Joy Patrick Harmon, a retired actress who also bakes, appeared in 31 films and TV shows before she quit acting in 1973. She is best known for playing The Girl in “Cool Hand Luke”, a 1967 crime drama film directed by Stuart Rosenberg, starring Paul Newman and George Kennedy. The film, which follows a Southerner sentenced to 2 years in prison, won 5 awards, including an Oscar and ten nominations.
Joy is still alive today and focuses on running her bakery.
Early Life and Education
Joy was born in Flushing, New York, USA, on May 1, 1940. Her zodiac sign is Taurus, and she holds American nationality. She was raised in Flushing by her parents, whose identities are private. As an only child, she moved to Connecticut with her family at the age of six. Joy became interested in acting while attending a local elementary school, performing in school plays and regional theatre. She began her acting career at 16 with a role in the romantic war movie “The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit” (1956).
After graduating high school in 1958, Joy ventured into modelling and was crowned Miss Connecticut. She did not attend college.
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Joy’s Age, Height, and Weight
Joy is 84 years old as of May 2024. She has long blonde hair and blue eyes, stands at 5ft 5ins (1.65m), and weighs around 120 lbs (55 kg).
Career
Roles in Movies
In 1958, Joy appeared in the musical drama “Let’s Rock.” By 1961, she had a role in the biographical crime drama “Mad Dog Coll.” She gained recognition in 1963 with her portrayal of Ardice in the romantic comedy “Under the Yum Yum Tree.” Her other notable film roles include College Girl in the musical drama “Roustabout” (1964), Nelson’s Girl in the crime drama “Young Dillinger” (1965), and a performance in the comedy “The Loved One” (1965).
Joy’s final movie roles before retiring included the science fiction comedy “Village of the Giants” (1965), the romantic comedy “A Guide for the Married Man” (1967), and the family comedy “Angel in My Pocket” (1969).
TV Series Appearances
Joy debuted on TV in 1961 as Kitty Northcross in “The Beverly Hillbillies.” She made guest appearances in series such as “My Three Sons,” “Valentine’s Day,” and “Burke’s Law.” In 1965, she played two characters in “Gidget.” She continued to appear in single episodes of various series, including “Never Too Young,” “Bewitched,” and “Occasional Wife.”
Her last TV role was in the 1973 episode “The Mourning After” of the comedy “Thicker Than Water.”
Other Contributions
Joy received special thanks for the 2008 short documentary video “A Natural Born World-Shaker: Making ‘Cool Hand Luke'” and was featured in the 2013 documentary “From Cheesecake to Cheesecake: The Joy Harmon Story.” She has appeared on talk shows like “The Tonight Show,” “The Joey Bishop Show,” and “The ABC Comedy Hour.”
What Is She Currently Doing Now?
After retiring from acting, Joy worked various jobs before establishing her bakery, Aunt Joy’s Cakes, in Burbank, California. She has been dedicated to her bakery ever since.
Joy’s Net Worth 2024
As of May 2024, her net worth is estimated at over $1.5 million.
Relationships Status And Children
In 1968, Joy married Jeff Gourson, a film producer and editor known for producing “Quantum Leap.” They had three children together: daughters Julie and Jamie and son Jason, who is an actor and film editor. Joy and Jeff divorced in 2001. As of May 2024, Joy is believed to be single.
Hobbies and Other Interests
Joy loves traveling and has visited every US state and several continents, with Paris, France, as her dream destination. She is a cat lover and has had many pet cats. Joy has also worked with charities supporting underprivileged children and war veterans.
Her favourite actors include Ryan Gosling, Amanda Seyfried, and Kate Winslet, and she enjoys movies like “The Notebook,” “Dear John,” and “Titanic.” Joy is an avid reader, particularly of Nicholas Sparks, with “Message in a Bottle” as her favourite book.
