Joan Wheeler Ankrum was an American film actress of the 1930s and founder of the Ankrum Gallery. She was the wife of actor Morris Ankrum

Morris Ankrum

Morris Ankrum was an American radio, television and film character actor.-Early life:Born Morris Nussbaum in Danville, Illinois, Ankrum originally began a career in academics. After graduating from USC with a law degree, he went on to an associate professorship in economics at the University of...

.

Early life and career

Ankrum was born Joan Natalia Wheeler on January 8, 1914 in Palo Alto, California

Palo Alto, California

Palo Alto is a California charter city located in the northwest corner of Santa Clara County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, United States. The city shares its borders with East Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Stanford, Portola Valley, and Menlo Park. It is...

 to Raymond Bert (1888–1980) and Margaret Lucille (Ozier) Wheeler (1888–1956), who had met and eloped while attending Stanford University

Stanford University

The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...

. Ankrum was 1 of 4 children, having one older sister and two younger brothers.

Joan got her start in acting with Pasadena Playhouse

Pasadena Playhouse

The Pasadena Playhouse is a historic performing arts venue located 39 S El Molino Avenue in Pasadena, California. The 686-seat auditorium produces a variety of cultural and artistic events, professional shows, and community engagements each year.-History:...

, where she met her husband Morris. They were married on August 16, 1935 in Benbow, California

Benbow, California

Benbow is a census-designated place in Humboldt County, California, located beside the South Fork Eel River. It is located south-southeast of Garberville, at an elevation of 440 feet . Its population was 321 at the 2010 census.-History:...

, and had 2 sons, David and Cary. (This marriage would end in divorce many years later due to Morris' possessive attitude toward her). Joan was cast in the following films, all in 1934:

1. . Madame Du Barry
   Madame Du Barry (1934 film)
   Madame DuBarry is a 1934 American historical film directed by William Dieterle and starring Dolores del Rio, Reginald Owen, Victor Jory and Osgood Perkins. The film portrays the life of Madame Du Barry, the last mistress of King Louis XV of France...
   
   as Florette, Young Girl at Dear Park
2. . Desirable
   Desirable
   Desirable is a 1934 drama film directed by Archie Mayo, starring Jean Muir and George Brent. Helen Walbridge is a famous actress who does not want her true age to be known...
   
   as Barbara, 'Babs'
3. . The Merry Frinks as Lucille Frink... aka Happy Family (UK)
4. . Smarty as Mrs. Bonnie Durham... aka Hit Me Again (UK)
5. . Twenty Million Sweethearts
   Twenty Million Sweethearts
   Twenty Million Sweethearts is a 1934 American musical comedy film directed by Ray Enright. The film stars Pat O'Brien, Dick Powell and Ginger Rogers.The film was remade in 1949, starring Doris Day and Jack Carson as My Dream Is Yours.-Plot:...
   
   as Marge, the Receptionist

Later life

Ankrum later founded the Ankrum Gallery, an art gallery for her deaf nephew, Morris Broderson. She was also married to actor William Challee later in life, in 1984. She lived out most of her later life in the Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...

area where she died on December 20, 2001.