Birth Name: Dorothy Cook
Dorothy/Joanna was born on November 10, 1934 in Parrott, Georgia
She died November 22, 1997 at the age of 63 in Indian Wells, California
Tragedy among the co-stars of The Rifleman
Joanna Cook
Moore
as Eleanor Claremont in 'The Obituary'
Birth Name: Dorothy Cook
Dorothy/Joanna was born on November 10, 1934 in Parrott, Georgia
She died November 22, 1997 at the age of 63 in Indian Wells, California
Southern bred beauty Joanna Moore certainly had a lot of things going for her when her career started off in the 50s. She came to Hollywood after she won a beauty contest in her home state of Georgia. Her career began after being spotted at a cocktail party by a Universal producer.
Orphaned as a child, she was the elder of two daughters. Her mother and baby sister were killed in a one-car accident. Joanna was the only member of the family not in the car. Her father, who was the driver, died of complications from his injuries (ruptured spleen) a year later.
She married actor Ryan O'Neal in 1963 and they divorced in 1967.
The couple had two children who also became actors: 'Tatum O'Neal' (later Oscar-winner) and 'Griffin O'Neal'.
Things went down hill after that for Joanna. She lost her children in 1970 due to severe drug and alcohol addiction. Both of her children would battle similar problems as adults.
She lost 3 fingers on her left hand from a car accident, and she later wrote a short story about a woman interacting with a grandchild who kept staring at "Nana's little hand."
There was talk that Joanna was living in self-styled communes and had completely abandoned herself from any Hollywood contact. She was not heard of for decades until discovered in the Palm Springs area involving herself in small theater projects. Joanna died in 1997 of lung cancer with her daughter, Tatum, at her side.
IMDB
May you rest in peace Joanna Moore — Find A Grave
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