Joan Rhodes

Joan Rhodes (13 April 1921[1] – 30 May 2010) was a London-born British performer, wrestler, stuntwoman and strongwoman.[2] Born into poverty in London, she and her siblings were deserted by their parents. Following unhappy spells in the workhouse and with an aunt, she left home at 14.[3] After sleeping rough in Brewer Street, Soho, she joined a travelling fair, where she got the idea for her act after seeing a professional strong man at work.

With Bob Hope

She began as a variety and cabaret performer during the 1950s and '60s. Her popularity increased due to her early appearances on television shows in the US and UK, including The Toast Of The Town (1955) and the Bob Hope Christmas Show. It was in the latter that, on stage in Iceland on 27 December 1955, Rhodes lifted, then accidentally dropped, Hope, while entertaining troops for the USO.

Stunts

As a stunt performer, she worked on films, including Fanny by Gaslight (1944). She appeared as herself performing some of her strength feats in the Vernon Sewell-directed crime caper, Johnny, You're Wanted (1956). She also appeared in Burke and Hare (1971), The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976) and The Elephant Man (1980).[4]

Autobiography

Her autobiography, Coming on Strong, was published in 2007. In her later years she ran a small cafe in Crouch Hill. Crouch End, North London, just down the road from the Mountview Theatre School (now moved) and she was popular with its students.

Death

Joan Rhodes died on 30 May 2010, aged 89.[5] On 11 June 2010, Radio 4 in its "Last Word" programme covered her life with anecdotes by Roy Hudd, who had known her well.

Filmography
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References
  1. Some sources cite 1920, not 1921 as Rhodes's year of birth
  2. Grove, Valerie (7 June 2005). "Iron lady shows her mettle". The Times. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  3. Obituary at thestage.co.uk
  4. Joan Rhodes on IMDb
  5. Obituary at thestage.co.uk, ibid.
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