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Joan Leslie

Joan Leslie

Actor · Died October 12, 2015, aged 90 · Detroit, Michigan, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Joan Leslie (born Joan Agnes Theresa Sadie Brodel; January 26, 1925 – October 12, 2015) was an American actress, dancer, and vaudevillian who, during the Hollywood Golden Age, appeared in such films as High Sierra, Sergeant York, and Yankee Doodle Dandy. Joan Agnes Theresa Sadie Brodel was born on January 26, 1925, in Highland Park, Michigan, the youngest child of John and Agnes Brodel. At 15, Leslie had her first significant role as the crippled girl in High Sierra (1941), starring Humphrey Bogart and Ida Lupino. The same year she played in Sergeant York as York's fiancée. Leslie had a supporting role in The Male Animal (1942) as Olivia de Havilland's younger sister. In Yankee Doodle Dandy (also 1942) she portrayed George M. Cohan's girlfriend/wife. By now, Leslie had become a star whose on-screen image was described as "sweet innocence without seeming too sugary." Leslie was in four motion pictures released during 1943: The Hard Way, starring Ida Lupino and Dennis Morgan; The Sky's the Limit (1943), starring with Fred Astaire; the wartime film This Is the Army (1943) with Ronald Reagan; and finally Thank Your Lucky Stars. During World War II, she was a regular volunteer at the Hollywood Canteen, where she danced with servicemen and signed hundreds of autographs. She was featured with Robert Hutton, among many others, in the Warner Bros. film Hollywood Canteen (1944). In 1946 Leslie's career took a dive when she took Warner Brothers to court in order to get released from her contract based on moral and religious grounds because of the parts they kept giving her. She wanted more serious and mature roles. In 1947, the Catholic Theatre Guild gave Leslie an award because of her "consistent refusal to use her talents and art in film productions of objectionable character." As a result of this, Jack Warner used his influence to blacklist her from other major Hollywood studios. From this point on Leslie had a more irregular film career. In 1947, she signed a two-picture contract with the poverty row studio Eagle-Lion Films. The first one was Repeat Performance (1947), a film noir. The other was Northwest Stampede (1948) in which she performed with James Craig. In 1952, she signed a short-term deal with Republic Pictures. One of the films she made for Republic was Flight Nurse (1953). Her last film was The Revolt of Mamie Stover (1956). However, she continued making sporadic appearances in television shows while her children were at school. She retired from acting in 1991, after appearing in the TV film Fire in the Dark. Leslie died on October 12, 2015, in Los Angeles, California. She was 90. Her survivors include her two children and one sister, Betty. On October 8, 1960, Joan Leslie received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1560 Vine Street. In 1999, she was one of the 250 actresses nominated for the American Film Institute's selection of the 25 greatest female screen legends to have debuted before 1950. On August 12, 2006, she received a Golden Boot Award for her contributions to Western television shows and movies.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 26, 1925
Died
October 12, 2015 (aged 90)
From
Detroit, Michigan, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
29 on MovieCove · 62 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 42% in 30 days

What are Joan Leslie's films like?

Across their 20 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 40th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 91st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Western2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile
: browse their Western movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
25%
Morality
25%
Self
20%
Society
11%
Ideas
9%
Power
6%
Survival
4%
Family bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption4 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFate3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 20 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 9 · Stylized 10 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 9 · Charged 8 · Intense 3

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 13 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 8 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 3

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 12 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 13 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 18 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

10 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 7 of 10 analyzed roles.

