Joan Bennett Trivia

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Became grandmother at age 39.

She and her sister Constance were the fith generation of actors on their mother`s side of the family.

Her first grandchild, Amanda Anderson, was born in March, 1949 to daughter Diana. (imdb.com)

Sister of actresses Barbara Bennett and Constance Bennett. (imdb.com)

Daughter of actors Richard Bennett and Adrienne Morrison (imdb.com)

Daughters: Adrienne Ralston Fox (became Diana Markey) born 20 February 1928; Melinda Markey born 27 February 1934; Stephanie Wanger, born 26 June 1943; Shelley Wanger, born 4 July 1948. (imdb.com)

Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume Two, 1986-1990, pages 82-84. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1999. (imdb.com)

Finalist for the part of Scarlet O`Hara in the 1939 classic, Gone With The Wind. Vivian Leigh got the role at the last minute. However, the film`s producer, David O. Selznick offered to cast her oldest daughter, Diana in the role of Bonnie Blue Butler, Rhett and Scarlett`s daughter as a sort of consolation prize. Miss Bennett refused the offer.

In Italy, most of her films were dubbed by Lidia Simoneschi, including Father of the Bride (1950) and its sequel Father`s Little Dividend (1951). She was occasionally dubbed by Lia Orlandini, Renata Marini and Tina Lattanzi.

Appeared in Peter Bogdanovich`s The Last Picture Show (1971), although only in archive footage. The film that the characters in the movie go to see is Father of the Bride (1950), and a clip is show featuring Joan.

Played Amy March in Little Women (1933) with Katharine Hepburn. She played Elizabeth Taylor`s mother in Father of the Bride (1950). Taylor played Amy March in the 1949 remake of "Little Women".

Was offered the role of Beth McCarthy in Cocoon (1985). Director Ron Howard wanted to reunite co-star Don Ameche with one of his former leading ladies and he thought of Joan. Unfortunately, she was in frail health at the time and turn down the role, a decision she later regretted when "Cocoon" became one of the biggest box office hits of 1985 and spawned a sequel. The part was played by Gwen Verdon. Miss Bennett did not, in fact, turn down the role. Rather, she was talked out of taking it by her fourth husband, David Wilde. Wilde insisted that the film too closely resembled the 1956 film, Invasion of the Body Snatchers. He also felt that it was beneath Miss Bennett`s dignity to be working under "Opie Taylor" or "Richie Cunningham".

She made five films for German director Fritz Lang, more than any other American actor or actress who worked with him (many actors reportedly disliked working with Lang).

She was one of only three cast members who appeared on "Dark Shadows" (1966) from the beginning to the end. She appeared on the first episode, June 27, 1966, as well as its last, April 2, 1971.

At the time of her death, Joan had 13 grandchildren. Her first two great-grandchildren were on the way - one of her grandsons and his wife were expecting twins.

Her 78 feature-length films include three bit parts in silents and 6 TV-movies; she did NOT appear in some films with which she`s sometimes credited, such as _Inn of the Damned (1974)_.

Joan`s hobbies: Interior decorating, gardening/horticulture, dog breeding, collecting miniature (model) horses.

She was nearsighted and wore glasses when not on public view.

Joan sang in films with her own voice; she was never dubbed.

Filming on She Wanted a Millionaire (1932) was interrupted for 6 months when Joan broke her leg in a fall from a horse.

Pregnant with daughter Melinda Markey while filming Little Women (1933).