With blonde hair, big blue eyes and a big smile, Joan was usually cast as the wisecracking working girl who was the lead's best friend. Born into vaudeville to a comic named Eddie, Joan was on the stage when she was three years old. For years, she toured the circuit with her parents and joined a stock company when she was 17. She made her New York debut with the Ziegfeld Follies and appeared in several Broadway productions. She was starring with 'James Cagney' .
Older sister of actress Gloria Blondell.
Mother of Norman S. Powell from her marriage to George Barnes. He was adopted by Dick Powell in February 1938. Mother of Ellen Powell from her marriage to Dick Powell.
Made six movies with James Cagney at Warner Brothers - more than any other individual actress. Cagney said that the only woman he loved other than his wife was Blondell.
Was nominated for Broadways 1958 Tony Award as best supporting or featured actress (dramatic) for "The Rope Dancers".
According to the July 24, 1944, issue of Time magazine, Blondell divorced Dick Powell on the grounds of cruelty alleging that "when she objected to the incessant coming and going of guests, Powell crooned: If you dont like it, you can get the hell out.".
Attended the Professional Childrens School in New York City.
On the British sitcom "Dads Army" , Private Pike has a crush on her and has dozens of pictures of her on his bedroom walls.
Her marriage to theatrical impresario Mike Todd was an emotional and financial disaster. Todd was a heavy spender who lost hundreds of thousands of dollars gambling and went through a controversial bankruptcy during their marriage. While continuing to live the high-life on a huge estate in New Yorks Westchester County, the irresponsible Todd ran through Blondells savings.
She playfully called her friend Bette Davis s four ex-husbands "The Four Skins" since they were all gentiles.
June Allyson was the stepmother of her daughter Ellen Powell after Allyson married Blondells ex-husband Dick Powell.
Profiled in "Killer Tomatoes: Fifteen Tough Film Dames" by Ray Hagen and Laura Wagner (McFarland, 2004).
She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6311 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on February 8, 1960.
Following her death, she was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.
Her daughter Ellen Powell had a long battle with cocaine that she overcame in 1984.
Had three grandchildren: Joan Ellen Powell, Scott Powell and Stephanie Powell.
Her grandson Scott Powell has a stepson, David, and two grandchildren, Zander and Dakota.
Her granddaughter Stephanie Powell is married to Sean Murphy, owner of a surf travel company.
In 1927, while closing the library she worked at, she was raped by a police officer. He told her he would kill her if she told anyone. She kept her silence for decades, until finally telling her grown daughter. She went public with this in her memoirs.
Her son Norman Scott was named after Claudette Colbert s first husband, actor-director Norman Foster.
Her son Norman Scott was born in the breech position, with the cord wrapped around his neck. Her labor was complicated, because of a fractured coccyx, and lasted twenty hours.
Like her second husband Dick Powell and acquaintance June Allyson , she was a lifelong staunch supporter of the Republican party.
Felt that her best performance was as Aunt Sissy in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn .
Aunt of makeup artist Kathryn Blondell.
Became pregnant by 1st husband George Barnes out of wedlock in the summer of 1932 and then again in the summer of 1933. On both occasions she had abortions.
Is portrayed by Kathy Bates in "Feud" .
[on her husbands] [George] Barnes provided my first real home, [Dick],Powell was my security man, and [Michael] Todd was my passion. But I,loved them all. .