Ally
7 of 10
Hero
2 of 10
Shapeshifter
1 of 10
Show the 10 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
10
Joyful
6
Melancholic
8
Warm
6
Romantic
5
Other
15

How their films linger

Bittersweet10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy10
  • Bittersweet6
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Joan Leslie's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 13 of their 29 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Joan Leslie's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

62 credits, 29 with a MovieCove page; 14 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Sergeant York: Of God and Country (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • Fire in the Dark(1991)

    as Ruthie

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Shades of L.A. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Turn Back the Clock(1989)

    as Party Guest

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Charley Hannah (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Sandy Hannah

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Lillian Appletree

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Showbiz Goes to War(1982)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Simon & Simon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Incredible Hulk(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Charlie's Angels(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Catherine

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • The Keegans (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Mary Keegan

  • Police Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Branded (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Revolt of Mamie Stover(1956)

    as Annalee Johnson

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The 20th Century Fox Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hell's Outpost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Sarah Moffit

  • Jubilee Trail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Garnet Hale

  • Flight Nurse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Lt. Polly Davis

  • Woman They Almost Lynched(1953)

    as Sally Maris

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • General Electric Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Sarah Owens

  • Toughest Man in Arizona (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Mary Kimber

  • Hellgate(1952)

    as Ellen Hanley

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Man in the Saddle(1951)

    as Laurie Bidwell Isham

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hill Number One: A Story of Faith and Inspiration (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Claudia

  • Lux Video Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Vanessa Cook

  • Born to Be Bad(1950)

    as Donna

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Skipper Surprised His Wife(1950)

    as Daphne Lattimer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Northwest Stampede (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Chris Johnson

  • Repeat Performance(1947)

    as Sheila Page

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Two Guys from Milwaukee(1946)

    as Connie Reed

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Janie Gets Married (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Janie Conway

  • Cinderella Jones (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Judy Jones

  • Too Young to Know (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Sally Sawyer

  • Rhapsody in Blue(1945)

    as Julie Adams

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Where Do We Go from Here? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Sally Smith / Prudence / Katrina

  • Thank Your Lucky Stars(1943)

    as Pat Dixon

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • This Is the Army(1943)

    as Eileen Dibble

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Sky's the Limit(1943)

    as Joan Manion

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Stars on Horseback (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    Actor

  • The Hard Way (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Katherine 'Katie' Blaine

  • Yankee Doodle Dandy(1942)

    as Mary

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Male Animal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Patricia Stanley

  • Sergeant York(1941)

    as Gracie Williams

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Nine Lives Are Not Enough (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Receptionist (uncredited)

  • Thieves Fall Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Mary Matthews

  • The Wagons Roll at Night(1941)

    as Mary Coster

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Great Mr. Nobody(1941)

    as Mary Clover

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • High Sierra(1941)

    as Velma

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Foreign Correspondent(1940)

    as Jones' Sister (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Susan and God(1940)

    as Party Guest (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Star Dust (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as College Girl (uncredited)

  • Alice in Movieland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Alice Purdee (as Joan Brodel)

  • Young as You Feel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Girl (as Joan Brodel)

  • High School (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Patsy

  • Laddie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Shelley Stanton

  • Two Thoroughbreds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Wendy Conway (as Joan Brodel)

  • Winter Carnival(1939)

    as Betsy Phillips

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Love Affair(1939)

    as Autograph Seeker (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Nancy Drew... Reporter(1939)

    as Mayme, Journalism Student (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Men with Wings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Young Patricia Falconer

  • Camille(1936)

    as Marie Jeanette (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 93rd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 62 titles from 1936 to 2006.

Biggest box office

Sergeant York (1941)

$16M worldwide

Highest rated

Sergeant York (1941)

Midcredits 93rd

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting62 of 62: 62 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score60th

By decade

1930s6 · acting1940s28 · acting1950s15 · acting1960s1 · acting1970s4 · acting1980s5 · acting1990s2 · acting2000s1 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 0% of 10 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Joan Leslie's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 60th percentile, the median of all 26; across their 20 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 58th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Approval · how many liked their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Reach · how many have seen their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Midcredits score across 29 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th14
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 29 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Crowd Pleaser17
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

Susan and God (1940)

63rd percentile spread · 25% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Sergeant York (1941)

Midcredits 93rd · 83% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 19 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 47. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Joan Leslie work with?

People who share at least 2 of Joan Leslie's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Rosemary DeCamp shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers