Life and career

Elaine Joyce Pinchot was born in Kansas City, Missouri of Hungarian ancestry. She made her film debut in 1961 as an extra in West Side Story and made uncredited appearances in several musical films, including The Music Man, Bye Bye Birdie, and Funny Girl before being cast in Such Good Friends and How to Frame a Figg in 1971. She had recurring roles in The Young and the Restless and Days of Our Lives; made guest appearances in such series as The Andy Griffith Show; The Red Skelton Show; Love, American Style; Kojak; Green Acres; Hawaii Five-O, and The Feather and Father Gang; and was a regular panelist on several game shows, including Match Game, Tattletales, What's My Line?, and I've Got a Secret.

In the 1976 television series City of Angels, she played Marsha Finch, the ditzy secretary to Los Angeles private eye Jake Axminster (Wayne Rogers), who ran a call-girl service on the side. Joyce also hosted the first season (1986-87) of The All New Dating Game. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s she was featured in many series, including Mr. Merlin, (in which she portrayed the character of Alexandra, a fellow sorcerer to Merlin); Beverly Hills, 90210; Melrose Place; Magnum, P.I.; Simon & Simon; Too Close For Comfort; and Murder, She Wrote.

In 1972, she made her Broadway debut in the title role in Sugar, the musical adaptation of the film Some Like It Hot, in which she portrayed band singer Sugar Kane, the role originated by Marilyn Monroe in the movie. Joyce won the 1972 Theatre World Award for her performance.

Elaine also starred in the 1986 film Trick or Treat as Eddie Weinbauer (Marc Price) mother Angie Weinbauer.

Personal life/marriages

Joyce was married to Bobby Van from 1968 until Van's death from brain cancer in 1980. In May 1982, Joyce performed at the Alhambra Dinner Theatre in Jacksonville, Florida. Author and legendary recluse J.D. Salinger attended the opening night of the production to see Joyce and accompany her after the show. She told a reporter that it was the first time the two had met, but Salinger had been calling and writing her letters for more than three months. She has been married to playwright Neil Simon since September 1999.

Children

She has two children: a daughter, Taylor, by Bobby Van, and a son, Michael, by her second husband, television producer John Levoff.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]