Lansing had a recurring role as Shirley Swanson from 1956-1959

TELEVISION GUEST APPEARANCES
The Governor & J.J., episode P.S. I Don't Love You, originally aired December 16, 1970
The Mothers-In-Law, episode Take Her, He's Mine, originally aired March 23, 1969
Petticoat Junction, episode Steve, the Apple Polisher, originally aired January 13, 1968
Rawhide, episode Incident at El Crucero, originally aired October 10, 1963
The Joey Bishop Show, episode Joey Leaves Ellie, originally aired January 26, 1963
Mr. Lucky, episode Election Bet, originally aired June 18, 1960
The Dennis O'Keefe Show, episode Follow That Mink, originally aired February 9, 1960
The Untouchables, episode The Noise of Death, originally aired January 14, 1960
This Man Dawson, episode Accessory to Murder, originally aired 1960
Bat Masterson, episode No Funeral for Thorn, originally aired October 22, 1959
G.E. True Theater, episode Night Club, originally aired October 11, 1959
Markham, episode Forty-Two on a Rope, originally aired July 11, 1959
Richard Diamond, Private Detective, episode Jukebox, originally aired May 10, 1959
The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, episode Lucy Wants a Career, originally aired April 13, 1959
The Jack Benny Program, episode Jack Goes to Nightclub, originally aired February 8, 1959
Sea Hunt, episode Monte Cristo, originally aired February 1, 1959
Maverick, episode Seed of Deception, originally aired April 13, 1958
Adventures of Superman, episode Superman's Wife, originally aired March 31, 1958
Mike Hammer, episode Lead Ache, originally aired March 14, 1958
Studio 57, episode The Starmaker, originally aired March 11, 1958
State Trooper, episode The Case of the Happy Dragon, originally aired March 1, 1958
Sugarfoot, episode Bullet Proof, originally aired January 21, 1958
Perry Mason, episode The Case of the Crimson Kiss, originally aired November 9, 1957
Climax!, episode Mr. Runyon of Broadway, originally aired June 6, 1957
The People's Choice, episode The Sophisticates, originally aired May 30, 1957
Playhouse 90, episode If You Knew Elizabeth, originally aired April 11, 1957
December Bride, episode Study Group, originally aired February 4, 1957
The Gale Storm Show (TV series), episode Girls! Girls! Girls!, originally aired January 5, 1957
Noah's Ark, episode A Girl's Best Friend, originally aired December 11, 1956
Conflict, episode The Magic Brew, originally aired October 16, 1956
Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre, episode Shoot the Moon, originally aired March 20, 1956
Celebrity Playhouse, episode Bachelor Husband, originally aired January 31, 1956
Cavalcade of America, episode Star and Shield, originally aired January 24, 1956
The Star and the Story , episode The Difficult Age, originally aired January 21, 1956
Cavalcade of America, episode The Prison Within, originally aired January 17, 1956
It's a Great Life, episode Beauty Contest, originally aired January 8, 1956
The People's Choice, episode Sock Hires Mandy, originally aired November 24, 1955
Four Star Playhouse, episode Here Comes the Suit, originally aired November 17, 1955
The Ford Television Theatre, episode A Smattering of Bliss, originally aired November 17, 1955
Four Star Playhouse, episode The Devil to Pay, originally aired November 10, 1955
December Bride, episode Ruth Neglects Matt, originally aired October 24, 1955
It's a Great Life, episode The Hospital, originally aired April 5, 1955
December Bride, episode Jealousy, originally aired February 21, 1955
So This Is Hollywood, episode He Done Her Wrong, originally aired February 5, 1955
Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok, episode To the Highest Bidder, originally aired January 30, 1955
G.E. True Theater, episode The Face Is Familiar, originally aired November 21, 1954
The Lone Wolf, episode The Mexico Story, originally aired 1954
I Led 3 Lives, episode Deportation, originally aired 1954
Meet Corliss Archer, episode Harry and the Soap Opera Queen, originally aired 1954
Gang Busters, episode The Suma Case, originally aired 1952
Racket Squad, episode The Home Wreckers, originally aired March 13, 1952

joi lansing links

Glamour Girls of the Silver Screen: Joi Lansing
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joi lansing scopitone

Watch Joi Lansing's 1966 Scopitone Web of Love

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joi lansing television appearances

Watch Joi Lansing in a 1958 episode of The Bob Cummings Show titled Bob Goes Bird Watching

joi lansing film now showing

Watch Joi Lansing's 1970 horror film Bigfoot
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