| Elaine Joyce | |
|---|---|
| Born | Elaine Joyce Pinchot December 19, 1945 Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1961–1996 |
| Spouse | Bobby Van (1968-1980; his death) John Levoff (1985-1992; divorce) Neil Simon (1999-present) |
Elaine Joyce (born Elaine Joyce Pinchot on December 19, 1945) is an American actress.
Joyce was born in Kansas City, Missouri. She 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 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, Kojak, Green Acres, and Hawaii Five-O, and was a regular panelist on several games shows, including Match Game, What's My Line?, and I've Got a Secret. In the 1976 TV 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 was also the host of The All New Dating Game for one season. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s she was featured in many series, including Mr. Merlin, Here Come the Brides, Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place, Magnum, P.I., Simon & Simon, and Murder, She Wrote.
In 1972, Joyce 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. She won the 1972 Theatre World Award for her performance.
Joyce was married to Bobby Van from 1968 until his death from brain cancer in 1980.
In May 1982, Joyce performed at the Alhambra Dinner Theatre in Jacksonville, Florida. Author and legendary recluse J.D. Salinger attended the opening night of the production to see Joyce and accompany her after the show. She told a reporter that it was the first time the two had met, but Salinger had been calling and writing her letters for more than 3 months.[1]
She has been married to playwright Neil Simon since September 1999. She has two children, a daughter Taylor by Bobby Van and a son Michael by her second husband, television producer John Levoff.