Bittersweet Facts About Joan McCracken, The Girl Who Fell Into Stardom

She Fell Into Fame

Joan McCracken was the dancer and actress whose famous pratfall in Oklahoma! made her an overnight sensation. But behind her comedic dance routines, she hid a dark secret.

1. She Had A Long Way To Go

Joan Hume McCracken would eventually become one of the most influential figures in comedic dance history. But, born on the last day of the year in 1917 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she had a long way to climb to get to Hollywood—or fall, depending on how you look at it.

A screenshot of the movie Good News

MGM, Good News (1947)

2. She Had Athletic Genes

For McCracken, athleticism came as naturally as breathing. Her father, Franklin T McCracken, was an eminent figure in American sports—a writer and expert on all things golf and boxing. However, McCracken would follow a different path through life.

A screenshot of the movie Hollywood Canteen

Warner Bros., Hollywood Canteen (1944)

3. She Was An Award-Winning Acrobat

McCracken would go on to leave audiences stunned with the masterful athleticism she demonstrated in her dance routines. But it all came so naturally to her. Before the age of 12, she had already snagged a scholarship for acrobatics. Clearly, her calling was outside the classroom.

A screenshot of the movie Good News

MGM, Good News (1947)

4. She Dropped Out Of School

It didn’t take McCracken long to figure out what she wanted to do with her life. Without a second thought, at just 17, she dropped out of high school and threw herself into her real passion: dance.

A screenshot of the movie Good News

MGM, Good News (1947)