Jo Ann Marlowe was an American actress who is best known for her roles in Mildred Pierce, Yankee Doodle Dandy, and A Scandal in Paris.
Personal and Family Life
Jo Ann Marlowe was born Jo Ann Mares in Schuyler, Nebraska, on December 15, 1935. She was discovered by a Warner Brothers director at the age of four while on vacation in Hollywood. This led her family to move to California, where she adopted the stage name Jo Ann Marlowe. She later got married to John F. Dunne on September 10, 1960, and they had a daughter named Kimberly, born in 1963, but the couple divorced in April 1968.
Career
Jo Ann acted for a decade, featuring in 29 films, including her notable role as the younger daughter Kay in Mildred Pierce alongside Joan Crawford. After leaving her acting career, she attended Loyola University in Los Angeles to study law and became a lawyer. Marlowe served as a Chief Trial Lawyer for the U.S. Attorney’s Office until an accident in the late 1960s left her in a coma for over 22 years.
Death and Legacy
Jo Ann Marlowe passed away on January 2, 1991, at her mother Theora’s home in Los Angeles. Her mother, Theora, lived until February 2011, reaching the age of 96. Jo Ann and her family are buried together at San Fernando Mission cemetery, leaving behind a legacy in both entertainment and law.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Mildred Pierce | 1945-10-20 | Kay Pierce |
| Dangerous Intruder | 1945-08-21 | Jackie |
| A Scandal in Paris | 1946-07-19 | Mimi De Pierremont |
| Rolling Home | 1946-11-01 | Sandy Crawford |
| Keeper of the Bees | 1947-07-10 | Little Scout – The Orphan |
| Man from Rainbow Valley | 1946-06-15 | Ginny Hale |
| Little Iodine | 1946-10-19 | Little Iodine |
| The Strange Woman | 1946-10-25 | Jenny as a Girl (uncredited) |
| Joe Palooka, Champ | 1946-05-26 | Rosie Palooka |