Joan Blondell

"In the `20s, you were a face. And that was enough. In the `30s, you also had to be a voice. And your voice had to match your face, if you can imagine that. `Jimmy Cagney` and Eddie Robinson had voices that were as important as the characters they played. You knew what you were getting even before you paid for the ticket."

Mother of Norman S. Powell, from her marriage to George Barnes. He was adopted by Dick Powell in February, 1938. Mother of Ellen Powell, from her marriage to Dick Powell.

Her marriage to theatrical impresario Michael Todd was an emotional and financial disaster. Todd was a heavy spender who lost hundreds of thousands of dollars gambling (high-stakes bridge was one of his weaknesses) and went through a controversial bankruptcy during their marriage. While continuing to live the high-life on a huge estate in New York`s Westchester County, the irresponsible Todd ran through Blondell`s savings, and then eventually dumped her for the much younger Elizabeth Taylor.

According to the July 24, 1944, issue of Time Magazine, Blondell divorced Dick Powell on the grounds of cruelty alleging that "when she objected to the incessant coming and going of guests, Powell crooned: `If you don`t like it, you can get the hell out.`".