Joan Leslie, star of ‘Yankee Doodle Dandy,’ dies at 90

Joan was only in her teens when she appeared in “High Sierra” and then “Sergeant York” with Gary Cooper.

An obituary published by her family in The Los Angeles Times confirmed that Leslie passed away in Los Angeles on Monday (October 12).

Her film career spanned from 1936 to 1956, where she appeared in more than 40 films. She and her sisters toured Canada and the Midwest as The Three Brodels, bypassing child labor laws by lying about their ages. She was first signed to MGM, but later signed with Warner Brothers. In fact, she celebrated her 17th birthday during the filming of “Yankee Doodle Dandy”.

Leslie also appeared in films such as “The Sky’s the Limit” opposite Fred Astaire, “Thank Your Lucky Stars”, “Rhapsody in Blue”, “This is the Army”, “Cinderella Jones”, “Hollywood Canteen” and “Repeat Performance“. Devoutly religious, she became dissatisfied with the roles made available to her for both professional and moral reasons, and sued Warner Bros in 1946 to get out of her contract.

After marrying physician William Caldwell in 1950, she put her career on hold to raise her twin daughters and do charity. She was 90 years old. She retired from acting in 1991. She remained active into the 1990s. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations made to Our Mother of Good Counsel Church or St. Anne’s in L.A.