Elaine Joyce Headshot

Elaine Joyce

Birth Place: Kansas City, MO, USA

Get Elaine Joyce Email Alerts

Be the first to get news, photos, videos & more.

Elaine Joyce BIO

Joyce made her film debut in 1961 as an extra in West Side Story and made uncredited appearances in several musical films, including The Music Man, Bye Bye Birdie, and Funny Girl before being cast in Such Good Friends and How to Frame a Figg in 1971.

She made her television debut in an episode of Route 66 in 1962. She was one of the dancers on The Danny Kaye Show. She also had recurring roles in The Young and the Restless and Days of Our Lives; made guest appearances in such series as The Andy Griffith Show; The Red Skelton Show; Love, American Style; The Carol Burnett Show; Kojak; Charlie's Angels; Green Acres; Hawaii Five-O; Quincy, M.E.; The Feather and Father Gang; The Love Boat; and $weepstake$.

In 1971, Joyce starred in the final episode of Green Acres as Oliver's former secretary, Carol Rush. The episode was a backdoor pilot, titled "The Blonde" or "Carol," which featured Joyce as a young, dizzy blonde who lives with her sister and brother-in-law in Los Angeles, and manages to save her no-nonsense boss, played by Richard Deacon, from a real estate scam. The pilot was not picked up.

She was also a regular panelist on several game shows, including Match Game, Tattletales, Super Password, Password Plus, What's My Line?, and I've Got a Secret.

In the 1976 television series City of Angels, she played Marsha Finch, the ditzy secretary to Los Angeles private eye Jake Axminster (Wayne Rogers), who ran a call girl service on the side. Joyce also hosted the first season (1986–87) of The All New Dating Game. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, she was featured in many series, including Mr. Merlin (in which she portrayed the character Alexandra, a sorceress); Beverly Hills, 90210; Melrose Place; Magnum, P.I.; Simon & Simon; Too Close for Comfort; and Murder, She Wrote.

In 1972, she made her Broadway debut in the title role in Sugar, the musical adaptation of the film Some Like It Hot, in which she portrayed band singer Sugar Kane, the role originated by Marilyn Monroe in the movie. Joyce won the 1972 Theatre World Award for her performance.

Joyce also starred in the 1980 film Motel Hell as Edith Olsen and the 1986 film Trick or Treat as Angie Weinbauer, the mother of Eddie Weinbauer (Marc Price).

Elaine Joyce Photos

Elaine Joyce STAGE CREDITS

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1972
Sugar Kane


Elaine Joyce Awards and Nominations


winner
Theatre World Awards - 1972 - Performance

Elaine Joyce, Sugar

Elaine Joyce News


Review Roundup: SOME LIKE IT HOT Opens on Broadway!


Critics are weighing in on SOME LIKE IT HOT, the brand-new Broadway musical comedy featuring a book by Matthew López & Amber Ruffin, music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman and direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw, which opened on Broadway Sunday, December 11th at the Shubert Theatre.

Photos: Stars Turn Out For Opening Night of A BEAUTIFUL NOISE On Broadway


Last night was the official opening night of A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical. See photos from the opening night red carpet!

John Rubenstein Celebrates Pippin's 50th Anniversary On MUSICAL THEATRE MELODIES Next Week


The next broadcast of Rob Morrison's Musical Theatre Melodies will pay tribute to the 50th Anniversary of Steven Schwartz and Roger O. Hirson's Tony Award winning musical PIPPIN, featuring interviews with Tony Award winner John Rubenstein and songs from the original Broadway cast recording with special narration by Tony Award nominee Walter Willison.

Musical Theater Melodies Celebrates 120th Birthday of Legendary Composer Richard Rodgers with Broadcast and Streaming Premiere


Tuesday June 28th, 2022, marks the 120th Anniversary of the birth of legendary Broadway composer Richard Rodgers, Rob Morrison's Musical Theatre Melodies will commemorate the occasion with the broadcast and streaming premiere of the Museum of the City of New York's A CELEBRATION OF RICHARD RODGERS, recorded live at The Imperial Theatre, New York City, on March 26th, 1972.

Library of Congress Acquires Neil Simon's Papers and Manuscripts


The Library of Congress has acquired the manuscripts and papers of playwright and screenwriter Neil Simon, the most commercially successful American playwright of the 20th century.

Photos: Stars Walk the Red Carpet for Opening Night of PLAZA SUITE


Just last night, two-time Tony Award winner Matthew Broderick and two-time Emmy Award winner Sarah Jessica Parker made their return to Broadway in the long-awaited opening of Neil Simon's classic comedy about marriage, Plaza Suite under the direction of Tony Award winner John Benjamin Hickey.

Photos: Whoopi Goldberg, Tracy Morgan, Craig Robinson and Sherri Shepherd Visit MJ


The company of MJ recently welcomed some special visitors to the Neil Simon Theatre. Check out photos of the cast with Whoopi Goldberg, Tracy Morgan, Craig Robinson and Sherri Shepherd.

UN DÍA COMO HOY: SUGAR se estrenaba en Broadway


Producida por David Merrick y dirigida y coreografiada por Gower Champion, SUGAR se estrenó en Broadway en el Majestic Theatre el 9 de abril de 1972 tras 14 preestrenos y se cerró el 23 de junio de 1973 tras 505 representaciones.

