Joan O’Brien

Joan Marie O'Brien (February 14, 1936 – May 5, 2025) was an American actress and singer known for her work in film and television during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, she moved to California as a child and began taking dance lessons at the age of eight. Her singing talent was discovered by country music star Cliffie Stone, leading to her early appearances on television, including a regular role on "The Bob Crosby Show" from 1954 to 1958.

O'Brien's film career included notable roles such as Lt. Dolores Crandall in "Operation Petticoat" (1959) alongside Cary Grant and Tony Curtis, Susanna Dickinson in John Wayne's "The Alamo" (1960), and Melinda Marshall in "The Comancheros" (1961). She also starred opposite Elvis Presley in "It Happened at the World's Fair" (1963).

In addition to her film work, O'Brien made numerous television appearances on shows like "Perry Mason," "The Dick Van Dyke Show," and "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." After retiring from acting in the mid-1960s, she returned to her musical roots, performing with the Harry James Orchestra in 1968.

Joan O'Brien passed away on May 5, 2025, at the age of 89, after battling Alzheimer's disease.