Actress Brenda Joyce, who became famous for her role of ‘Jane’ in Tarzan movies, died of pneumonia on July 4 at a hospital in Santa Monica. She was 92.
A family friend, David Ragan, revealed she suffered from dementia for a decade, the Telegraph reports.
Joyce, real name Betty Leabo, succeeded Maureen O'Sullivan for the character of ‘Jane’ in the jungle flicks, a step which increased her popularity.
She was cast in five Tarzan movies in the 1940s, alongside Johnny Weissmuller and later Lex Barker, making her the only actress to star as Jane with two different heroes playing Tarzan.
David added that after retiring from films in 1949 Joyce worked for the immigration department and helped immigrants search for home and jobs for almost ten years.
A son, two daughters and three grandchildren survive her.