There are so many talented stars in Hollywood, especially during the golden age of Hollywood. There was also an endless amount of great child stars, and forgotten Jo Ann Marlowe was one of them. I remember the pint size actress mostly from Yankee Doodle Dandy and Mildred Pierce. Sadly not much is written about her.
Jo Ann Marlowe was born Jo Ann Mares in Schuyler, Nebraska on December 15, 1935 to Edward and Theora Mares. Jo Ann was discovered on a family vacation in Hollywood at age 4 by a Warner Brothers director in a restaurant. The family relocated to California and Jo Ann took the stage name, Jo Ann Marlowe. Jo Ann acted for the next 10 years in 29 motion pictures including Yankee Doodle Dandy which won an Oscar for James Cagney. Jo Ann played the role of 6 year old Josie Cohan. She is best known as the younger daughter, Kay, in Mildred Pierce with Joan Crawford and Ann Blythe
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Jo Ann left acting in the early 1950s and went on to law school at Loyola University in Los Angeles and became a lawyer. On September 10, 1960 she married John F. Dunne in California. The couple had a daughter, Kimberly who was born in 1963. The couple divorced in April 1968 in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Jo Ann was a Chief Trial Lawyer for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles. She certainly overcame the problem with being a child star. However, her life would end tragically but not quickly. She suffered injuries in a car accident in late 1968. Jo Ann was left in a coma until her death more than 22 years later when she died at her mother Theora Mares' home in Los Angeles on January 2, 1991.
Her mother Theora survived her until February 2011 when she passed away at age 96. Jo Ann and her parents are buried at San Fernando Mission cemetery. Jo Ann Marlowe is now a forgotten footnote in the history of classic movies, and it is unfortunate...
Jo Ann Marlowe was born Jo Ann Mares in Schuyler, Nebraska on December 15, 1935 to Edward and Theora Mares. Jo Ann was discovered on a family vacation in Hollywood at age 4 by a Warner Brothers director in a restaurant. The family relocated to California and Jo Ann took the stage name, Jo Ann Marlowe. Jo Ann acted for the next 10 years in 29 motion pictures including Yankee Doodle Dandy which won an Oscar for James Cagney. Jo Ann played the role of 6 year old Josie Cohan. She is best known as the younger daughter, Kay, in Mildred Pierce with Joan Crawford and Ann Blythe
.
Jo Ann left acting in the early 1950s and went on to law school at Loyola University in Los Angeles and became a lawyer. On September 10, 1960 she married John F. Dunne in California. The couple had a daughter, Kimberly who was born in 1963. The couple divorced in April 1968 in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Jo Ann was a Chief Trial Lawyer for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles. She certainly overcame the problem with being a child star. However, her life would end tragically but not quickly. She suffered injuries in a car accident in late 1968. Jo Ann was left in a coma until her death more than 22 years later when she died at her mother Theora Mares' home in Los Angeles on January 2, 1991.
Her mother Theora survived her until February 2011 when she passed away at age 96. Jo Ann and her parents are buried at San Fernando Mission cemetery. Jo Ann Marlowe is now a forgotten footnote in the history of classic movies, and it is unfortunate...
A very talented, and obviously very intelligent, person. A sad loss for her family, and her admirers, which I know counts everyone who has appreciated her in MILDRED PIERCE.
ReplyDeleteYes. I'm watching that same movie now and she stands out enough for me to have looked her up
DeleteShe played the part of Kay perfectly. She was very talented.
ReplyDeleteJudging from Mildred Pierce, she was a promising dancer as well as actress.
ReplyDeleteA sad end indeed. Liked her in Mildred Pierce
ReplyDeleteSad story but she did become an attorney
ReplyDeleteIt was sad but she did she's a lot and a short life
ReplyDeleteExcellent in Mildred Pierce, a really great film.
ReplyDeleteLove her song bit, ". . . Ay-yi-yi-yi, the South American way. . ."
SO very sad. Jo Ann, i will see you in the resurrection
ReplyDeleteI just watched Mildred Pierce for the first time last night and both my wife and I remarked how talented the little girl was playing Kay Pierce.
ReplyDeleteWhen I looked her up today, I was sad to see what happened to her. Such a bright talent.
Was she in a coma for 22 years before she died?
ReplyDeleteYes, so she had her car accident in 1968, the same year she divorced her husband. She was only 33 at the time of the accident. So tragic.
DeleteLovely and sweet young actress. She was excellent in Mildred Pierce. Tragic the way her life ended.
ReplyDeleteThis is so sad. So many actors & actresses from the golden age of Hollywood had such tragic endings to their short lives. So goes the way of living in Tinsel town.
ReplyDeleteJo Ann Marlowe was a natural actress I hope her daughter has had as good a life as possible. May jo Ann RIP
ReplyDeleteLoved her and all the cast in Mildred Pierce.RIP x
ReplyDeleteShe was a precious, intelligent and very talented child actress far beyond her years. Just watched her in the 1946 film 'Rolling Home' which showcased her on screen talent and skills. Happy to know she became a successful trial attorney in Los Angeles after she retired from acting, but very sad to read about her car accident and the condition it left her in for so many years. I like to think the Lord was with her throughout her life and may she RIP forevermore.
ReplyDeleteThank you for making a special space for this woman whose multiple talents flourished in two separate careers. I’m watching her in B picture, Rolling Home. Looked her up because she’s such a standout, delivering her lines like an adult. A sad and protracted end to a life well lived.
ReplyDeleteI watched the film a few years ago. I never saw the remake with Kate Winslet. Very sad story about Jo. I plan to find another movie in which she plays a brat entitled Little Iodine.
ReplyDeleteShe is amazing in 'A Scandal in Paris' with George Saunders (1946)
ReplyDeleteJust saw her in a movie called strange women and they don’t even mention her in the credits at all. I was sure I was looking at a young Elizabeth Taylor but found out it was jo Ann. I had to go hunting to find out who she was. They should fix that.
ReplyDeleteThankyou for your respect that this lady never be forgotten regards from Australia
ReplyDeleteWhat became of her daughter Kimberly? Was she raised by her grandmother?
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to find out where her daughter Kimbely is these days. She would be 60 this year.
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