Mary Elizabeth Greear, better known by her stage name Joan Barclay, embarked on a journey to Hollywood when her mother, eager to escape Minnesota's frigid climate, proposed a spontaneous solution. She placed "Florida" and "California" in a hat, allowing her young daughter Mary Elizabeth to make a decisive draw. This chance event marked the beginning of Joan's illustrious acting career.
One of her earliest roles was in the 1927 film "The Gaucho," where she had the opportunity to work alongside the renowned Douglas Fairbanks. Despite being only 12 years old at the time, Fairbanks was impressed by her talent and considered her as his next leading lady.
Joan's career continued to flourish throughout the 1930s and 1940s, during which she was under contract with Warner Bros. and RKO respectively. She appeared in numerous "B" westerns and serials, solidifying her status as a talented and versatile actress.
In the mid-1940s, Joan decided to leave the world of cinema behind and marry a wealthy entrepreneur in the rent-a-car business. This marked the beginning of her second chapter, as she went on to marry twice more, solidifying her reputation as a strong and independent woman.
