Joan Fontaine.

Born 22 Oct 1917 Tokyo, Japan

Died 15 Dec 2013 Carmel, United States

Citizenship United Kingdom

Would Be 109 yr If Living

12 min read

Reading time

2,246

Words

Sep 13, 2026

Published

Film credits

Awards

TL;DR

Joan Fontaine won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Suspicion 1941, becoming the only actor to win an Oscar in an Alfred Hitchcock film. Born in Tokyo to British parents, she was the younger sister of Olivia de Havilland. Her career spanned six decades, with films including Rebecca 1940 and The Constant Nymph 1943. She passed away at age 96 in 2013.

Identity & family.

KIN · 7

Names, aliases, and relatives of Joan Fontaine — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Aliases Joan Burfield

Parents: Lilian Fontaine Walter Augustus de Havilland
Spouses: Collier Young William Dozier Brian Aherne
Children: Deborah Dozier Potter
Siblings: Olivia de Havilland

At a glance.

STATS

Joan Fontaine by the numbers — life, work, and family.

96 Years lived

76 Film credits

2 Awards

3 Marriages

1 Child

Who was Joan Fontaine?

BIOGRAPHY

Joan Fontaine — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland was born in Tokyo, Japan on October 22, 1917, into a family with theatrical aspirations. Her mother, Lilian Fontaine, a former actress, encouraged Joan and her older sister Olivia to pursue acting. The family moved to California because of the sisters’ recurring health issues, settling in Saratoga while their father remained in Japan. Joan attended the American School in Japan and later Los Gatos High School, developing a desire to perform.

To avoid capitalizing on her sister’s growing fame, Joan initially used the stage name Joan Burfield. She joined theater groups in San Jose and Los Angeles, determined to build her own career.

Career

Joan Fontaine’s career breakthrough came in 1940 with Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca, earning her first Academy Award nomination. She won the Best Actress Oscar for her next Hitchcock film, Suspicion 1941, becoming the only performer to win an acting Oscar in a Hitchcock film. She followed with roles in The Constant Nymph 1943, which earned another Oscar nomination, and This Above All 1942.

In the 1940s and 50s, Fontaine starred in films like The Emperor Waltz 1948 with Bing Crosby, September Affair 1950, and Born to Be Bad 1950. She also appeared on Broadway in Forty Carats and The Lion in Winter. Her final film appearance was in The Witches 1966, and her last screen appearance was in the TV movie Good King Wenceslas 1994.

Personal life

Joan Fontaine was married three times: to actor Brian Aherne from 1939 to 1945, to producer William Dozier from 1946 to 1951, and to writer Collier Young from 1952 to 1961. She had one biological daughter, Deborah Dozier Potter, born in 1948, and adopted a daughter, Martita Pareja, in 1952.

Fontaine’s strained relationship with her sister Olivia de Havilland intensified after both were nominated for Best Actress in 1941 and Fontaine won. The feud lasted for the rest of their lives, with no reconciliation before Fontaine’s death. She died in her sleep on December 15, 2013, at her home in Carmel, California.

Legacy

Joan Fontaine remains the only actor to win an Academy Award for a film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, a record that still stands. She and her sister Olivia de Havilland are the first siblings to each win acting Oscars. Four of her films, Gunga Din 1939, The Women 1939, Rebecca 1940, and Letter from an Unknown Woman 1948, are preserved in the National Film Registry. Fontaine is a leading lady of Hollywood’s Golden Age.

Filmography.

FILMS · 76

The complete filmography of Joan Fontaine — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.

TV

The Love Boat

1977
TV

The Mike Douglas Show

1961
TV

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

1962
TV

Hotel

1982
TV

Cannon

1971
TV

Tony Awards

1956
TV

One Step Beyond

1959
TV

Alvin and the Chipmunks

1983
TV

What's My Line?

1950
TV

The Oscars

1953
TV

The 20Th Century Fox Hour

1955
TV

The Client List

2012
TV

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

1958
TV

Startime

1959

Showing 14 of 76 View all 76 films

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 2

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Joan Fontaine — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Academy Award for Best Actress
star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Notable quotes.

QUOTES · 10

A wall of memorable lines from Joan Fontaine — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.

