Joan Tompkins

Joan Tompkins' journey in the entertainment industry began in 1938, when she shared the stage with Henry Fonda in a series of plays performed in White Plains, New York. Her subsequent rise to fame was largely due to her iconic role as Nora Drake on the radio, a character that became synonymous with her name. Throughout her extensive career in radio, she also made significant contributions to the world of Broadway, appearing in notable productions such as "Pride and Prejudice" and "My Sister Eileen", among many others. It was during her time in the radio studio that she met Karl Swenson, a talented actor and voice artist known as "the man of a thousand voices", whom she would later marry. The couple's professional partnership continued even after their move to southern California, where they established an acting company in Beverly Hills, with Karl serving as the director and Joan taking on acting roles. Following Karl's passing in 1978, Joan embarked on a new chapter in her life, dedicating herself to a writing group that she founded. Not only did she author several books of her own, but she also provided insightful critiques and encouragement to the group's members, many of whom went on to publish their own works. Joan Tompkins' remarkable life came to a close on January 29, 2005, at the age of 89, when she passed away at her Orange County, California home, leaving behind four stepsons, their children, and grandchildren.