In 1948–1949, she wrote scripts for the television programs Pantomime Quiz and Time For Beany.
[1] Apart from writing scripts and books, Gardner also worked as a music composer for films.
However, she was most active as an actress for radio and television animated series.
She voiced Spunky in The Adventures of Spunky and Tadpole, Tanta Kringle and various other female roles on the Christmas special Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town, Bonnie Bonnet and Madame Esmerelda on the TV special Here Comes Peter Cottontail, played Josephine Bonaparte opposite Groucho Marx's Napoleon in the animated special The Mad, Mad, Mad Comedians and Zazu the Fairy Godmother on Pound Puppies.
Joan Gardner died on December 10, 1992, from cancer at 66 years old.