Marriage, as an Institution, Is as Dead as the Dodo Bird.
If You Keep Marrying as I Do, You Learn Everybody’s Hobby.
I Hope I’ll Die on Stage at the Age at 105, Playing Peter Pan.
You Know, I’ve Had a Helluva Life. Not Just the Acting Part. I’ve Flown in an International Balloon Race. I’ve Piloted My Own Plane. I’ve Ridden to the Hounds. I’ve Done a Lot of Exciting Things.
I’m a Very Affectionate Person, and No Man Was Ever Able to Satisfy That Need for Affection as Well as My Dogs Do.
I Make Pictures Because I Like to Be Able to Get a Good Table When I Go to a Nightclub and Because I Like to Travel.
I Have Had Eight Names, Counting My Four Married Surnames. Professionally De Havilland Was Olivia’s; She Was the First-born and I Was Not to Disgrace Her Name. I Took My First Theatrical Name, Joan Burfield, from Burfield Street in Hollywood. Then I Became Joan St. John. One Evening at the Trocadero Nightclub, at the Urging of a Fortune Teller, I Picked Fontaine, My Stepfather’s Name. Take That, She Advised, Joan Fontaine Is a Success Name. She Was Right.
He Asked Me to Marry Him Three Times, but It Was Olivia Who Loved Howard Hughes. One Day She Invited Me to a Surprise Party at the Trocadero Where Hughes Was the Host. on the Dance Floor, He Leaned Down and Proposed. I Was Furious – No One Two-timed My Sister, No Matter What Our Quarrels Might Be. but When I Tried to Warn Olivia, Sparks Flew. I Showed Her His Telephone Number in His Own Handwriting That He Had Given Me, but She Was Furious at Me. No, I Was Never in Love with Howard. He Had No Humor, No Sense of Joy, No Vivacity. Everything Had to Be a Deal.
By the Way, We May Not Get Along Personally, but I Am Absolutely Thrilled That My Sister Has Accomplished What She Has. Imagine What We Could Have Done If We Had Gotten Together. We Could Have Selected the Right Scripts, the Right Directors, the Right Producers – We Could Have Built Our Own Empire. but It Was Not to Be.
There Is Much in My Life That Might Make Me the Envy of Many … Fame, Fortune, Romance, Self-expression, Independence. yet I Have Found No Lasting Romance, No Marriage That I Could Salvage Without Jeopardizing My Own Happiness or Freedom, My Own Brand of Integrity. My Career Is the Result of Opportunity and Luck as Much as Anything.

Did you know?

FACTS · 20

Little-known facts about Joan Fontaine — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

During WWII, Fontaine and her sister Olivia de Havilland served as nurses’ aides and made frequent appearances at the Hollywood Canteen to support American troops.
Fontaine is the only performer to win an acting Oscar in a film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, taking Best Actress for Suspicion 1941.
Beyond acting, Fontaine was a licensed pilot, champion balloonist, expert rider, prize-winning tuna fisherman, a hole-in-one golfer, Cordon Bleu chef, and licensed interior decorator.
Fontaine and Olivia de Havilland are the first sisters to both win Oscars and also the first to be nominated in the same year.
Her favorite directors were Alfred Hitchcock and George Cukor.
A rare reconciliation occurred in 1962 when Fontaine and her sister Olivia de Havilland spent Christmas together with their spouses and children.
Fontaine died peacefully in her sleep at age 96 in her Carmel, California home from natural causes.
Fontaine and her sister Olivia were raised strictly by their mother, who required permission for evening outings and vetted potential suitors over tea.
The strained relationship between Fontaine and Olivia de Havilland turned into a permanent feud after both were nominated for Best Actress in 1941 and Fontaine won. They never reconciled.
On the verge of quitting acting, Fontaine’s luck changed when she mentioned to David Selznick at a party that she had just read Rebecca, leading to a screen test and her breakthrough role.
Fontaine used the stage name Joan Burfield early on because her mother told her Warner Bros. was sister Olivia’s studio and she should not work there.
She has appeared in four films selected for the National Film Registry: Gunga Din 1939, The Women 1939, Rebecca 1940, and Letter from an Unknown Woman 1948.
At age three, Fontaine scored 160 on an infant IQ test.
The Rose Society named a rose after her, the Joan Fontaine Rose.
Fontaine was one of three Japan-born actresses to win an Academy Award, alongside her sister Olivia de Havilland and Miyoshi Umeki.
Her autobiography, No Bed of Roses, was published in 1979. Ex-husband William Dozier thought a more appropriate title would have been No Shred of Truth.
Fontaine became an American citizen on April 23, 1943.
She was the last surviving cast member of George Cukor’s The Women 1939 at the time of her death.
Fontaine’s personal favorite of her own films was The Constant Nymph 1943.
She was five months pregnant with daughter Debbie when she completed filming You Gotta Stay Happy 1948.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 31

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Joan Fontaine.

When was Joan Fontaine born?

Joan Fontaine was born on October 22, 1917. She was born in Tokyo, Japan to British parents.
Where was Joan Fontaine born?

Joan Fontaine was born in Tokyo, Japan. She was born in the International Settlement to British parents Lilian Fontaine and Walter Augustus de Havilland.
When did Joan Fontaine die?

Joan Fontaine died on December 15, 2013. She was 96 years old and died of natural causes at her home in Carmel, California.
How old was Joan Fontaine when she died?

Joan Fontaine was 96 years old when she passed away. She died on December 15, 2013 in Carmel, California.
Where did Joan Fontaine die?

Joan Fontaine died at her home in Carmel, California. She had resided there for many years at her estate Villa Fontana.
How did Joan Fontaine die?

Joan Fontaine died of natural causes. She passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home in Carmel, California.
What was Joan Fontaine's birth name?

Joan Fontaine was born Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland. She later used the stage name Joan Burfield before settling on Joan Fontaine, taking her stepfather’s surname.
How tall was Joan Fontaine?

Joan Fontaine stood 5 feet 4 inches tall, which is about 1.63 meters. Her height was typical for an actress of her era.
What is Joan Fontaine best known for?

