Joan Woodbury
Actress

Joan Woodbury Net Worth

Joan Woodbury was a tall, exotic actress born in Los Angeles in 1915. She was educated in a convent and trained in dance, and broke into films at age 19. She was often cast in foreign roles, playing femmes with names like Lolita, Dolores, and Toto. She was featured in a number of "Charlie Chan" films and westerns, and had her finest moment in the limelight in the Columbia serial Brenda Starr, Reporter (1945). After retiring from films in the 1960s, she became a stage producer and director of grand and light operas, and co-founded the Valley Players Guild. She died of a respiratory ailment in 1989 and was survived by three children.
Joan Woodbury is a member of Actress

Age, Biography and Wiki

Who is it? Actress, Soundtrack, Music Department
Birth Day December 17, 1915
Birth Place  Los Angeles, California, United States
Age 105 YEARS OLD
Died On February 22, 1989(1989-02-22) (aged 73)\nDesert Hot Springs, California, U.S.
Birth Sign Capricorn
Other names Nana Martínez
Years active 1934–1964
Spouse(s) Henry Wilcoxon (1938–69; divorced); 3 children Ray Mitchell (1971–1989; her death)
Children Wendy, Heather and Cecilia

💰 Net worth

Joan Woodbury, a versatile talent hailing from the United States, is widely recognized for her contributions as an actress, soundtrack artist, and music department professional. With her extensive involvement in the entertainment industry, Joan has managed to accumulate a net worth estimated to range from $100,000 to $1 million by the year 2024. Her exceptional skills and dedication to her craft have propelled her towards great success, cementing her name as one of the most talented individuals in the field. As her career continues to flourish, Joan Woodbury's net worth is set to witness further growth, reflecting her enduring impact on the world of entertainment.

Biography/Timeline

1922

When she was four years old Joan had an 18 year old live-in governess, Marie Sandow. In 1922, when she was six years old, she was selected for the leading role in a series of children's fairy story films: an article about this in the San Francisco Chronicle commented "Joan Woodbury has been known for some time as America's 100 Per Cent Child, and has been photographed, sketched and painted by many artists." She first studied for seven years in a convent, later trained in dance, and eventually graduated from Hollywood High School. Woodbury began dancing for the Agua Caliente dance company, and at 19 decided to attempt a career in acting.

1934

She moved to Hollywood and that same year received her first acting role in the 1934 film Eight Girls in a Boat, which was uncredited. Another uncredited role followed, with her first credited role being in the 1934 film One Exciting Adventure, which starred Binnie Barnes. Her first major role, billed as Nana Martinez, was in a Hopalong Cassidy movie The Eagle's Brood. Woodbury appeared in fifteen films from 1934 through 1935, of which ten were uncredited.

1936

In 1936, her career began to become more successful, with appearances in eight films that year, of which five were uncredited. However, of the three roles that were credited, Woodbury made an impact, and caught the attention of studios. Her mixture of Danish, British and Native American heritage gave her an exotic appearance, and allowed her to be cast in many different ethnicities, from Hispanic to French and Asian. By 1937 her career had taken off, mostly in B-movies such as Living on Love and Bulldog Courage, but also with her receiving many credited roles.

1937

In 1937, Woodbury starred in her first of several credited Charlie Chan films, titled Charlie Chan on Broadway. She also began appearing in numerous westerns, portraying the heroine opposite some of the 1930s biggest Cowboy actors, to include william Boyd of Hopalong Cassidy fame, Roy Rogers, and Johnny Mack Brown. Woodbury would appear in fifty films from 1937 to 1945, almost all of which were credited. Her most memorable of that period was her lead role in the serial Brenda Starr, Reporter, in 1945.

1938

On December 17, 1938, Woodbury married actor and Producer Henry Wilcoxon, with whom she had three daughters: Wendy Joan Robert (born 1939), Heather Ann (born 1947, named after Heather Angel) and Cecilia Dawn "CiCi" (1950, named after Cecil B. DeMille). They divorced in 1969. After the marriage, according to film critic Don Daynard, she "continued her career but never graduated from the minors", featuring in such films as Barnyard Follies, In Old Cheyenne and Brenda Starr, Reporter.

1946

In addition to managing their company, she continued to act on occasion, with her biggest role after 1946 being a minor credited part in the 1956 epic The Ten Commandments, starring Charlton Heston, Yul Brynner and Anne Baxter. Her last film appearance was a supporting role in the movie The Time Travelers (1964).

1963

When Woodbury retired she had appeared in 81 films, though a newspaper article published in 1963 reported that she had appeared in more than 300 films. Woodbury eventually settled in Desert Hot Springs, California, where she was residing at the time of her death at the age of 73.

Some Joan Woodbury images

About the author

Lisa Scholfield

As a Senior Writer at Famous Net Worth, I spearhead an exceptional team dedicated to uncovering and sharing the stories of pioneering individuals. My passion for unearthing untold narratives drives me to delve deep into the essence of each subject, bringing forth a unique blend of factual accuracy and narrative allure. In orchestrating the editorial workflow, I am deeply involved in every step—from initial research to the final touches of publishing, ensuring each biography not only informs but also engages and inspires our readership.