JOI LANSING

April 6, 1929

Joi Lansing was born Joy Rae Brown, in Salt Lake City, Utah. In 1940, her family moved to Los Angeles. She began modeling at the age of 14 was signed to a contract at MGM. She completed high school on the studio lot. She was noted for her pin-up photos and roles in B-movies, as well as a prominent role in the famous opening “tracking shot” in Orson Welles’ 1958 crime drama Touch of Evil.  

Her parents were devout Mormons who divorced when she was young. She was considered for the role that eventually went to Marilyn Monroe in All About Eve (1950). Most TV fans remember her as the wife of Lester Flatt on “The Beverly Hillbillies” from 1965 to 1968. She married Clark Kent (aka Superman) in a 1958 episode of “The Adventures of Superman” and might have become a regular had the series not ended when George Reeves died.

Lansing was often cast in roles similar to those played by her contemporaries Jayne Mansfield and Mamie Van Doren. She frequently was clad in skimpy costumes and bikinis that accentuated her figure. She made her screen debut in When A Girl’s Beautiful, playing one of the “eight temptation girls”.  

She made her television debut in a March 1952 episode of “Racket Squad” titled “Home Wreckers”. 

She first worked for Desilu on a February 1955 episode of “December Bride”. She did two more episodes in October 1955 and February 1957. 

She first worked with Lucille Ball on “I Love Lucy” in “Desert Island” (ILL S6;E8) filmed on October 4, 1956 and aired on November 26, 1956. She played a beauty contestant  Keith Thibodeaux (aka Little Ricky) recalled,

“I remember watching the chemistry between Joi Lansing and Desi, and Lucy’s reaction. Even at my age, I knew this couldn’t be good.”

In 1956 she also made two appearances on “Cavalcade of America” filmed at Desilu Studios. 

In 1957 she made two appearances on “The Danny Thomas Show”, filmed at Desilu Studios. 

Lansing also played Miss Long-Neck in “Lucy Wants a Career” (LDCH 1959). Her character name reflects her low-cut blouse!  She tells the secretary her name is Joanne Lansing. 

In January 1960 she did an episode of Desilu’s “The Untouchables” titled “The Noise of Death”. 

In January 1963, she did an episode of “The Joey Bishop Show” filmed at Desilu Studios. 

In March 1969, she made an appearance on Desi Arnaz’s “The Mothers-in-Law” playing Roger’s new secretary. 

In December 1970 she made her final screen appearance on an episode of “The Governor and J.J.” 

Joi Lansing was diagnosed with breast cancer, and died at age 43 on August 7, 1972.  She was married to Jerry Safron for six months in 1950. The then married Lance Fuller in 1951. Her third husband was Stanley Laurence Todd. They were married in 1960 and stayed together until her death.