Joan Carroll

Joan Carroll (January 18, 1931 - November 16, 2016) was a notable American child actress whose career spanned from the late 1930s to the mid-1940s. She made her cinematic debut at the tender age of six in "Walking Down Broadway" (1938), adopting the stage name Carroll from her birth name, Felt. Following her debut, Joan appeared in "Two Sisters" (1938) and quickly garnered attention for her roles in "Barricade" and "Tower of London," both released in 1939.

Joan's career truly took off in 1940 with significant performances in "Anne of Windy Poplars" and particularly "Primrose Path," where she captured audiences' hearts as the younger sister of Ginger Rogers. The following year, she landed her first leading role in "Obliging Young Lady" (1942), portraying Bridget Potter, a spirited girl caught in a custody battle while maintaining a lively personality at a resort, alongside Ruth Warrick.

In a landmark moment for child actors, Joan became the first Hollywood child star to grace a Broadway stage in the production of "Panama Hattie," which elevated her fame and led to extensive media coverage. She continued to shine with her lead role in "Petticoat Larceny" (1943) and is perhaps best remembered for her performance in "Meet Me in St. Louis" (1944), where she played Agnes, the beloved younger sister of Judy Garland. Joan's career concluded with a supporting role in "The Bells of St. Mary's" (1945) before she decided to retire from acting.