Joanna Lee

Joanna Lee (April 7, 1931 – October 24, 2003) was an American writer, producer, director and actress.

Career The Newark, New Jersey-born

A serious car accident in 1961 necessitated a career change. By 1962, Lee had landed writing assignments for My Three Sons and The Flintstones. She wrote more than 20 episodes of The Flintstones and is widely credited with creating The Great Gazoo. She wrote an episode of Gilligan's Island (1964–67), entitled "Beauty Is as Beauty Does", which aired on September 23, 1965. Lee also wrote two episodes for the final season of the series, each of which based the plot line on one of the castaways meeting their double. Also in this period (September 1962) she appeared as a contestant on the CBS television program What's My Line, describing her work at that point as being a TV comedy writer. In her June 11, 1959 appearance on You Bet Your Life, Joanna Lee describes her career and also wins $3,000 in prize money.

Her writing career stretched from 1962 until 1990, including many dozens of comedic and dramatic television series episodes before writing, producing, and directing various TV movies and "Afterschool Specials." In 1971 she wrote two scripts for the television show, Room 222.

In 1974, she won an Emmy Award for Best Writing in Drama, for a 1973 Thanksgiving episode of The Waltons.

She wrote the novel and teleplay Mary Jane Harper Cried Last Night. In 1988, she won the Humanitas Prize for The Kid Who Wouldn't Quit: The Brad Silverman Story.

Personal life and death Her son, Craig Lee, then a music director at L. A. Weekly, died of AIDS in 1992.

Her autobiography, A Difficult Woman in Hollywood, was published in 1999.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes1957 Plan 9 from Outer Space Tanna independent science fiction horror film The Joker Is Wild Chorine (uncredited) biographical musical film 1958 The Brain Eaters Alice Summers horror science fiction film 1974 A Pocket Filled with Dreams also credited as director and writer (final film of Joanna Lee)

Television Year Title Role Notes 1956 The Joseph Cotten Show aka On Trial Clare Episode: "Twice in Peril" 1957 The 20th Century Fox Hour Salesgirl Episode: "The Marriage Broker"1958 Leave It to Beaver Classified ad lady at Courier Sun Episode: "Beaver and Poncho" How to Marry a Millionaire Secretary Episode: "Loco Vs Wall Street"1959 The Donna Reed Show Connie Episode: "Donna Plays Cupid"Death Valley Days Laura Episode: "Pioneer Circus"1960 Flora Dodd Episode: "The General Who Disappeared" Tales of Wells Fargo Antoinette Episode: "Kid Brother" Happy Gwen Kimball Episode: "Chris' Night Out"Manhunt Jane Episode: "The Payoff Man'1961 Mona Thompson Episode: "The Dead Antelope/Gazelle" Miami Undercover Christine Episode: "Wrong Pigeon"

Awards and nominations + Year Award Category Production Result 1973 Emmy Awards Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series The Waltons "The Thanksgiving Story" 1975 Emmy Awards Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Babe 1979 Humanitas Prize 90 minute category Like Normal People 1985 Director Guild of America Awards Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Shows - DaytimeCBS Schoolbreak Special "Hear Me Cry" Daytime Emmy Awards Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Children's Series Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Special 1988 Daytime Emmy Awards Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Special ABC Afterschool Special "The Kid Who Wouldn't Quit: The Brad Silverman Story" Humanitas Prize Children's Live Action Television ABC Afterschool Special "The Kid Who Wouldn't Quit: The Brad Silverman Story" 1990 Daytime Emmy Awards Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Children's Series CBS Schoolbreak Special "15 and Getting Straight"