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Ginger Rogers, Betty Grable, Jeanne Gray, and Joy Hodges in Follow the Fleet (1936)

Thomas Beck, Ruth Donnelly, Joy Hodges, and Eddie Quillan in The Family Next Door (1939)

Thomas Beck and Joy Hodges in The Family Next Door (1939)

Hugh Herbert, Benny Bartlett, Thomas Beck, Ruth Donnelly, and Joy Hodges in The Family Next Door (1939)

Hugh Herbert, Benny Bartlett, Ruth Donnelly, Joy Hodges, Juanita Quigley, and Eddie Quillan in The Family Next Door (1939)

Hugh Herbert and Joy Hodges in The Family Next Door (1939)

Hugh Herbert, Ruth Donnelly, Joy Hodges, and Eddie Quillan in The Family Next Door (1939)

Benny Bartlett and Joy Hodges in The Family Next Door (1939)

Joy Hodges and Michael Whalen in They Asked for It (1939)

Ruth Donnelly and Joy Hodges in The Family Next Door (1939)

Hugh Herbert, Benny Bartlett, Ruth Donnelly, Joy Hodges, and Juanita Quigley in The Family Next Door (1939)

Joy Hodges and John 'Dusty' King in Merry-Go-Round of 1938 (1937)

Mischa Auer, Baby Sandy, Joy Hodges, Dennis O'Keefe, and Shirley Ross in Unexpected Father (1939)

Joy Hodges, Isabel Jewell, William Lundigan, and Michael Whalen in They Asked for It (1939)

Mischa Auer, Tom Brown, Nan Grey, Joy Hodges, and Edgar Kennedy in Margie (1940)

Constance Bennett, Vincent Price, Mischa Auer, Helen Broderick, Joy Hodges, and Charles Ruggles in Service de Luxe (1938)

Joy Hodges in The Family Next Door (1939)

Thomas Beck, Joy Hodges, Isabel Jewell, William Lundigan, Lyle Talbot, and Michael Whalen in They Asked for It (1939)

Joy Hodges, Isabel Jewell, William Lundigan, and Lyle Talbot in They Asked for It (1939)

Thomas Beck, Spencer Charters, Joy Hodges, Isabel Jewell, William Lundigan, Lyle Talbot, and Michael Whalen in They Asked for It (1939)

Frankie Darro, Joy Hodges, George Houston, and Mantan Moreland in Laughing at Danger (1940)

Frances Eloise Hodges, who died in California on 19 January 2003 following a stroke, was not only a successful singer and actor, but will also be remembered for her part in launching Ronald Reagan's film career by getting him to 'ditch the glasses.' This he did, and the rest is history.

She was born on 29 January 1915 in Des Moines, Iowa, to Verne Hodges and his wife. At the age of eight, she became one half of the Bluebird Twins, performing across Iowa, and later at high school was part of a trio named the Crooning Co-eds.

Married three times, firstly to Gil Doorly from 1939 - 1941, then to Paul Helmund and finally, until his death, to Eugene Scheiss, she appeared frequently on stage, in films and on TV and radio. Her career began when she won a talent contest at the Paramount Theatre, and in 1935 she signed a 5-year contract with RKO. 

She appeared with Fred Astaire in Follow the Fleet (1936) and in 1937 was singing at Hollywood's Biltmore Bowl and in various Broadway musicals, including 'I'd Rather Be Right'. In 1946 she had the lead role in 'Nellie Bly', and as late as 1972 took over from Ruby Keeler in the Broadway revival of 'No, No, Nanette'.

Ronald Reagan kept in touch with Joy for over 60 years, and she was a frequent guest at the White House, where she once sat next to President Gorbachev at dinner.

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Joy Hodges

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