Sadly, the great talent of model, actress and theater star Joan Hackett is now in the great beyond. After battling cancer, she passed away in 1983. Fortunately, the esteemed entertainer left her legacy behind on television and in film. The gorgeous ingenue made her small screen debut on the medical series Young Dr. Malone (1959). Ms. Hackett then scored a recurring role on the CBS legal drama The Defenders (1961-1965) before moving to movies. As brilliant psychiatrist Dr. Janet Ross, Joan received top billing in the film adaption of Michael Crichton’s book The Terminal Man (1974). In fact, throughout her career, the brainy babe earned a reputation for portraying strong women with roles in the made-for-TV movie Dead of Night (1977), the Western Will Penny (1968), and 1966’s college drama The Group which nabbed her a BAFTA nod. She found less success on the short lived CBS sitcom Another Day (1978) yet like its title, moved on with another project. This happened to be singer/songwriter Paul Simon’s One Trick Pony (1980). In addition to featuring his hit “Late in the Evening,” the film flashes Joan’s beautiful bare breasts, nude caboose, and even a bit of her muff! No doubt, viewers will be re-watching that clip late in the evening! Although her performance is hard to top, Joan did so with an acclaimed turn in Neil Simon’s dramedy Only When I Laugh (1981). The flick garnered her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress as well as a Golden Globe win!
