Joan Carroll: Movies & Box Office

Born Joan Marie Felt on January 18, 1931, in Elizabeth, New Jersey, she adopted the stage name Joan Carroll and quickly established herself as one of Hollywood's most promising child performers during the Golden Age of cinema. She developed her exceptional talents as both a singer and tap dancer at the prestigious Fanchon and Marco Dancing School in Hollywood, skills that would serve her well throughout her early career. Between 1937 and 1940, she built her resume with several supporting roles in various motion pictures, steadily gaining recognition within the industry. Her breakthrough performance came in 1940 when she portrayed Ginger Rogers's younger sister in the film Primrose Path, a role that earned her a Critics Award and significant critical acclaim. That same year marked a historic milestone when she became the first child star to be summoned from Hollywood to take on a leading role in a Broadway musical, specifically Panama Hattie, which enjoyed a successful run from October 1940 to January 1942. Following her Broadway success, Carroll became RKO Radio Pictures' resident juvenile personality, appearing in both "A" and "B" pictures throughout the early 1940s. The studio prominently featured her in leading roles alongside Ruth Warrick in two zany comedy vehicles, Obliging Young Lady (1941) and Petticoat Larceny (1943), showcasing her versatility and comedic timing. As she transitioned into adolescence, she continued to work in films though less frequently, delivering memorable performances in two beloved classics. She appeared in Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) where she played the sister of Judy Garland and Margaret O'Brien, and The Bells of St. Mary's (1945) where she portrayed a sensitive child dealing with separated parents. After retiring from the screen in 1950 following her marriage to James Joseph Krack in 1951, she devoted herself to family life, raising four children. Eventually she settled in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where she lived until her death on November 16, 2016, at the age of 85, leaving behind a legacy as one of the notable child stars of Hollywood's golden era.