Elaine Joyce

Elaine Joyce
Born Elaine Joyce Pinchot
(1943-12-19) December 19, 1943
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Occupation Actress
Years active 1961–present
Spouse(s)
Bobby Van
(m. 1968; d. 1980)

John Levoff
(m. 1985; div. 1992)

Neil Simon
(m. 1999; d. 2018)
Children 2

Elaine Joyce (born Elaine Joyce Pinchot; December 19, 1943) is an American actress.

Life and career

Elaine Joyce Pinchot was born in Cleveland, Ohio, of Hungarian ancestry.[1][2] She made her film debut in 1961 as an extra in West Side Story and made uncredited appearances in several musical films, including The Music Man, Bye Bye Birdie, and Funny Girl before being cast in Such Good Friends and How to Frame a Figg in 1971. She made her television debut as one of the Tony Charmoli Dancers on The Danny Kaye Show, which ran from 1963 to 1967. She also had recurring roles in The Young and the Restless and Days of Our Lives; made guest appearances in such series as The Andy Griffith Show; The Red Skelton Show; Love, American Style; The Carol Burnett Show; Kojak; Charlie's Angels; Green Acres; Hawaii Five-O; and The Feather and Father Gang. Additionally, she was also a regular panelist on several game shows, including Match Game, Tattletales, Super Password, Password Plus, What's My Line?, and I've Got a Secret.

In the 1976 television series City of Angels, she played Marsha Finch, the ditzy secretary to Los Angeles private eye Jake Axminster (Wayne Rogers), who ran a call-girl service on the side. Joyce also hosted the first season (1986–87) of The All New Dating Game. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s she was featured in many series, including Mr. Merlin, (in which she portrayed the character Alexandra, a sorceress); Beverly Hills, 90210; Melrose Place; Magnum, P.I.; Simon & Simon; Too Close For Comfort; and Murder, She Wrote.

In 1972, she made her Broadway debut in the title role in Sugar, the musical adaptation of the film Some Like It Hot, in which she portrayed band singer Sugar Kane, the role originated by Marilyn Monroe in the movie. Joyce won the 1972 Theatre World Award for her performance.

Elaine also starred in the 1986 film Trick or Treat as Angie Weinbauer, the mother of Eddie Weinbauer (Marc Price).

Personal life

Joyce was married to Bobby Van from 1968 until Van's death from brain cancer in 1980.[3] In May 1982, Joyce performed at the Alhambra Dinner Theatre in Jacksonville, Florida. Reclusive author J.D. Salinger attended the opening night of the production to see Joyce and accompany her after the show. She told a reporter that it was the first time the two had met, but Salinger had been calling and writing her letters for more than three months.[4]

Joyce was married to television producer John Levoff from 1985 until their divorce in 1992. From September 1999 until his death in August 2018, she was married to playwright Neil Simon, who died on August 26, 2018, after being on life-support while hospitalized for renal failure.[5]

She has two children: a daughter, Taylor (b. 1977), with Bobby Van, and a son, Michael (b. 1986), with John Levoff.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "Spontaniety spells Elaine". Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  2. ↑ Elaine Joyce profile in Boston Globe
  3. ↑ Associated Press (August 1, 1980). "Actor-singer Bobby Van Dies of Cancer at 47". Milwaukee Journal. Milwaukee: Gannett Company. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  4. ↑ Patton, Charlie (January 28, 2010). "J.D. Salinger quietly visited Jacksonville in 1982". Florida Times-Union. Jacksonville, Florida: GateHouse Media. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
  5. ↑ Isherwood, Charles (August 26, 2018). "Neil Simon, a Master of Comedy on Broadway and Beyond, Is Dead at 91". The New York Times. New York City: The New York Times Company. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  6. ↑ Anderson, James (November 16, 2014). "Raine Katz and Michael Levoff". The New York Times. New York City: The New York Times Company. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
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