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Joan Shawlee

Joan Shawlee

Actor · Died March 22, 1987, aged 61 · Forest Hills, New York, USA

Reliable character actress who is perhaps known for her performance as Sweet Sue in Billy Wilder's comedy classic, "Some Like It Hot" (1959).

Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 5, 1926
Died
March 22, 1987 (aged 61)
From
Forest Hills, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
41 on MovieCove · 70 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 23% in 30 days

What are Joan Shawlee's films like?

Across their 17 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 31st percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 1st percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
38%
Self
24%
Power
15%
Morality
11%
Survival
5%
Society
3%
Ideas
3%
Romantic love6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 17 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 11 · Serious 2 · Dark 4

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 10 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 9 · Charged 4 · Intense 4

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 6 · Shifting 9 · Whiplash 2

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 9

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 11 · Relentless 2

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 11 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 15 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Absurd
9
Tense
6
Joyful
6
Melancholic
5
Warm
3
Other
12

How their films linger

Fun11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy12
  • Bittersweet3
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Joan Shawlee's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 24 of their 41 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (17).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Joan Shawlee's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

70 credits, 41 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Crazy like a Fox (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Manager

  • City Heat(1984)

    as Peggy Barker

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Highway to Heaven(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Kiss My Grits (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Wanda

  • Child Bride of Short Creek(1981)

    as Isaac's Mother

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Buddy Buddy(1981)

    as Receptionist

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Joe's World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Archie Bunker's Place(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all shows

  • Hart to Hart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Marie · as Mrs. Goodrich

  • The Last Resort (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 16 episodes · as Agnes

  • Delta House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Never Con a Killer(1977)

    as Margo

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Feather And Father Gang (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 14 episodes · as Margo

  • Quincy, M.E. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Tony Randall Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Starsky and Hutch(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Krupp

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Farewell, My Lovely(1975)

    as Woman in Ballroom

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Flash and the Firecat(1975)

    as Rose

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Matt Helm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Saleslady

  • S.W.A.T.(1975)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • The Magician (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Trudy Kroll

  • The Rookies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Emergency!(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Heather · as Wife

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Dead Men Tell No Tales(1971)

    as Polly Grant

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Columbo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Mitilda

  • Willard(1971)

    as Alice Rickles

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • One More Train to Rob(1971)

    as Big Nellie

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Love, American Style (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Bernice Franks

  • Something for a Lonely Man(1968)

    as Hooker

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Live a Little, Love a Little(1968)

    as Robbie's Mother

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Adam-12(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Lorena Getz

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Tony Rome(1967)

    as Fat Candy

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Mannix(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as (Annie) Duchess

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • The Reluctant Astronaut(1967)

    as Blonde in Bar

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The St. Valentine's Day Massacre(1967)

    as Edna, Frank's Girlfriend (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Wild Angels(1966)

    as Momma Monahan

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Guerillas in Pink Lace(1964)

    as Miss Gloria Maxine

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Critic's Choice(1963)

    as Marge Orr

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Irma la Douce(1963)

    as Amazon Annie

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Dick Van Dyke Show(1961)

    Show 3 episodes · as Pickles Sorrell

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • The Apartment(1960)

    as Sylvia

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Some Like It Hot(1959)

    as Sweet Sue

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Rifleman(1958)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Zorro(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Barmaid Clara

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Maverick(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Madame Pompey

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Conquest of Space(1955)

    as Rosie McCann

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Bowery to Bagdad(1954)

    as Velma, alias "Cindy Lou Calhoun"

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • A Star Is Born(1954)

    as Joan (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Francis Joins the WACS(1954)

    as Sergeant Kipp

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Pride of the Blue Grass (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Mrs. Casey

  • From Here to Eternity(1953)

    as Sandra (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • All Ashore (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Hedy

  • General Electric Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Angie McGonigle

  • The Abbott and Costello Show(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Cash Register Lady · as Eyewitness in Courtroom · as Girl in Doctor's Office · as Marriage License Bureau Clerk · as Miss Brown · as Opera-Loving Lady in Park · as Receptionist · as Telephone Operator

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Because of You(1952)

    as Autograph Seeker (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Woman on the Run(1950)

    as Blonde

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Prehistoric Women(1950)

    as Lotee

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Michigan Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Soubrette

  • The Vigilantes Return (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Ben's Girl

  • Buck Privates Come Home(1947)

    as Sylvia Hunter

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Song of Scheherazade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as French Girl

  • I'll Be Yours (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Blonde

  • White Tie and Tails (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Virgie

  • Cuban Pete (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Ann

  • Lover Come Back (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Janie

  • Inside Job (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Ruth (as Joan Fulton)

  • Tangier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Rocco's Blonde (as Joan Fulton)

  • The Runaround (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Mamie 'Baby' Willis (as Joan Fulton)

  • House of Horrors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Stella McNally

  • Idea Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Mabel

Career shape

Star power in the 93rd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 70 titles from 1946 to 1984; peak year 1960.

Biggest box office

The Apartment (1960)

$19M worldwide

Highest rated

The Apartment (1960)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Some Like It Hot (1959)

Film career

19461984

Peak 1960 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1946Screen debut· House of Horrors

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting70 of 70: 70 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score60th

By decade

1940s13 · acting1950s16 · acting1960s14 · acting1970s21 · acting1980s6 · acting

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 0% of 13 roles
4661

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Joan Shawlee's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 58th percentile, the median of all 29; across their 17 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 52nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Approval · how many liked their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Reach · how many have seen their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Midcredits score across 41 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up16
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 41 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved10
  • Universally Panned3
  • Crowd Pleaser17
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · actor

Never Con a Killer (1977)

67th percentile spread · 18% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Apartment (1960)

Midcredits 99th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 64/100 in their films, across 15 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 47. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Joan Shawlee's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 30 · mildMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 29 · mildMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 6 · minimalMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 41 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 24 · mildMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Joan Shawlee work with?

People who share at least 2 of Joan Shawlee's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Billy Wilder shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers