The Newark, New Jersey-born[1] actress's career was only in small roles, 10 in all, including seven TV series and three feature films, all between 1956 and 1961.

Lee also wrote two episodes for the final season of the series, each of which based the plot line on one of the castaways meeting their double.

Also in this period (September 1962) she appeared as a contestant[3] on the popular CBS television program What's My Line, describing her work at that point as being a TV comedy writer.

In her June 11, 1959 appearance on You Bet Your Life, Joanna Lee describes her career and also wins $3,000 in prize money.

The film was nominated for an Emmy for "Outstanding Writing in a Special Program - Drama or Comedy - Original Teleplay," and won the Golden Globe for "Best Motion Picture Made for Television.