Joan Carroll

Joan Carroll (January 18, 1931 - November 16, 2016) was an American child actress who appeared in films until retiring in 1945. Six-year-old Joan made her film debut in Walking Down Broadway (1938). She played the role of Sunny, and changed her name from Felt to Carroll. A role in Two Sisters (1938) followed, and the next year she had supporting roles in Barricade (1939) and Tower of London (1939). It wasn't until 1940 when Joan had her breakthrough. She had important parts in Anne of Windy Poplars (1940) and especially Primrose Path (1940), where she stole the show as Ginger Rogers' younger sister. In 1941 Joan won her first lead role in Obliging Young Lady (1942). She played Bridget Potter, who was stuck in the middle of a custody case but still found time to be the life of the party at a resort. The film costarred Ruth Warrick.

In 1942 Joan was the first child star from Hollywood to appear in a Broadway play. This play, "Panama Hattie", gave Joan national fame, and she was featured in many magazine articles and newspapers.