Joan Hackett (May 1, 1934 - October 8, 1983) was an American-born actress of Irish and Italian extraction, who appeared on stage, in films, and on television. Born in New York City, her immigrant parents raised her Roman Catholic and sent her to Catholic schools, which she did not always attend punctually.
Hackett debuted with the role of Gail Prentiss in the TV series Young Dr. Malone in 1959. She had a leading role in the Twilight Zone episode A Piano in the House (1962). She had one of the starring roles in the 1966 Sidney Lumet film The Group along with Candice Bergen, Larry Hagman, Richard Mulligan, Joanna Pettet, and others.
One of the roles she's best remembered for, perhaps, is the role of Catherine Allen in the western Will Penny (1968) with Charlton Heston. Hackett also has a notable part in the classic Western comedy Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969) with James Garner. After this she primarily had parts in TV movies and on episodes of TV series.
Hackett won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the 1981 movie Only When I Laugh, the last movie she made before her death.
From 1965 to 1973 she was married to the late actor Richard Mulligan, who also appeared in the movie The Group.
Joan Hackett lost her battle against ovarian cancer at Encino Hospital in California in 1983 at the age of 49. Both of her parents had also died of cancer.
She is interred in a crypt in the Mausoleum in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, California. Her crypt marker carries an epitaph relating to her love of "beauty" sleep, admonishing visitors to "Go Away - I'm Asleep."
Only When I Laugh (1981)
