Joan Hackett was a unique and talented actress who defied convention. Born on March 1, 1934, in East Harlem to an Italian mother and an Irish-American father, she left school during her twelfth grade to pursue a modeling career. She appeared on the cover of Harper's Junior Bazaar in 1952 and subsequently turned down a contract with 20th Century-Fox to attend acting classes at Lee Strasberg's Actors Studio.
Joan made her Broadway debut in John Gielgud's production of "Much Ado About Nothing" in 1959 and also appeared in her first television episode that year. She won critical acclaim for her performances in "Call Me By My Rightful Name" in 1961 and "Night Watch" in 1972, earning an Obie Award for the former.
Throughout the 1960s, Joan had regular work in the CBS courtroom drama series "The Defenders" and guest-starred in many top-rated TV shows, including "The Twilight Zone", "Bonanza", and "Ben Casey". She also played the second "Mrs. de Winter" in a television version of Daphne Du Maurier's classic "Rebecca".
Joan's off-beat personality likely limited her career in films, but she did appear in several notable motion pictures, including "The Group" in 1966, "Will Penny" in 1967, and "Support Your Local Sheriff!" in 1969. She displayed a talent for visual comedy in the latter, reminiscent of Lucille Ball.
In the 1970s, Joan appeared in a range of films, including "Assignment to Kill" in 1968, "How Awful About Allan" in 1970, "The Last of Sheila" in 1973, and "Reflections of Murder" in 1974. She also gave a spectacular performance in the Michael Crichton book adaptation of "The Terminal Man" in 1974.
Joan's later years were marked by a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination for her performance in "Only When I Laugh" in 1981. She was also a social activist, embracing solar energy and losing causes with equal fervor. Joan Hackett died at the age of 49 in a hospital in Encino, California, in October 1983, leaving behind a legacy as a talented and unique actress.
