Joanne Jordan, Popular Spokesmodel on 1950s Television, Dies
The face of Hazel Bishop lipstick and other products was 88.
Joanne Jordan, who achieved recognition as a spokesmodels on such 1950s television programs as This Is Your Life, died July 29, 2009. She was 88.
According to news reports, Jordan, who also was an actress and television host, died from complications of Parkinson’s disease.
In particular, Jordan was known for promoting the cosmetics brand Hazel Bishop, which marketed smear-proof lipstick.
Other products she is reported to have promoted included Cashmere Bouquet Soap, Sta Nu Magic ironing spray, Benrus watches, Johnson’s Clear Wax, Dove dish detergent, Lilt home permanents and Eastman Kodak.
Jordan was born in 1920 in Topeka, Kansas, and moved with her family to Long Beach when she was a child.
Eventually, her family settled in Beverly Hills, but lost everything in the stock market crash of 1929 and her parents divorced.
She married at age 19 and divorced at 30, and with three children. In an effort to support her family, she returned to the Los Angeles area to pursue a show-business career.
She landed roles in some feature films, but achieved her greatest success on television. In addition to This Is Your Life, she was Bud Collyer’s assistant on the quiz show Beat the Clock in 1956 and 1957, and with Dean Miller she co-hosted the first season of Here’s Hollywood, a daily talk show that debuted in 1960 on NBC.
Jordan also acted in episodes of such series as Four Star Playhouse and My Little Margie.
She is survived by two sons, a daughter, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.