Joan Taylor
| Joan Taylor | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Rose Marie Emma August 18, 1929 Geneva, Illinois, United States |
| Died | March 4, 2012 (aged 82) Santa Monica, California, United States. |
| Other names | Rose Freeman |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1949–1989 |
| Spouse(s) |
Leonard Freeman (m. 1953-1974; his death) Walter Grauman (m. 1976-1980; divorced) |
Joan Taylor (August 18, 1929 – March 4, 2012) was an American television and film actress.
Taylor was born Rose Marie Emma in Geneva, Illinois. Her father Joseph Emma was from Sicily and became the manager of the Deerpath movie theatre in Lake Forest, Illinois where Joan was brought up and a Hollywood prop man. Her mother Amelia Berky was from Austria and became a vaudeville dancer/singer.
Taylor married Leonard Freeman, later the creator of Hawaii Five-O, in 1953. The couple had three daughters. After her contract for The Rifleman ran out, she retired from acting to raise her children. When Freeman died in January 1974, following heart surgery, Taylor began managing Leonard Freeman Productions and the business of Hawaii Five-O under the name Rose Freeman. She attended at least one Hawaii Five-O convention to talk to fans.
With her children older, she found herself writing, including co-author credit for the comedy Fools Rush In starring Matthew Perry and Salma Hayek.
Taylor married TV producer-director Walter Grauman in 1976; the couple divorced in 1980.
Taylor's career began at the Pasadena Playhouse. She met Freeman there when both were involved with putting on Here Comes Mr. Jordan. In the early 1950s, she was chosen by Paramount Pictures as a member of the studio's 'Golden Circle," described as a "group consisting of a dozen unusually talented young actors for whom Paramount held high hopes." Her Producer also insured 19-year-old Taylor's legs for $100,000 against injury. Her first film was Fighting Man of the Plains, with Randolph Scott.
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