Joyce MacKenzie

Joyce Elaine MacKenzie Hassing (born October 13, 1929 in Redwood City, California) is an American actress who appeared in films and television from 1946 to 1961.[1] She might be best remembered for being the eleventh actress to portray Jane. She played the role opposite Lex Barker's Tarzan in 1953's Tarzan and the She-Devil.

Joyce MacKenzie
Born
Joyce Elaine MacKenzie

(1929-10-13) October 13, 1929
OccupationActress
Years active1946-1961
Known forJane, wife of Tarzan, in Tarzan and the She-Devil
Destination Murder
Broken Arrow
Spouse(s)Walter H. Leimert, Jr.
(m.1952–60, divorced)
Robert L. Driver
(m. 1961–66, divorced)
Victor Benedict Hassing
(m. 1972-80, his death)

Early life through World War II

MacKenzie is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Norman MacKenzie. She was active in sports in high school, winning an award for "her all-round sports ability."[2]

During World War II, MacKenzie worked as a carpenter's helper in shipyards[3] in San Francisco. Her opportunity for acting came when she was discovered on her job as cashier at the Pasadena Playhouse in the summer of 1948.[4]

Notable films

MacKenzie starred in a 1950 film noir, Destination Murder. She appeared with James Stewart in the 1950 western Broken Arrow, as the wife of Robert Mitchum in the 1951 crime drama The Racket and as a publisher's daughter trying to wrest control of editor Humphrey Bogart's newspaper in 1952's Deadline - U.S.A.. MacKenzie's character and Jane Russell's exchanged identities in a 1954 musical, The French Line.

Personal life

On November 26, 1952, MacKenzie married Walter H. (Tim) Leimert Jr. in Hollywood, California, and had two sons. They divorced in 1960. In 1961, Joyce married Robert L. (Keiki) Driver until their divorce in 1966. And finally, in 1972, she married Victor Benedict Hassing until his death on October 29, 1980 at the age of 64.[5]

Later years

Her final appearance was in the role of Nancy Gilman in the 1961 Perry Mason television series episode, "The Case of the Duplicate Daughter." After her acting career MacKenzie was an English teacher; one of her students was popular radio host Anthony Cumia of the Opie and Anthony Show.[6]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1946Tomorrow Is ForeverCherry Davis
1946The Kid from BrooklynGoldwyn GirlUncredited
1949WhirlpoolDaisy - Telephone OperatorUncredited
1949Twelve O'Clock HighNurseUncredited
1950Mother Didn't Tell MeHelen Porter
1950A Ticket to TomahawkRubyUncredited
1950Destination MurderLaura Mansfield
1950StellaPeggy Denny
1950Broken ArrowTerry
1951On the RivieraMimi
1951His Kind of WomanLady Gwendolyn in FilmUncredited
1951People Will TalkGussieUncredited
1951The RacketMary McQuigg
1951The Model and the Marriage BrokerDorisUncredited
1952Deadline - U.S.A.Katherine Garrison Geary
1952Wait till the Sun Shines, NellieBessie Jordan
1952O. Henry's Full HouseHazel Woods(segment "The Clarion Call"), (scenes deleted)
1952Night Without SleepLaura Harkness
1953The I Don't Care GirlBabetteUncredited
1953Tarzan and the She-DevilJane
1953The French LineMyrtle Brown
1954Rails Into LaramieHelen Shanessy

References

  1. "Joyce victim of misleading campaign". Toledo Blade. November 24, 1961. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  2. Soanes, Wood (February 14, 1950). "Movie Star Once Earned Living as Active Carpenter". Oakland Tribune. California, Oakland. p. 33. Retrieved November 21, 2017 via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Girl Hammers Way Up". Salt Lake Telegram. Utah, Salt Lake City. United Press. October 20, 1944. p. 11. Retrieved November 21, 2017 via Newspapers.com.
  4. Neill, Frank (December 21, 1949). "In Hollywood". Long Beach Independent. California, Long Beach. International News Service. p. 24. Retrieved September 26, 2016 via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Weds Joyce MacKenzie". The Kansas City Times. Missouri, Kansas City. Associated Press. November 27, 1952. p. 73. Retrieved November 21, 2017 via Newspapers.com.
  6. Cumia, Anthony. "Opie and Anthony Show". SiriusXM. Archived from the original on 2012-11-12. Retrieved 2012-11-16.


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