Joan Barclay was an American actress best known for her roles in films such as “Black Dragons,” “Mr. Wise Guy,” and “Billy the Kid’s Range War.” Born Mary Elizabeth Greear, she made a name for herself in Hollywood, particularly in B-westerns and serials during the early to mid-20th century.
Personal and Family Life
Joan Barclay was born on August 31, 1914, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was married three times; her first husband was Paul Fitzgerald, a Marine, followed by LeRoy D. Hillman, with whom she had two children, and her final husband was George Sullivan. She never went to public school and was tutored instead. Tragically, her son Lloyd died in a car accident in 1967.
Career
Early in her acting career, Joan appeared in “The Gaucho” alongside Douglas Fairbanks when she was just 12 years old. She worked with various western film stars throughout the 1930s and 40s, becoming known for her beauty and talent in the genre. After a successful career in film, she took a break from acting in the mid-1940s to focus on her family and her marriage.
Death and Legacy
Joan Barclay passed away on November 22, 2002, in Palm Desert, California, due to natural causes. Her contributions to the film industry, especially in the western genre, have left a lasting impression on fans and filmmakers alike.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Black Dragons | 1942-03-06 | Alice Saunders |
| Mr. Wise Guy | 1942-02-20 | Ann Mitchell |
| The Corpse Vanishes | 1942-05-08 | Alice Wentworth |
| The Falcon Out West | 1944-03-17 | Mrs. Irwin |
| The Shanghai Cobra | 1945-09-29 | Paula Webb |
| Flying Wild | 1941-03-10 | Helen Munson |
| Shadow of Chinatown | 1936-10-10 | Joan Whiting |
| Whirlwind Horseman | 1938-04-29 | Peggy Radford |
| Billy the Kid’s Range War | 1941-01-24 | Ellen Gorman |
| Blake of Scotland Yard | 1937-01-30 | Hope Mason |
| Prison Shadows | 1936-07-17 | Mary Comstock |
| West of Nevada | 1936-07-21 | Helen Haldain |
| Phantom Patrol | 1936-09-29 | Doris McCloud |
| Amateur Crook | 1937-12-10 | Betsy Cummings, alias Mary Layton |
| The Purple Vigilantes | 1938-01-24 | Jean McAllister |
| The Trusted Outlaw | 1937-05-04 | Betty Pember |
| Island Captives | 1937-07-22 | Helen Carsons |
| Sky Racket | 1937-10-01 | Marion Bronson |
| Lightning Carson Rides Again | 1938-10-09 | Sally – Paul Smith’s Sweetheart |
| Ladies’ Day | 1943-04-09 | Joan Samuels |
| Rookies in Burma | 1943-12-20 | Janie |
| Outlaws’ Paradise | 1939-04-18 | Jessie Treadwell |
| The Life of Jimmy Dolan | 1933-06-03 | Well-Wisher |
| Colleen | 1936-03-21 | Cafe Guest (uncredited) |
| Strike Me Pink | 1936-01-24 | Goldwyn Girl (uncredited) |
| The Murder of Dr. Harrigan | 1936-01-11 | Nurse |
| Convict’s Code | 1939-01-18 | Elaine |
| Six-Gun Rhythm | 1939-02-17 | Jean Harper |
| The Kid Ranger | 1936-02-05 | Mary Mason |
| Texas Wildcats | 1939-04-09 | Molly Arden |
| Man of Iron | 1935-12-21 | Party Guest |
| Two Gun Justice | 1938-04-29 | Nancy |
| Million Dollar Racket | 1937-09-30 | Molly Henessey |
| Second Chorus | 1941-01-03 | Receptionist |
| Bandit Ranger | 1942-09-28 | Sally Mattison |
| The Gentleman from Arizona | 1939-12-25 | Georgia Coburn |
| Moonlight on the Prairie | 1935-11-02 | Saloon Girl |
| Sagebrush Law | 1943-04-02 | Sally Winters |
| Riding the Wind | 1942-02-27 | Joan Westfall (as Mary Douglas) |
| Feud of the West | 1936-04-14 |
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