Joan Freeman

Joan Freeman is a retired American actress. Born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, she started her career as a child actress in the 1949 television series Sandy Dreams before making her film debut with the western Pistol Harvest. Starting from 1961, she appeared in TV series and films like Bus Stop, Panic in Year Zero!, and Tower of London, and in 1962 was nominated as Most Promising New Star in the film magazine Photoplay. In 1964, she played alongside Elvis Presley in Roustabout, and earned another Photoplay Gold Medal nomination. Her last acting role was in 1994.

Early life Freeman was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She attended Mother Cabrini School in Burbank, California, and later attended John Burroughs High School where she graduated in 1959.

Career Freeman started as a child actress, having appeared in the 1949 television series Sandy Dreams, along with Richard Beymer and Jill St. John. Alabama newspaper The Anniston Star described Freeman as "lovely" in the part.

Also in 1962, she appeared in the quasi-historical film Tower of London with Vincent Price. She plays Margaret, one of the Queen's ladies-in-waiting who is held hostage by Price's Richard of Gloucester in the tower as he begins a rampage. That was followed up by being named as a Hollywood Deb Star in 1963.

In 1963, she appeared in the Wagon Train episode "Alias Bill Hawks" (S6 E34) as Karen Wells. The next year, Freeman played the role of Elizabeth Dunn secretary to Dr. James Stone in the episode "Behold, Eck!" in the TV series The Outer Limits.

Also in 1963, Freeman was cast as American tourist Amelia Carter in The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze. In 1964, she played the love interest of Elvis Presley in Roustabout. There she played the "good girl" pursuing Elvis and competing against a vixen type played by Sue Ane Langdon, all the while being stuck in arguments with her father, a bitter carnival hand played by Leif Erickson. Variety magazine said that "Miss Freeman hasn't much to do except wring her hands ... but does it prettily." In 1964 Freeman received a Photoplay Gold Medal nomination for Best Female Star. In The Rounders (1965), Freeman had a supporting role as a farm girl who pursues a reluctant Glenn Ford throughout the film.

In 1966, Freeman guest starred on The Man From U.N.C.L.E. in "The Bat Cave Affair". She appeared four times on the NBC western series The Virginian. Freeman also made a number of guest appearances on different television shows from the 1950s through the 1980s including National Velvet, Perry Mason, Family Affair, Gunsmoke, Wagon Train, and Bonanza.

Her last motion picture performance came as "Mrs. Jarvis" in the 1984 horror film, Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter. In 1994, Freeman appeared as an actress for the last time in an episode of the TV series Renegade.

Filmography

Pistol Harvest (1951) - Felice as a Child Trouble Along the Way (1953) - Minor Role (uncredited) Teenage Rebel (1956) - Teenager in Malt Shop (uncredited) The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker (1959) - Mary Pennypacker (uncredited) Come September (1961) - Linda Panic in Year Zero! (1962) - Marilyn Hayes Tower of London (1962) - Lady Margaret The Virginian (TV series) (The Devil's Children) (1962) - Tabby McCallum The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze (1963) - Amelia Carter Roustabout (1964) - Cathy Lean The Rounders (1965) - Meg Moore Bonanza (1965 TV Series) season 6 episode 26 (The Trap) - Hallie Shannon The Reluctant Astronaut (1967) - Ellie Jackson The Fastest Guitar Alive (1967) - Sue Chesnut Warhead (1977) - Namoi Jinxed! (1982) - Woman Agent Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984) - Mrs. Jarvis Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th (2013) - Herself