Hollywood golden age ingénue Joan Leslie dies aged 90 in Los Angeles

By Christine Rendon For Dailymail.com

Published: 15:56 EST, 15 October 2015 | Updated: 19:37 EST, 15 October 2015

Joan Leslie, whose expressive almond eyes and innocent beauty made her one of the most popular film ingénues of the 1930s and 40s, has died at the age of 90.

She died in Los Angeles on Monday, her family announced in an obituary.

After signing with Warner Bros. at the age of 15, her first major role was in High Sierra as the disabled Velma opposite Humphrey Bogart and Ida Lupino.

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Golden age star: Joan Leslie, pictured in August 2006 in Beverly Hills, has died at the age of 90

Golden age star: Joan Leslie, pictured in August 2006 in Beverly Hills, has died at the age of 90

In her 20-year career, the Detroit native performed in over 30 films. 

She romanced Gary Cooper in Sergeant York, danced with Fred Astaire in The Sky's the Limit, and sang with James Cagney in Yankee Doodle Dandy. 

Fred, a skilled and accomplished dancer himself, said Joan 'had brains in her feet', according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Light on their feet: Leslie and Fred Astaire twirled together in the 1943 film The Sky's The Limit

Light on their feet: Leslie and Fred Astaire twirled together in the 1943 film The Sky's The Limit

Classic: The star worked her magic in an elegant garment during a photo shoot circa 1946

Classic: The star worked her magic in an elegant garment during a photo shoot circa 1946

Joan even starred opposite future 40th President of the United States Ronald Reagan in the 1943 film This Is The Army.

The actress is the daughter of a bank clerk and a pianist, and was born on January 26, 1925.

On top of teaming up with her sisters for their vaudeville act The Brodel Sisters, Joan was even a child model, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Looking back: Leslie posed beside the movie poster for This Is The Army, a 1943 film that saw her star opposite Ronald Reagan - here she is pictured in May 1998 in Burbank

Looking back: Leslie posed beside the movie poster for This Is The Army, a 1943 film that saw her star opposite Ronald Reagan - here she is pictured in May 1998 in Burbank

After marrying physician William Caldwell in 1950, Joan put her career on hold to raise her twin daughters and do charity.

Throughout the 1950's and for the remainder of her acting career, Joan took on many television roles, with her last gig being in the 1991 TV movie, Fire In The Dark.

Joan's husband William passed away in 2000. 

The couple's two daughters have both grown to become teachers, according to The Guardian.

Holiday spirit: The actress, pictured circa 1955, put her career on hold to raise her twin daughters and do charity

Holiday spirit: The actress, pictured circa 1955, put her career on hold to raise her twin daughters and do charity

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