Joan Fontaine is best known for her Academy Award-winning performance in Alfred Hitchcock’s Suspicion 1941 and her Oscar-nominated role in Rebecca 1940. She also starred in films like The Constant Nymph and The Women.
Who were Joan Fontaine's parents?

Joan Fontaine’s parents were Lilian Fontaine, a former actress, and Walter Augustus de Havilland, an English professor and patent attorney. They divorced when Joan was young.
Did Joan Fontaine have siblings?

Yes, Joan Fontaine had an older sister, actress Olivia de Havilland. The two had a famously strained relationship that turned into a lifelong feud.
Who was Joan Fontaine married to?

Joan Fontaine was married three times: to actor Brian Aherne 1939-1945, producer William Dozier 1946-1951, and writer Collier Young 1952-1961. All ended in divorce.
Did Joan Fontaine have children?

Joan Fontaine had one biological daughter, Deborah Dozier Potter, born in 1948 with second husband William Dozier. She also adopted a daughter, Martita Pareja, in 1952.
What awards did Joan Fontaine win?

Joan Fontaine won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Suspicion 1941. She also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
How many Oscar nominations did Joan Fontaine receive?

Joan Fontaine received three Academy Award nominations during her career. She was nominated for Rebecca 1940, Suspicion 1941, won, and The Constant Nymph 1943.
What was Joan Fontaine's relationship with Alfred Hitchcock?

Alfred Hitchcock directed Joan Fontaine in two films: Rebecca 1940 and Suspicion 1941. He was one of her favorite directors, and she remains the only actor to win an Oscar for a Hitchcock film.
What was the feud between Joan Fontaine and Olivia de Havilland about?

The feud between Joan Fontaine and Olivia de Havilland began in childhood and worsened in 1941 when both were nominated for Best Actress. After Fontaine won, they became permanently estranged, and there was no reconciliation before Fontaine’s death.
What stage name did Joan Fontaine use early in her career?

Early in her career, Joan Fontaine used the stage name Joan Burfield. She chose it to avoid capitalizing on her sister Olivia de Havilland’s fame.
Did Joan Fontaine serve in World War II?

During World War II, Joan Fontaine and her sister Olivia de Havilland worked as nurses’ aides and made numerous appearances at the Hollywood Canteen to support American troops.
What is Joan Fontaine's most famous film?

Joan Fontaine is most famous for Rebecca 1940 and Suspicion 1941, both directed by Alfred Hitchcock. She also considered The Constant Nymph 1943 her personal favorite.
How did Joan Fontaine get her start in acting?

Joan Fontaine began acting in theater groups in San Jose and Los Angeles. Her big break came when she met David Selznick at a party and mentioned she had just read Rebecca, leading to a screen test and her starring role.
What were Joan Fontaine's hobbies and talents?

Joan Fontaine was a licensed pilot, champion balloonist, expert rider, prize-winning tuna fisherman, a hole-in-one golfer, Cordon Bleu chef, and licensed interior decorator.
Did Joan Fontaine ever reunite with Olivia de Havilland?

There was a rare reconciliation in 1962 when Joan Fontaine and Olivia de Havilland spent Christmas together with their families. However, they did not repair their relationship and remained estranged for the rest of their lives.
How many films of Joan Fontaine are in the National Film Registry?

Four of Joan Fontaine’s films are preserved in the National Film Registry: Gunga Din 1939, The Women 1939, Rebecca 1940, and Letter from an Unknown Woman 1948.
What was Joan Fontaine's IQ at age three?

At the age of three, Joan Fontaine scored 160 on an infant IQ test, indicating exceptional intelligence from an early age.
Did Joan Fontaine write an autobiography?

Yes, Joan Fontaine wrote an autobiography titled No Bed of Roses, published in 1979. Her ex-husband William Dozier joked it should have been called No Shred of Truth.
When did Joan Fontaine become a US citizen?

Joan Fontaine became an American citizen on April 23, 1943. She was originally a British citizen by birth.
What was Joan Fontaine's last film?

Joan Fontaine’s last big-screen film was The Witches 1966. Her final on-screen appearance was in the TV movie Good King Wenceslas 1994.
Did Joan Fontaine work on Broadway?

Yes, Joan Fontaine starred in several Broadway plays, including Forty Carats and The Lion in Winter. She also replaced Deborah Kerr in the original production of Tea and Sympathy.
What was Joan Fontaine's favorite film of her own?

Joan Fontaine’s personal favorite among her films was The Constant Nymph 1943, for which she earned her third Academy Award nomination.
How many children did Joan Fontaine have?

Joan Fontaine had two children: a biological daughter, Debbie Dozier, born in 1948, and an adopted daughter, Martita Pareja, born in 1946 and adopted in 1952.

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Published on September 13, 2026

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Joan Fontaine.

TL;DR

Early life

Career

Personal life

Legacy

The Love Boat

The Mike Douglas Show

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

Hotel

Cannon

Tony Awards

One Step Beyond

Alvin and the Chipmunks

What's My Line?

The Oscars

The 20Th Century Fox Hour

The Client List

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

Startime