Came out of retirement for a time to write for film and TV in the late 80s/early 90s. Also made cameos as an actress.
Dubbed a "Golden Circle Girl" at Paramount during the early 50s.
Entertained in USO tour of military hospitals during WWII.
Father Joseph Emma was from Sicily. He became a movie manager and a Hollywood prop man. Mother Amelia Berky was from Austria and a vaudeville dancer/singer.
Was in a recurring role as an intriguing, subtle love interest for Chuck Connors in "The Rifleman" (1958) series. She was replaced by Patricia Blair (later of "Daniel Boone" (1964) TV fame) when Joan's husband, producer/director Leonard Freeman, relocated the family to Hawaii where he was producing the "Hawaii Five-O" (1968) series. She abruptly retired in December of 1963 to raise her daughter.