- On October 24, 1963, her mother, daughter Beverly Wills and two grandsons perished in a housefire in Palm Springs, California.
- Signed a radio contract for $1,000,000 per year for four years with the United Drug Company (1941). This enabled her to set up her own production company in the 1950s.
- Best remembered by the public for her role as the scatterbrained wife of a mild-mannered community judge (played by Jim Backus) on the situation comedy I Married Joan (1952).
- She was awarded 2 Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Pictures at 1521 Vine Street; and for Radio at 1716 Vine Street in Hollywood, California on February 8, 1960.
- Probably best known for her co-starring turn with Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in the horror comedy Hold That Ghost (1941), she had a reputation for flawless physical comedy.
- Profiled in book "Funny Ladies" by Stephen Silverman. (1999)
- Her career was highlighted in "The Slapstick Queens" by James Robert Parish, published by A. S. Barnes (1973).
- She was the only child of LeRoy Davis and Nina Mae (nee Sinks) Davis, who were married in Saint Paul, Minnesota on November 23, 1910.
- Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith. Pg. 132-133. New York: Facts on File (1992). ISBN 0816023387.
- Founded Joan Davis Enterprises, to produce television shows.
- Founded Joan Davis Productions, to produce motion pictures.
- Joan Davis met Si Wills and joined his vaudeville act, billed as 'Wills and Davis' (1931).
- Following her sudden death, she was interred at the Holy Cross Cemetery mausoleum in Culver City, California. She passed away on May 23, 1961, one month from what would have been her 49th birthday on June 29.
- Daughter Beverley Wills.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content