Joel Ashley

Joel Thomas Ashley was born in Atlanta, GA, to Alsie Ashley and Beulah Mariah Rodgers, daughter of Joel Thomas Rodgers and Laura Mariah Jones. He attended Georgia Military Academy, Peekskill (NY) Military Academy and graduated from Black Foxe Military Academy in Los Angeles, CA, in 1935 at age 16. He attended the University of Southern California and then the American Academy of Dramatic Art, but did not graduate, because he got a part in a Broadway play at age 17. Thereafter, he appeared in 8 Broadway plays, including twice playing Abraham Lincoln in "Prologue to Glory" and "War President." Among other plays he starred in were "Sun Field" and "Catherine Was Great" with Mae West, and other touring plays with Kay Francis and Elisabeth Bergner, as well as many plays in summer stock. He began working in television in New York in the live dramatic anthology series of the 1950s, including "Studio One" and television plays sponsored by Hallmark, Kraft, Philco, Lux and US Rubber. His melliflu