Neil Simon, TDF Accessibility Program and Aleshea Harris are the 2019 Recipients of the 4th Annual Samuel French Awards


Samuel French, a Concord Theatricals Company, announced today that Neil Simon (posthumously), TDF Accessibility Program, and Aleshea Harris are the 2019 recipients of the 4th Annual Samuel French Awards. The Awards, which are accompanied by a donation from Concord Theatricals of $15,000, were created by Samuel French to acknowledge the great work and unparalleled passion of theatre artists, as well as applaud significant contributions to the industry.

Photo Coverage: On the Opening Night Red Carpet of AMERICAN UTOPIA on Broadway!


David Byrne's American Utopia just celebrated opening night yesterday, October 20 at the intimate Hudson Theatre on Broadway. BroadwayWorld was there for the big night and we're taking you to the star-studded red carpet below!

Photo Coverage: On the Red Carpet at the 75th Annual Theatre World Awards!


Just last night, Broadway gathered to celebrate the Theatre World Awards at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street), home of the sensational Broadway hit, The Cher Show.

BWW TV: On the Red Carpet for the 2019 Theatre World Awards


Broadway will gather today, June 3, to celebrate the Theatre World Awards at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street), home of the sensational Broadway hit, The Cher Show.  

Celia Keenan-Bolger, Ruthie Ann Miles and More to Present at Theatre World Awards


The Theatre World Awards will celebrate the 2019 Theatre World Award Honorees, the 7th Annual John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement in Theatre Honoree Nathan Lane, and the 11th Annual Dorothy Loudon Award Honoree Hampton Fluker at the landmark 75th Annual Theatre World Awards Ceremony on Monday, June 3, 2019 beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street), home of the sensational Broadway hit, The Cher Show.

Photo Flash: Together Again! The Cast of THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG Reunites for Actors Fund Benefit


A 40th Anniversary reunion benefit concert of the 1979 hit Broadway production of They're Playing Our Song was held on Monday, February 11th at 7:30 pm at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th St.). The show starred the Broadway cast members Lucie Arnaz as 'Sonia Walsk' and Robert Klein as 'Vernon Gersch'. Check out photos from the evening below!

Joseph Lorenzo Wise Sings 'My Prayer' For Thanksgiving


Singer/Songwriter Joseph Lorenzo Wise goes nostalgic this Thanksgiving with the release of his new single 'My Prayer'. Wise performs The Platters hit for the Holidays and says 'It's just the right song for this year. I wanted to do a song that took people back to a time when holding hands at a Drive-In Movie theater or strolling down the Boardwalk with your sweetheart was the feeling of the day. When Love was in the air and Romance was on the waves. What we have to day is just a mess, we need to look back to more pleasant times'.

Photo Flash: Remembering Legendary Playwright Neil Simon


As BroadwayWorld reported last week, the legendary playwright Neil Simon passed away at age 91 due to complications from pneumonia. Today, BroadwayWorld remembers Neil Simon with a look back on some photos from our archives.

Legendary Playwright Neil Simon Dies at 91


BroadwayWorld is sad to report that legendary playwright Neil Simon has died at 91. 

Give The Gift Of Neil Simon This Holiday Season; Memoir Out in Paperback This Month


The highly anticipated paperback edition of the complete memoirs of playwright Neil Simon will be released this Tuesday, December 12 by Simon & Schuster, featuring an introduction by Nathan Lane and afterword by Simon's wife Elaine Joyce. The original hardback volume was published on November 8, 2016 to unanimous rave reviews led by Michael Riedel of the New York Post who declared, Neil Simon's terrific memoirs are worth revisiting!

This Thanksgiving Joseph Lorenzo Wise is BACHELOR #1


Joseph Lorenzo Wise is 'BACHELOR #1' in new music video 'Hollywood Fantasy Love'.

BWW Review: SUGAR at Alex Theatre


The temptation to take a film classic and turn it into a Broadway musical is a road fraught with peril. How do you take something perfect and make it better? This was the question posed in 1972 when producer David Merrick decided to musicalize the uproarious 1959 farce Some Like It Hot. The result was Sugar, which enjoyed a respectable 14-month run on Broadway (505 performances) and received four Tony nominations, including one for lead actor Robert Morse, who played Jerry/Daphne. The 86-year-old Morse was on hand at the Alex Theatre in Glendale Sunday night as Musical Theatre Guild presented a rousing staged reading of the musical. Morse and the audience clearly enjoyed the show (he could be seen doing a virtual karaoke act of the score from his seat), but most of what works for the show is what worked for the film, with little new of substance added to the musical.

Elaine Joyce FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Elaine Joyce been in?

Elaine Joyce has appeared on Broadway in 1 shows.

How many West End shows has Elaine Joyce been in?

Elaine Joyce has not appeared in the West End.

What awards has Elaine Joyce been nominated for?

Elaine Joyce has been nominated for a Performance award at the Theatre World Awards for her role in Sugar.

What awards has Elaine Joyce won?

Elaine Joyce has won the Performance award at the Theatre World Awards for her role in Sugar.

Get Elaine Joyce Email Alerts

Be the first to get news, photos, videos & more.

Videos