Daughter of stage actor Frank Peers, Joan was a child actress and dancer (with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra). In 1917, aged six, she went on tour with
Guy Bates Post in the play 'The Masquerader'. She appeared on Broadway in 'Marry the Man' in 1929, but the play closed after only eight performances. Her brief Hollywood career (1929-1931), included two good parts in
Applause (1929) and
Tol'able David (1930) and then quietly petered out.