Jo-Carroll Dennison

Dennison was born on December 16, 1923, in Florence, Arizona, the daughter of Elizabeth (née Brownd) and Harry Arthur Dennison, who ran a travelling medicine show in Texas.[1][2] She was born in the infirmary of a men's state prison in Arizona, delivered by the prison doctor as he was the only medical help her travelling parents could find.[3] Her father had wanted her to be born in California so the couple had been driving west from Texas when her mother went into labour.[3]

Her family later lived in San Francisco, Santa Barbara, California, and Tyler, Texas.[1] She graduated from Hale Center High School in 1940,[2] and was a stenographer in Tyler.[4]

Dennison was crowned Miss America September 12, 1942, after having entered the contest as Miss Texas.[1] She had earlier won both the talent and the swimsuit competitions in the contest.[5] As Miss America during World War II, much of her time was spent visiting "Defence plants, hospitals and service camps" and selling war bonds.[6]

After her time as Miss America, Dennison went to Hollywood. On November 18, 1942, 20th Century Fox signed her to a seven-year contract.[7] She had roles in Winged Victory and The Jolson Story.[6]

Dennison married comedian Phil Silvers on March 2, 1945.[6][8] They divorced March 8, 1950.[9] The union produced no children. Dennison later married television producer Russell Stoneham and had two sons, Peter and John, with him.[10] She lived in Idyllwild, California, in the San Jacinto Mountains.[11][12]

Dennison died from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on October 18, 2021, at the age of 97.[3][13][14]

• Jo-Carroll Dennison at IMDb
• Jo-Carroll Dennison Archived 2017-06-15 at the Wayback Machine at Miss America