Joan Gregson was a Canadian character actress best known for playing Mrs. Kersh in the horror film It: Chapter Two and for many roles in Canadian film and TV. She died in June 2025 at the age of 92.
Find facts about Joan Gregson age, partner, net worth, height, weight, schooling, work history, and family life.
This profile also includes current information and details on her major accomplishments, both in her professional acting career and personal life.
| Detail | Information |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Nationality/Origin | Canadian (Also mentioned as Franco-Canadian) |
| Born | 1933 (One source mentions Paris as birthplace) |
| Died | June 2025 (Age 92 years) |
| Debut Film | The Neptune Factor (1973) |
| Notable Roles (Film) | Mrs. Kersh in It Chapter Two (2019), Frannie in Astronaut (2019), The Saleswoman in Hollywoodland (2006) |
| Notable Roles (TV) | Grandma on My Babysitter’s a Vampire (Series and TV movie), Nero on Salvation, Guest-starred on American Gods, Schitt’s Creek, Murdoch Mysteries |
| Early Career | Started in theatre (e.g., Neptune Theatre in Halifax), worked in radio dramas for CBC Halifax, won an ACTRA Award for Best Performance in Radio. |
Age and early life
Reliable public sources say Joan Gregson was born in Canada and list her birth year as 1933, which matches tributes stating she was 92 when she died in 2025. She was around 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m) tall and spent much of her life and career in Canada. An article from a Nova Scotia school blog notes that her “big break” came later in life, after years of work on stage and in smaller screen roles.
Joan Gregson Family
Joan Gregson was a widow for many years before her passing. Her husband was Eric Butler, a physician who died in 1967. She had two children, a son and a daughter. Born in Paris to a British father and a Canadian mother, she moved to Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1938 as a child.
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Career overview
Gregson’s early film work included a role in The Neptune Factor (1973), and she went on to build a long career in Canadian film and television. Her breakthrough came when she played Mrs. Cheever in the 1995 film adaptation of The Scarlet Letter, after which she moved to Toronto to pursue more screen opportunities. Over the years she appeared in many commercials, TV series, and movies, often playing grandmothers, neighbours, or other memorable supporting characters.
Theater and Radio
- Neptune Theatre: She was a founding member of the Neptune Theatre company in Halifax in 1963. Over 31 years, she appeared in numerous productions including Major Barbara, The Fourposter, Equus, and Broadway Bound.
- Radio: She worked extensively with CBC Halifax in radio dramas, voicing various characters. She won an ACTRA Award for Best Performance in Radio for her role in The Path
Notable movies
- It: Chapter Two (2019) – Gregson played Mrs. Kersh, the unsettling older woman who appears to Beverly Marsh, a role that brought her international attention.
- Hollywoodland (2006) – She appeared as a Chopard saleswoman in this crime drama about the death of actor George Reeves.
- Awake (2021) – Credited as “Sleeper” in this drama, adding another genre title to her film credits.
- Astronaut (2019) – Played Frannie in this Canadian drama starring Richard Dreyfuss.
- Don’t Talk to Irene (2017), The Masked Saint (2016), Grindstone Road (2008), Afterwards (2008), Sea People, and The Great Martian War 1913–1917 are also listed among her notable film and TV movie credits.
Notable TV shows
- My Babysitter’s a Vampire – Played Evelyn Weir, the grandmother of Benny Weir, a role remembered by fans of the series.
- Murdoch Mysteries – Appeared in several episodes between 2010 and 2020 in roles such as Rebecca Hastings and “Woman in the Coach.”
- Schitt’s Creek, Saving Hope, Four in the Morning, Mary Kills People, Black Harbour, and Anne of Green Gables are among her other Canadian TV credits listed in press and career overviews.
- She also appeared in American Gods (as Helen), The Hardy Boys (as Anya Kowalski), Ruby and the Well (as Mrs. Dolores Martin/Mrs. Martin), and the web series Sam, Dev & Ange.
- Before her death she was able to film a cameo as Ingrid Kersh for the prequel series IT: Welcome to Derry, set for release after 2025.
Death and net worth
Gregson died on 6 June 2025 in Nova Scotia, Canada, with sources such as IMDb noting cancer as the cause of death. Tributes posted later in 2025 describe her as a beloved actress who passed away at 92, highlighting her long career and influence on Canadian screen acting. There are no reliable reports of her net worth, and credible industry or financial sources do not publish an estimated figure for her earnings or estate.
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