The Champ stars an American actress.
Dagmar ( born Virginia Ruth Egnor , November 29 , 1921 -- October 9 , 2001 ) was an American actress , model , and television personality of the 1950s . Rose Joan Blondell ( August 30 , 1906 -- December 25 , 1979 ) was an American actress who performed in movies and on television for half a century . The Champ (1979 film) . It is also the final film for actress Joan Blondell to be released during her lifetime .