Biography
Her older brother Dick was already a working actor when their mother entered two-year old Joyce Van Patten in a Shirley Temple look-alike contest, which she won. Within four years, she was appearing on Broadway in "Love's Old Sweet Song". Over the course of the next fifty-odd years, Van Patten graced numerous plays including "Desk Set" (1952), with Shirley Booth and several of Neil Simon's efforts, including "I Ought to Be in Pictures" (1982, …
Career Milestones
| Appeared with brother Dick on "Young Doctor Malone" (NBC) | ||
| Played mother-in-law on "Unhappily Ever After" (The WB) | ||
| Starred with Bob Denver and Herb Edelman on the CBS sitcom "The Good Guys" | ||
| Toured in "Show Boat" | ||
| Was an ensemble company member on "The Danny Kaye Show" (CBS) | ||
1934 | Was child model at age eight months | |
1936 | Won Shirley Temple look-alike contest | |
1940 | Began acting on Broadway in "Love's Old Sweet Song" | |
1941 | Feature film debut, "Reg'lar Fellers" | |
1956 | Was regular on the CBS daytime drama "As the World Turns" | |
1963 | Made unsold pilot for potential variety series partnered with Paul Mazursky | |
1970 | TV-movie debut, "But I Don't Want to Get Married" (ABC) | |
1972 | Was regular on the CBS sitcom "The Don Rickles Show" | |
1974 | Cast as Sally Cato the rival to "Mame" | |
1979 | Appeared in the regular role of Mary's secretary in "The Mary Tyler Moore Comedy Hour" (CBS) | |
1982 | Portrayed the diner owner Grace in the HBO remake of "Bus Stop" | |
1987 | Cast as Kim Basinger's mother in "Blind Date" | |
1989 | Last film role for seven years, "Trust Me" | |
1996 | Returned to films in "Infinity" | |
1999 | Appeared in the Broadway revival of "Ring Round the Moon" | |
2005 | Guest-starred in ABC's "Desperate Housewives" | |
2008 | Appeared in "Marley & Me" opposite Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson | |
2010 | Appeared in the ensemble comedy "Grown Ups," about five friends who reunite for a Fourth of July holiday weekend; film starred Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, and Rob Schneider | |