Joyce Coad
Encyclopedia
Joyce Coad was a child actress in motion pictures from Wyoming
.
whose parents died shortly after she was born. She was adopted by a childless couple and taken to Los Angeles
, California
. By the age of five she became a reader of children's stories on radio KHJ-AM in Los Angeles with the Beacon Light Company. It was commented that Coad's genius was first observed when she began to commit to memory songs, speeches, and music she heard over the radio.
(1926). Directed by J. Leo Meehan, Coad played the role of Little Anita.
She performed the role of Pearl in The Scarlet Letter
(1926), a film which featured Lillian Gish
. Louis B. Mayer
chose Victor Seastrom to direct the movie. He proved a fine choice because of his attentiveness to characterization. Drums of Love
(1928), directed by D.W. Griffith, is set in the middle of the nineteenth century in South America
. Coad appeared in the role of the little sister in a screen production which starred Lionel Barrymore
, Don Alvarado
, and Tully Marshall
.
The number of her film appearances declined after 1931. She played the role of Elsa The German Milkmaid in Captured!
(1933). In June 1937 Coad was cast in The Deerslayer, which was being filmed by Standard Pictures. She was twenty years old.
Joyce Coad died in California
in 1987.
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
.
Child prodigy
Coad was the survivor of tripletsMultiple birth
A multiple birth occurs when more than one fetus is carried to term in a single pregnancy. Different names for multiple births are used, depending on the number of offspring. Common multiples are two and three, known as twins and triplets...
whose parents died shortly after she was born. She was adopted by a childless couple and taken to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. By the age of five she became a reader of children's stories on radio KHJ-AM in Los Angeles with the Beacon Light Company. It was commented that Coad's genius was first observed when she began to commit to memory songs, speeches, and music she heard over the radio.
Film actress
Coad's good fortune was moving to Los Angeles at the same time that Metro Goldwyn Mayer was searching for a million dollar baby. She won a contest conducted by a local newspaper and was brought to Hollywood to play the leading role in Hearts In Dixie. She was selected from among one thousand youngsters to play a part in The Devil's CircusThe Devil's Circus
The Devil's Circus is a 1926 drama film directed by Danish director Benjamin Christensen, based upon his screenplay. The film stars Norma Shearer and Charles Emmett Mack...
(1926). Directed by J. Leo Meehan, Coad played the role of Little Anita.
She performed the role of Pearl in The Scarlet Letter
The Scarlet Letter (1926 film)
The Scarlet Letter is a 1926 drama film directed by Victor Sjöström. Louis B. Mayer was reluctant on using Miss Gish, fearing opposition from church groups. The film was announced as "It's a real 'A' picture", taking advantage of the 'A' for Adultery, and proved a box office success...
(1926), a film which featured Lillian Gish
Lillian Gish
Lillian Diana Gish was an American stage, screen and television actress whose film acting career spanned 75 years, from 1912 to 1987....
. Louis B. Mayer
Louis B. Mayer
Louis Burt Mayer born Lazar Meir was an American film producer. He is generally cited as the creator of the "star system" within Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in its golden years. Known always as Louis B...
chose Victor Seastrom to direct the movie. He proved a fine choice because of his attentiveness to characterization. Drums of Love
Drums of Love
Drums of Love is a silent romance film directed by D. W. Griffith.-Plot:After finding out her father and his estate is in danger, Princess Emanuella saves his life by marrying Duke Cathos de Alvia, a grotesque hunchback. She actually is in love with Leonardo, his attractive younger brother...
(1928), directed by D.W. Griffith, is set in the middle of the nineteenth century in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. Coad appeared in the role of the little sister in a screen production which starred Lionel Barrymore
Lionel Barrymore
Lionel Barrymore was an American actor of stage, screen and radio. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in A Free Soul...
, Don Alvarado
Don Alvarado
Don Alvarado was an American actor, assistant film director, and film production manager.-Life and career:Born as José Paige in Albuquerque, New Mexico...
, and Tully Marshall
Tully Marshall
William Phillips was an American character actor known as Tully Marshall, with nearly a quarter century of theatrical experience behind before he made his first film appearance in 1914.-Career:...
.
The number of her film appearances declined after 1931. She played the role of Elsa The German Milkmaid in Captured!
Captured!
Captured! is a 1933 film about World War I prisoners of war in a German camp. It stars Leslie Howard and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and was based on the short story "Fellow Prisoners" by Sir Philip Gibbs.-Plot:...
(1933). In June 1937 Coad was cast in The Deerslayer, which was being filmed by Standard Pictures. She was twenty years old.
Joyce Coad died in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1987.
Flimography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1926 | The Devil's Circus The Devil's Circus The Devil's Circus is a 1926 drama film directed by Danish director Benjamin Christensen, based upon his screenplay. The film stars Norma Shearer and Charles Emmett Mack... |
Little Anita | |
| The Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter (1926 film) The Scarlet Letter is a 1926 drama film directed by Victor Sjöström. Louis B. Mayer was reluctant on using Miss Gish, fearing opposition from church groups. The film was announced as "It's a real 'A' picture", taking advantage of the 'A' for Adultery, and proved a box office success... |
Pearl | ||
| 1927 | Children of Divorce Children of Divorce Children of Divorce is a silent film, directed by Frank Lloyd from an adaptation of Owen Johnson's novel, written by Adela Rogers St. Johns, Hope Loring and Louis D. Lighton.-Plot:... |
Little Kitty | |
| Mother | Betty Ellis | ||
| The Magic Garden | Amaryllis Minton, as a child | ||
| One Woman to Another | The Niece | ||
| 1928 | Drums of Love Drums of Love Drums of Love is a silent romance film directed by D. W. Griffith.-Plot:After finding out her father and his estate is in danger, Princess Emanuella saves his life by marrying Duke Cathos de Alvia, a grotesque hunchback. She actually is in love with Leonardo, his attractive younger brother... |
The Little Sister | |
| 1931 | Blood and Thunder | (uncredited) | |
| Devotion Devotion (1931 film) Devotion is a romantic drama film starring Ann Harding and Leslie Howard based on the Pamela Wynne novel A Little Flat in the Temple. Its plot involves a woman who disguises herself and gains employment in the home of the man she loves.-Cast:... |
Elsie | (uncredited) | |
| X Marks the Spot | Gloria | ||
| 1933 | Captured! Captured! Captured! is a 1933 film about World War I prisoners of war in a German camp. It stars Leslie Howard and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and was based on the short story "Fellow Prisoners" by Sir Philip Gibbs.-Plot:... |
Elsa the German Milkmaid |
External links
- Joyce Coad photo from silentsaregolden.com, retrieved 2-13-08.