13 Facts About Leatrice Joy

Leatrice Joy attended the Convent of the Sacred Heart in New Orleans, where she had planned on becoming a nun, but left when her father was diagnosed with tuberculosis and was forced to give up his dental practice.

Leatrice Joy's mother disapproved of her becoming an actress, but the family needed the money, so her mother accompanied her to California, where she began working in plays and films.

Leatrice Joy began her acting career in stock theater companies and soon made her film debut; between April 1916 and by November 1917, she was the star of about 20 one-reel Black Diamond Comedies produced by the United States Motion Picture Corporation in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and released nationally by Paramount Pictures.

Leatrice Joy's close-cropped hair and somewhat boyish persona became fashionable during the era.

Leatrice Joy starred in a number of successful releases for Paramount and was heavily promoted as one of DeMille's most prominent protegees.

In 1925, against the advice of studio executives, Leatrice Joy parted ways with Paramount and followed DeMille to his new film company Producers Distributing Corporation, for which she made a few moderately successful films, including Lois Weber's last silent film The Angel of Broadway in 1927.

Leatrice Joy's career began to falter with the advent of talkies, possibly because her heavy Southern accent was considered unfashionable in comparison with other actresses' refined "Mid-Atlantic" diction.

Leatrice Joy was particularly interested in improving her voice and learning how to better handle dialogue.

Leatrice Joy appeared as a subject on the game show To Tell the Truth on July 1,1963.

Leatrice Joy was interviewed in the television documentary series Hollywood: A Celebration of the American Silent Film.

Leatrice Joy filed for divorce in August 1924, citing Gilbert's infidelity and alcoholism.

On May 13,1985, Leatrice Joy died from acute anemia at the High Ridge House Christian Science nursing home in Riverdale, Bronx, New York.

Leatrice Joy was interred at the Saint Savior Episcopal Churchyard in Old Greenwich, Connecticut.