Occupation film actress Spouse Grant Richards Role Actress | Name Joan Valerie Years active 1935-1953 Siblings Peter Vlahikis | |
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Born July 15, 1911 ( 1911-07-15 ) Rhinelander, Wisconsin, U.S. Died January 30, 1983, Long Beach, California, United States Movies Charlie Chan at the Wax Mus, The Old Barn Dance, Michael Shayne - Private D, Children of the Wild, The Prince and the Pauper Similar People Grant Richards, Joseph Kane, William Keighley, William Dieterle, Frank McDonald | ||
Joan Valerie (July 15, 1911 in Rhinelander, Wisconsin - January 30, 1983 in Long Beach, California) was a Greek-American actress, who appeared mainly in B movies in the late 1930s and 1940s.
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Early years
Born Helen Vlahakis, in Sparta, Wisconsin, she initially changed her name to Helen Valkis for acting purposes. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Vlahakis, with a sister, Catherine, and brothers Peter, William, Ted and Chris.
Vlahakis was a 1931 graduate of Rhinelander High School. She participated in local play productions in her hometown and was active in theatrical productions at Morningside College.
In 1934, Vlahakis was selected from a group of 44 women as Morningside College's "most beautiful girl," Miss Morningside.
Film
In 1928, Valerie (then known as Helen Vlahakis), was the leading lady in Yukon Trails, a Rex Pictures production that was filmed in Valerie's hometown, Rhinelander, Wisconsin, with an all-local cast.
Vlahakis' performance as the lead in Edward Elsner's Not So Long Ago in Hollywood led to two film studios' giving her tryouts, one of which resulted in a small part in Reckless (1935). After signing a contract (as Helen Valkis) with the Independent Productions film company in 1935, she received a long-term contract from Warner Bros. in 1936.
She was discovered by Darryl F. Zanuck on stage at the Pasadena Playhouse. Films include Confession, The Prince and the Pauper, Day-Time Wife, Sergeant Murphy, and Rio Rita.
Personal life
She was married to Paris Methusis and, in 1940, to Grant Richards. She and Richards, with whom she had a daughter, Jo-Ellen Rose, were divorced September 9, 1942. A newspaper report said that Valerie "sued under her true name of Helen Jaffe." She also had a son, George.