Joan Lee, Stan Lee’s wife of 69 years, passed away on Thursday after being hospitalized for a stroke earlier this week. Uniquely enough, the two met when Stan was meant to go on a blind date with one of Joan’s friends. After Joan’s divorce from a previous, unhappy marriage to an American soldier she wed during World War II, the two were married by the same judge in an adjacent room. Joan, who has been attributed as an inspiration for the Fantastic Four, also did voice work on the Fantastic Four TV show, portraying the character Miss Forbes. She was also the voice of Madame Web in the ’90s Marvel cartoon shows and even had a brief appearance in X-Men: Apocalypse. In addition, she was the author of the 1987 novel The Pleasure Palace. After news broke of Joan’s passing, a family spokesperson released the following statement to Variety:
“I can confirm the sad news that Joan Lee passed away this morning quietly and surrounded by her family. The family ask that you please give them time to grieve and respect their privacy during this difficult time.”
