Background
Horman was born in Owatonna, Minnesota, the daughter of Vernita (née Sauke 1923-2010) and Arthur "Duffy" Hamren (1921-2010). Her paternal grandmother Marie Hamren (1890-1985), was born in Iowa to Norwegian immigrants.
Horman was born in Owatonna, Minnesota, the daughter of Vernita (née Sauke 1923-2010) and Arthur "Duffy" Hamren (1921-2010). Her paternal grandmother Marie Hamren (1890-1985), was born in Iowa to Norwegian immigrants.
She graduated from Owatonna Senior High School in 1962 and then graduated from the University of Minnesota.
She is known as the wife of journalist Charles Horman, who went missing in 1973 while the couple was living in Santiago, Chile. Her search for what happened to him was chronicled in the 1982 film Missing, in which she was portrayed by Sissy Spacek. Her family"s story was first told in the 1978 book by Thomas Hauser titled The Execution of Charles Horman: An American Sacrifice.
Horman lives in New York City.
After her husband"s death she remained close with her in-laws, Edmund and Elizabeth Horman. Edmund died in 1993, and Joyce lived with Elizabeth, an artist, until her death in 2001.
Joyce created the Horman Truth Foundation, which fights for continued research and prosecution for those involved with her husband"s murder, which included Augusto Pinochet. Joyce travels around the country as a guest speaker, telling students and others about her experience of living in Chile during the 1973 Coup d"état.
She has never remarried and has no children.
Sissy Spacek was cast to portray Joyce Horman in the 1982 film Missing. Joyce stated she felt uneasy about what the outcome of the film would be, and asked director Costa-Gavras to change her name in the film from Joyce to "Beth Horman" to distance herself.