Blue Hawaii (1961) News | Elvis Presley Film Updates

Joan Blackman, the actress who starred opposite Elvis Presley in two of his most beloved early-1960s films, “Blue Hawaii” and “Kid Galahad,” has died. She was 87. Blackman passed away on July 31 in her sleep at her home in Key West, Florida, according to her son, Mark Donahue. No cause of death was given, though her son noted she had been in declining health in recent months.

Blackman’s career was brief but memorable, defined largely by her work with the King of Rock and Roll. Born in San Francisco in 1938, she studied acting in New York before landing a contract with 20th Century Fox. Her breakout came in 1961 when she was cast as Maile Duval, the sweet-natured love interest in “Blue Hawaii,” directed by Norman Taurog. The film, which paired Blackman with Presley at the height of his movie-star appeal, became a massive hit and is widely credited with cementing the formula for the singer’s string of lightweight, sun-soaked musical comedies. In the movie, Presley plays Chad Gates, a just-discharged GI who returns to Hawaii and becomes a tour guide, much to the disappointment of his mother, played by Angela Lansbury. Blackman’s Maile is the local girlfriend who helps him navigate both his family tensions and the island’s scenic attractions.

The picture, which runs 102 minutes, was released on November 22, 1961, and has held up as a fan favorite over the decades, even if critics were never particularly kind. It currently holds a 6/10 rating on TMDb and a 6.1/10 on IMDb, a reflection of its status as a charming, unchallenging piece of entertainment rather than a critical triumph. The film’s soundtrack, featuring songs like “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and “Blue Hawaii,” became one of Presley’s best-selling albums, further cementing the movie’s cultural footprint.

Blackman reunited with Presley the following year for “Kid Galahad,” a boxing-themed musical in which she played the sister of a fight promoter who falls for Presley’s character, a singing ex-soldier turned prizefighter. Though the film was less commercially successful than “Blue Hawaii,” it showed a slightly different side of Presley, and Blackman’s performance was praised for adding warmth to a story that mixed romance, sports, and songs. That pairing marked the end of her work with Presley, and her film career soon wound down. She appeared in a handful of other features, including the 1963 comedy “The Man from the Diners’ Club” and the 1967 drama “The Mighty Quinn,” but by the early 1970s she had largely stepped away from acting to focus on raising her family.

For many fans, though, Blackman remains eternally associated with the golden age of Presley’s filmography. Her chemistry with Presley was genuine, and she often spoke fondly of him in interviews, describing him as a professional, generous co-star who was easy to work with. She recalled that he was often nervous before takes but lit up the moment the cameras rolled, and she credited him with making her feel comfortable during their scenes together. In later years, Blackman made occasional appearances at Elvis fan conventions, where she was greeted with enthusiasm by audiences who grew up watching “Blue Hawaii” on television.

Blackman’s personal life was quieter than her on-screen romances. She was married twice, first to the actor and screenwriter Jack T. Smith, with whom she had a daughter, and later to the producer William F. Donahue, with whom she had a son, Mark. She lived for many years in Key West, where she pursued painting and writing, and remained in touch with a small circle of friends from her Hollywood days.

Her death marks the passing of one of the last major actresses who shared significant screen time with Presley during the peak of his film career. While many of Presley’s co-stars faded into obscurity, Blackman’s work in “Blue Hawaii” has proven durable, the film still screening at revival theaters and streaming on major platforms. In the decades since its release, it has become shorthand for a certain kind of carefree, post-war Americana, and Blackman’s face is permanently etched into that sunny landscape.

She is survived by her two children and several grandchildren. Her family has said that a private memorial will be held in Key West, and that fans wishing to honor her memory can make donations to the Motion Picture & Television Fund, a nonprofit that supports industry veterans in their later years. A public tribute is being organized for a date to be announced, likely to coincide with what would have been her 88th birthday in November.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter