It was Joan Blondell’s good fortune—and good sense—to develop a screen character that aged well. When middle age and increasing weight took their toll, she was able to segue into playing wry, wisecracking old dames. Many of her contemporaries fell by the wayside, but Joan stayed busy. She didn’t maintain the high-profile popularity she’d had in the early 1930s, but she kept working, to critical acclaim.

Author: Eve Golden