About Joanne Dru (1922 - 1996)
Discovered by a talent scout while working in the theater, Joanne made her screen debut in a film called Abie's Irish Rose (1946). Born in Logan, West Virginia on January 31, 1922, she came to New York City in 1940 at the age of eighteen. After her screen debut in 1946, Joanne disappeared from view for nearly a year, during which time she concentrated on her marriage to singer Dick Haymes (the first of three husbands). She returned to the big screen to become well know with her role of Tess in the classic Western Red River (1948). She followed that with another Western titled She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949), again playing opposite John Wayne. Mostly remembered for her roles in Westers, she also appeared in films line "All the King's Men" (1949), "The Pride of St. Louis" (1952), and "Hell on Frisco Bay " (1955).
When Western's were running out of steam, the mid 1950s, Joanne turned to television where she appeared on shows such as "Playhouse 90" (1956). In 1960, Joanne was cast in the role of the Eastern Owner of a Dude Ranch in the television series "Guestward Ho!" (1960).
Joanne Dru passed away on September 10, 1996 in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California.
Joanne Dru - MovieActors.com
