Joyzelle Joyner

Joyzelle Joyner (August 27, 1905 – November 30, 1980) was an American actress and dancer. She appeared in at least thirty films between 1925 and 1935, garnering some notoriety for her appearance in The Sign of the Cross.

Career Joyner began appearing in films around 1924 or 1925, often playing dancers. Her first major role in a major motion picture came in 1930, when she appeared as twin queens of Mars, Boo Boo and Loo Loo in Just Imagine. Her role as Ancaria in The Sign of the Cross, a major production directed by Cecil B. deMille, drew attention from censors; in the film, she performed the lesbian-overtoned "Dance of the Naked Moon".

The scene was eliminated from the re-released 1935 version of the film, but reinserted in 1993 for the MCA-Universal video version. That same year, she had prominent roles in two westerns, Whistlin' Dan for Tiffany Pictures, and The Vanishing Frontier (starring Johnny Mack Brown) for Paramount Pictures.

Most of Joyzelle's work after 1932 constituted uncredited parts, though she did appear under the name "Laya Joy" in House of Mystery, a horror film for Monogram Pictures. Her last-known screen appearance, in Dante's Inferno (1935), was uncredited, but did afford her the opportunity to show off her dancing skills.

Personal life Joyner was born in Alabama and had a younger brother, Clarence. According to U.S. census records, Clarence was living in California in 1930 with wife Lois.

Joyner's first marriage was to Dudley V. Brand. The two became estranged over Joyner's pursuit of an acting career. During an argument on August 11, 1927, Brand fired two shots through a closed bedroom door, one shot injuring Joyner in the arm. Clarence Joyner was on hand to protect his sister by restraining Brand. Joyner's second marriage was to film director Phil Rosen in 1929.

Joyner died in Orange, California on November 30, 1980, aged 75.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes1925 Ben-Hur Slave Girl Uncredited 1926 Dance Madness Dancer Lost film The Sea Beast Dancer in prologue 1927 Out of the Past Saida Lost film 1928 Turn Back the Hours A Cantina Girl Moran of the Marines Lost film Shadows of the Night Cabaret Dancer The Shady Lady Unbilled Uncredited 1929 Close Harmony Dancer The Black Watch Indian Dancer Uncredited One Hysterical Night Salome 1930 Prince of Diamonds Dancing Girl Sombras habaneras Song of the Caballero Conchita Lotus Lady The Dancer Just Imagine Loo Loo / Boo Boo 1932 Whistlin' Dan Carmelita The Vanishing Frontier Dolores The Sign of the Cross Ancaria 1933 Girl Without a Room Dancer Uncredited 1934 Search for Beauty Beauty Contestant Entrant Uncredited House of Mystery Chanda I Believed in You Vavara 1935 Go into Your Dance Cantina Dancer Uncredited Dante's Inferno Dancer Uncredited, (final film role)