Elaine Joyce

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Elaine Joyce
Born
Elaine Joyce Pinchot

(1945-12-19) December 19, 1945 (age 75)
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1961–present
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1968; died 1980)​

John Levoff
​
​
(m. 1985; div. 1992)​

​
​
(m. 1999; died 2018)​
Children2

Elaine Joyce (born Elaine Joyce Pinchot; born December 19, 1945) is an American actress.

Early life and education[]

Elaine Joyce Pinchot was born December 19, 1945 in Cleveland, Ohio,[1] of Hungarian ancestry, the daughter of Iliclina (Nagy) and Frank Pinchot.[2][3][4]

Career[]

She made her film debut in 1961 as an extra in West Side Story and made uncredited appearances in several musical films, including The Music Man, Bye Bye Birdie, and Funny Girl before being cast in Such Good Friends and How to Frame a Figg in 1971.

She made her television debut in an episode of Route 66 in 1962. She was one of the dancers on The Danny Kaye Show. She also had recurring roles in The Young and the Restless and Days of Our Lives; made guest appearances in such series as The Andy Griffith Show; The Red Skelton Show; Love, American Style; The Carol Burnett Show; Kojak; Charlie's Angels; Green Acres; Hawaii Five-O; Quincy, M.E.; and The Feather and Father Gang. In 1971, Joyce starred in the final episode of Green Acres as Oliver's former secretary, Carol Rush. The episode was a backdoor pilot titled "The Blonde" or "Carol" which featured Joyce as a young, dizzy blonde who lives with her sister and brother-in-law in Los Angeles, and manages to save her no-nonsense boss, played by Richard Deacon, from a real estate scam. The pilot was not picked up.

She was also a regular panelist on several game shows, including Match Game, Tattletales, Super Password, Password Plus, What's My Line?, and I've Got a Secret.[5]

In the 1976 television series City of Angels, she played Marsha Finch, the ditzy secretary to Los Angeles private eye Jake Axminster (Wayne Rogers), who ran a call girl service on the side. Joyce also hosted the first season (1986–87) of The All New Dating Game. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, she was featured in many series, including Mr. Merlin (in which she portrayed the character Alexandra, a sorceress); Beverly Hills, 90210; Melrose Place; Magnum, P.I.; Simon & Simon; Too Close For Comfort; and Murder, She Wrote.

In 1972, she made her Broadway debut in the title role in Sugar, the musical adaptation of the film Some Like It Hot, in which she portrayed band singer Sugar Kane, the role originated by Marilyn Monroe in the movie. Joyce won the 1972 Theatre World Award for her performance.[6]

Joyce also starred in the 1980 film Motel Hell as Edith Olsen and the 1986 film Trick or Treat as Angie Weinbauer, the mother of Eddie Weinbauer (Marc Price).

Personal life[]

Joyce was married to Bobby Van from 1968 until Van's death from brain cancer in 1980.[7] In May 1982, Joyce performed at the Alhambra Dinner Theatre in Jacksonville, Florida. Reclusive author J. D. Salinger attended the opening night of the production to see Joyce and accompany her after the show.[8] She told a reporter that it was the first time the two had met, but they had a romantic relationship for several years.[8][9]

Joyce was married to television producer John Levoff from 1985 until their divorce in 1992. From September 1999 until his death in August 2018, she was married to playwright Neil Simon, who died on August 26, 2018, from complications of pneumonia after being on life-support while hospitalized for kidney failure.[10]

She has two children: a daughter, Taylor (born June 22, 1976), with Bobby Van, and a son, Michael (born 1986), with John Levoff.[11]

References[]

  1. ^ Wolf, william (June 4, 1972). "'Sugar' not at all like late Marilyn; that's what she says". The Post-Crescent. Wisconsin, Appleton. p. Showtime 8. Retrieved April 25, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Spontaniety spells Elaine". Boston Globe. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  3. ^ "Elaine Joyce profile". The Boston Globe.
  4. ^ Who Was Who in America - Entertainment, Volume 1. Marquis Whos Who (MacMillan Inc.). 1989. p. 326. ISBN 0837902207. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  5. ^ "Elaine Joyce List of Movies and TV Shows". TVGuide.com. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  6. ^ "Theatre World Award Recipients". TheatreWorldAwards.org. Theatre World Awards. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  7. ^ "Actor-singer Bobby Van Dies of Cancer at 47". Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. August 1, 1980. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b Patton, Charlie (January 28, 2010). "J.D. Salinger quietly visited Jacksonville in 1982". Florida Times-Union. Jacksonville, Florida: GateHouse Media. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
  9. ^ Alexander, Paul (February 9, 1998). "J. D. Salinger's Women". New York. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  10. ^ Isherwood, Charles (August 26, 2018). "Neil Simon, a Master of Comedy on Broadway and Beyond, Is Dead at 91". The New York Times. New York City. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  11. ^ Anderson, James (November 16, 2014). "Raine Katz and Michael Levoff". The New York Times. New York City. Retrieved October 21, 2016.

External links[]

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