Joan Leslie
Biography
Joan Leslie was an American actress and vaudeville performer who became a star at Warner Bros. during the Hollywood Golden Age. Born in Detroit, she began performing as a child with her sisters' vaudeville act and was signed by MGM in 1936, making an uncredited screen debut in Camille (1936). Her big break came with High Sierra (1941) and Sergeant York (1941), followed by Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942), in which she played opposite James Cagney. She appeared in The Hard Way (1943), The Sky's the Limit (1943), This Is the Army (1943) and Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943). After leaving Warner Bros. she signed with Eagle-Lion Films, where she made Repeat Performance (1947), and her last film was The Revolt of Mamie Stover (1956). She received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 1960 and retired from acting in 1991.
90years old at death
- Born Detroit
- Died Los Angeles
- Star sign: AquariusThe sign runs January 20 to February 18
- Joan Agnes Theresa Sadie Brodel (birth name)Also credited as Joan Leslie Caldwell and Joan Brodel
Movie Career
- Films
- 13
- Career span
- 20 years1936 to 1956
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First role
Joan Leslie was chosen for her first credited film role in Winter Carnival (1939) because the director wanted an actress with a southern accent, and she was billed as Joan Brodel.
Big break
Leslie landed her breakthrough part in High Sierra (1941) after a screen test for a movie she did not know, winning the role because she could cry on cue.
A role that slipped away
Leslie was considered for Tessa in The Constant Nymph, a 1943 film that would have paired her with Errol Flynn. Executive Jack L. Warner thought she was unsuitable, so Joan Fontaine got the part.
Early training
While under contract at MGM, the young Leslie attended the studio's Little Red Schoolhouse alongside child actors Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney and Freddie Bartholomew.
Joan Leslie movies on Netflix
The Revolt of Mamie Stoveras Annalee Johnson
Woman They Almost Lynchedas Sally Maris
Man in the Saddleas Laurie Bidwell
Born to Be Badas Donna
Repeat Performanceas Sheila Page
Thank Your Lucky Starsas Pat Dixon
The Hard Wayas Katherine 'Katie' Blaine
The Sky's the Limitas Joan Manion
This Is the Armyas Eileen Dibble
Yankee Doodle Dandyas Mary
High Sierraas Velma
Sergeant Yorkas Gracie Williams
Camilleas Marie Jeanette
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Raoul Walsh directed two of these films, Michael Curtiz two. George Tobias appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.








Films together
George Tobias4 films together, 1941 to 1943
George Tobias's page Thank Your Lucky Stars1943IMDb rating 6.7Leslie as Pat DixonTobias as George Tobias
This Is the Army1943IMDb rating 5.8Leslie as Eileen DibbleTobias as Maxie Twardofsky
Yankee Doodle Dandy1942IMDb rating 7.6Leslie as MaryTobias as Dietz
Sergeant York1941IMDb rating 7.7Leslie as Gracie WilliamsTobias as 'Pusher' Ross
Ida Lupino3 films together, 1941 to 1943
Ida Lupino's page Thank Your Lucky Stars1943IMDb rating 6.7Leslie as Pat DixonLupino as Ida Lupino
The Hard Way1943IMDb rating 7.1Leslie as Katherine 'Katie' BlaineLupino as Helen Chernen
High Sierra1941IMDb rating 7.5Leslie as VelmaLupino as Marie
Humphrey Bogart2 films together, 1941 to 1943
Humphrey Bogart's page Thank Your Lucky Stars1943IMDb rating 6.7Leslie as Pat DixonBogart as Humphrey Bogart
High Sierra1941IMDb rating 7.5Leslie as VelmaBogart as Roy Earle
Robert Ryan2 films together, 1943 to 1950
Robert Ryan's page Born to Be Bad1950IMDb rating 6.6Leslie as DonnaRyan as Nick
The Sky's the Limit1943IMDb rating 6.3Leslie as Joan ManionRyan as Reginald Fenton
Alan Hale2 films together, 1943
Alan Hale's page Thank Your Lucky Stars1943IMDb rating 6.7Leslie as Pat DixonHale as Alan Hale
This Is the Army1943IMDb rating 5.8Leslie as Eileen DibbleHale as Sergeant McGee
Jack Carson2 films together, 1943
Jack Carson's page Thank Your Lucky Stars1943IMDb rating 6.7Leslie as Pat DixonCarson as Jack Carson
The Hard Way1943IMDb rating 7.1Leslie as Katherine 'Katie' BlaineCarson as Albert Runkel
Raoul WalshDirector, 2 films, 1941 to 1956
All films by Raoul Walsh The Revolt of Mamie Stover1956IMDb rating 6.4Leslie as Annalee Johnson
High Sierra1941IMDb rating 7.5Leslie as Velma
Michael CurtizDirector, 2 films, 1942 to 1943
All films by Michael Curtiz This Is the Army1943IMDb rating 5.8Leslie as Eileen Dibble
Yankee Doodle Dandy1942IMDb rating 7.6Leslie as Mary
Also two films together6 more actors
- Clem BevansMan in the Saddle (1951) and Sergeant York (1941)
- Stanley RidgesThis Is the Army (1943) and Sergeant York (1941)
- Ruth DonnellyThank Your Lucky Stars (1943) and This Is the Army (1943)
- Rosemary DeCampThis Is the Army (1943) and Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
- Dennis MorganThank Your Lucky Stars (1943) and The Hard Way (1943)
- Frances LangfordThis Is the Army (1943) and Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Awards
One award and honor.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.


