Posted on 04/16/2026 10:19:17 AM PDT by Kid Shelleen
US actress Joy Harmon, who was best known for a provocative short scene in the classic film Cool Hand Luke, has died aged 87.
Harmon died at home in Los Angeles on Tuesday after being ill with pneumonia for weeks, US media reported.
Her character did not have a line in the Paul Newman prison drama and was only on screen for about three minutes, in a car-washing scene rife with sexual innuendo.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
"Her character did not have a line in the Paul Newman prison drama and was only on screen for about three minutes, in a car-washing scene rife with sexual innuendo."In her brief but famous scene, Harmon washes a car and squeezes soap from a sponge on her body, drawing the attention and remarks of prisoners who watch as they dig a ditch."
Which proves the old adage, "There are no small parts, just actresses with small boobs."
“ whole lot of communicating here” LOL. Great reference. Yes, boss!
lol, now that is an adage!
Never heard her name before but knew exactly who she was.
Same here.
I believe it took about 3 days to film the scene and she was puzzled by all the time devoted to it.
I'll give you two reasons....🙄
“She knows exactly what she is doing.”
Joy Harmon has died at 87
Best known for that unforgettable car-wash scene in Cool Hand Luke (1967), it’ll stay iconic as long as cinema exists
"She doesn't know what she's doin'"
"Oh, boy. She knows exactly what she's doin'. Driving us crazy and lovin' every minute of it" pic.twitter.com/yzdlBBuTj4— The Sting (@TheStingisBack) April 16, 2026
A reputable online authority lists her at 5 ft 5 in and 41½-22-36.
nobody can eat fifty eggs
No she didn’t, trailers had nothing to with anything and she lived in a house.
humor escapes you
But I bet she could do something to a trailer hitch.
As the chain gang members are reacting to the sexy scene they are acutally not seeing her, but instead a teen girl who filled in for their reactions.
If she was 87, then she was in her late 20s when that was filmed.
No, the sweeping and irrational generalization does.
The men never saw her scene, they were filmed at a different time using a teen girl as the focal point as they acted out their reactions.
Correct, but I’d share a double wide with her :)
Well, if you had to be remembered for one thing...or two...
What we have here, is a failure to communicate.
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