Joan Alexander, who died on 21 May, 2009, aged 94, was an American actress best known for her work in radio.

She was best known for playing Lois Lane in The Adventures of Superman which ran from 1940 to 1951 and also in animated cartoons during 40s and again in the 60s.

She was born Louise Abrass in St Paul, Minnesota in 16 April, 1915, and studied acting in Europe. She changed her name to Joan because she was a fan of Joan Crawford.

As well as Superman, her radio roles included Dimension X, Philo Vance, Against the Storm and Perry Mason.

Superman co-star Bud Collyer once said: “Joan is one of those rare actresses - especially in radio where you can't be seen and have to depend entirely on voice - who can go in on something cold and her instincts are so right as an actress that without even a rehearsal or a read-through, she is right.”

In the 50s she was a regular panellist on the television guessing game The Name's the Same and in the 60s she appeared on Broadway in Poor Richard.

She was married three times, most successfully to car magnate Arthur Stanton from 1954 until his death in 1987.

Joan A Stanton, as she was known in later years, was survived by her son Timothy and adopted daughter Jane.