Joanne Jordan

Joanne Jordan
Jordan in 1955
Born(1920-09-05)September 5, 1920
Topeka, Kansas, U.S
DiedJuly 20, 2009(2009-07-20) (aged 88)
Calabasas, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actress
  • television spokesmodel
Years active1951–1957
Spouse
MacLeod
​
​
(m. 1939; div. 1950)​
Children3
Jordan and Dean Miller in Here's Hollywood in 1960

Joanne Jordan (September 5, 1920 – July 29, 2009)[1] was an American actress and television spokesmodel[2] who appeared in at least 12 films and 200 TV shows.[3]

Early years

Jordan's father was a salesman, and she thought that she "inherited that quality".[4] At one point, for less than three months, she and her sister operated a restaurant, The Ranch House.[4] She tried working as a model but had little success because her figure did not match what fashion photographers wanted.[5]

Career

Jordan's debut in commercials occurred on KTLA-TV when she promoted canned tuna during the broadcast of an old film.[5] She appeared in her first network commercial when she had a small role on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show and was asked to also do a commercial in the program. She was especially nervous during her first 1+1⁄2 years in that job, when she tried to memorize all of her lines. Then she began reading from cue cards or Teleprompters.[6] She performed in commercials for "products ranging from cosmetics to cigarettes and canned tuna fish".[3] She acknowledged some competition from better-known actresses, but she said that they were at a disadvantage; having played roles so much, they found it difficult to come across as themselves.[3] Her gross income from commercials was approximately $200,000 per year. She continued making them after she became co-host of a Hollywood-based interview program.[7]

Jordan was co-host of Here's Hollywood, an NBC afternoon program that featured interviews and presented celebrities in various settings around Hollywood.[3]

Her film credits include Loophole and Son of Sinbad. She also portrayed Queen Mirtha on the television series Space Patrol.[8][9] Other TV shows on which she acted included City Detective, Four Star Playhouse, and Racket Squad.[5]

Besides film, she acted on stage, at one time performing in a Noël Coward play at the Harold Lloyd co-founded Beverly Hills Little Theatre for Professionals.[10]

Personal life

Jordan was married twice and had three children.[4]

Jordan (bottom row, left) in TV Guide, October 30, 1954

Filmography

References

  1. ↑ Nelson, Valerie J. (September 24, 2009). "Joanne Jordan dies at 88; television spokesmodel in 1950s". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 28, 2009.
  2. ↑ Cassidy, Marsha F. (April 20, 2009). What Women Watched: Daytime Television in the 1950s. University of Texas Press. ISBN 9780292782723. chapter Charm and the New Femininity
  3. 1 2 3 4 Scott, Vernon (December 25, 1960). "Women Doing TV Commercials Win Respect — If's the Money". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. United Press International. p. TV Magazine, p. 8. Retrieved August 9, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 3 Scheuer, Steven H. (November 14, 1960). "Tall Joanne Jordan Collects". Daily Item. New York, Port Chester. p. 11. Retrieved August 10, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 3 "Nine-To-Five? Not For Her!". TV Guide. December 31, 1955. p. 12. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  6. ↑ Humphrey, Hal (September 11, 1955). "Hal Humphrey's Video". Richmond Times-Dispatch. pp. L 1, L 6. Retrieved August 10, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ Humphrey, Hal (April 2, 1961). "Meeting Interesting People Is Joanne Jordan's Job". The Sunday Star-Bulletin. Hawaii, Honolulu. p. 20. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Joanne Jordan, TV lipstick model in '50s, dies". SFGate. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Joanne Jordan, 88, top spokesmodel - The Boston Globe". Boston.com. September 27, 2009. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Jordan, Joanne (obituary)". The Los Angeles Times. September 19, 2008. p. 13.
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