Hollywood legend, Oscar winning “REBECCA” star JOAN FONTAINE has departed for Manderdley at age 96. She is survived by her estranged sister OLIVIA de HAVILLAND, 97 ...and two daughters.
Her assistant confirmed Joan’s death of natural causes, The Hollywood Reporter said.
Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland was born in Tokyo on Oct. 22, 1917.
Due to the ill health of both she and her sister, and the divorce of their parents, their mother, Lilian, relocated to Hollywood and pushed the girls into acting.
But Joan resisted initially and returned to Japan, attending the American School, returning to States at age 17. As de Havilland was already having some success as an actress, Joan took her stage name from stepfather George Fontaine and signed with RKO appearing in 1939’s "The Women” and “Gunga Din”.