From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Joan Freeman (born January 8, 1942) is an American actress. Freeman was a child actor, having appeared in her first film in 1949 at the age of seven. In 1961-1962, she was a regular cast member, the young waitress Elma Gahrigner, in the ABC TV series Bus Stop with co-stars Marilyn Maxwell and Buddy Ebsen. In this early segment of her career Miss Freeman played... see more