Joan Taylor
Taylor in The Rifleman (1960)
Born
Rose Marie Emma

(1929-08-18)August 18, 1929
Geneva, Illinois, U.S.
DiedMarch 4, 2012(2012-03-04) (aged 82)
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Other namesRose Freeman
Occupation(s)Actress and screenwriter
Years active1949–1989
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1953; died 1974)​
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1976; div. 1980)​
    Children3

    Joan Taylor (August 18, 1929 – March 4, 2012) was an American television and film actress.

    Personal life

    Taylor was born Rose Marie Emma in Geneva, Illinois. Her father, Joseph Emma, from Sicily, was a prop man in Hollywood in the 1920s. After his daughter's birth he became the manager of the Deerpath movie theatre in Lake Forest, Illinois, where Joan was brought up.[1] Her mother, Amelia Berky, was from Austria, and was a vaudeville singing-dancing star in the 1920s.[2]

    Taylor married Leonard Freeman, later the creator of Hawaii Five-O, in 1953. The couple had three daughters. After her contract for The Rifleman ran out, she retired from acting to raise her children.[3]

    When Freeman died in January 1974, following heart surgery, Taylor began managing Leonard Freeman Productions and the business of Hawaii Five-O under the name Rose Freeman.[4] She attended at least one Hawaii Five-O convention to talk to fans.[5]

    With her children older, she found herself writing, including co-author credit for the comedy Fools Rush In starring Matthew Perry and Salma Hayek.[6] She remarried, to television producer-director Walter Grauman in 1976; the couple divorced in 1980.[7]

    Career

    Taylor's career began at the Pasadena Playhouse. She met Freeman there when both were involved with putting on Here Comes Mr. Jordan.[8] In the early 1950s, she was chosen by Paramount Pictures as a member of the studio's "Golden Circle", described as a "group consisting of a dozen unusually talented young actors for whom Paramount held high hopes." Her first film was Fighting Man of the Plains, starring Randolph Scott.[9] Her producer had also insured the 19-year-old's legs for $100,000 against injury.[9]

    Her television career consisted of guest appearances on popular shows, in only one or two episodes. However, she had a successful recurring role in eighteen episodes of The Rifleman, starring Chuck Connors from 1960 to 1962.

    Death

    Taylor died of natural causes March 4, 2012, in Santa Monica, California.[10]

    Selected filmography

    Television

    Feature films

    References

    1. ↑ "Joan Taylor - 20 Million Miles of Memories". Riflemanconnors.com. Archived from the original on 2017-08-23. Retrieved 2017-07-06.
    2. ↑ "The Private Life and Times of Joan Taylor". Glamourgirlsofthesilverscreen.com. Retrieved 2017-07-06.
    3. ↑ Morrison, Pat (December 25, 1960), "Joan Taylor Brings Romantic Interest to 'The Rifleman' Series", The Modesto Bee
    4. ↑ "Rose Freeman dies at 82". Variety.com. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
    5. ↑ "The Hawaii Five-O FAQ". Mjq.net. Archived from the original on 2017-05-30. Retrieved 2017-07-06.
    6. ↑ "Actress Joan Taylor Dies at 82", Hollywoodreporter.com, 2012, retrieved 2012-03-07
    7. ↑ Lentz, Harris M. (2013). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2012. McFarland. p. 285. ISBN 9780786470631.
    8. ↑ "Rose Freeman dies at 82". Variety. March 6, 2012.
    9. 1 2 "Ambition and Determination Key To Success of Joan Taylor". The Titusville Herald. The Titusville Herald. November 5, 1960. p. 7. Retrieved May 14, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
    10. ↑ Barnes, Mike (March 6, 2012). "Actress Joan Taylor Dies at 82". The Hollywood Reporter.
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