Kirk Douglas the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, which gave him a special scholarship. One of his classmates was Betty Joan Perske (later known as Lauren Bacall), who would play an important role in launching his film career. Bacall wrote that she "had a wild crush on Kirk," and they dated casually. Another classmate, and a friend of Bacall's, was aspiring actress Diana Dill, who would later become Douglas's first wife. During their time together, Bacall learned Douglas had no money, and that he once spent the night in jail since he had no place to sleep. She
Joan Bruce roles in "The Entertainer", "Travelling North", "Heartbreak House", "The Life and Times of Nicholas Appelby" and "Something Afoot". She married her second husband Kenneth William in 1978, and subsequently appeared on television in roles in "Chopper Squad" and "A Country Practice", before retiring in 1988. She was best known however for her long-running roles in the Australian soap opera "Certain Women" with Queenie Ashton and June Salter and for voicing the kangaroo and Dot's mother in the 1977 children's animation/live action film "Dot and the Kangaroo". She died in 2014, aged 86. Joan Bruce Joan Olive Bruce (born Joan Thompson)