 |
Janis Paige
Age: 87
Height: 5' 5"
Birth Place: Tacoma, Washington, USA
Born: Sep. 16th, 1922
+ Add to My Celebs
|
Janis Paige's Main TV Roles
NOTE: Complete List of Works can be found at
IMDB
BIOGRAPHY: This joyous scene-stealer started out playing rather bland film ingénues but she never seemed to be comfortable in those roles - she had too much snap, crackle and pop to be confined in such a formulaic way. Born in 1922 in Tacoma, Washington, Janis Paige was singing in public from age 5 in local amateur shows. She moved to Los Angeles after graduating from high school and earned a job as a singer at the Hollywood Canteen during the war years. The Canteen, which was a studio-sponsored gathering spot for servicemen, is where she was spotted by a Warner Brothers talent scout, who saw potential in her and signed her up. She began co-starring in secondary musicals which often paired her with either Dennis Morgan (I) or Jack Carson (I). Later she was relegated to rugged adventures and dramas that just seemed out of her element. Following her role in the forgettable Two Gals and a Guy (1951), she decided to leave the Hollywood scene. She took to the Broadway boards and scored a huge hit with the 1951 comedy-mystery play Remains to Be Seen co-starring Jackie Cooper (I). She also toured successfully as a cabaret singer, performing everywhere from New York to Miami to Las Vegas to Los Angeles. Definitive stardom came in 1954 with the feisty role of Babe in Broadway's The Pajama Game opposite John Raitt. Her old Warner Bros. rival Doris Day (I), however, was a bigger name and went on to play the role on film with Raitt. After a six-year hiatus, Janis returned to films in tongue-and-cheek support, all but stealing the movie Silk Stockings (1957) from co-stars Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse. She then grabbed her share of laughs in a flashy role with the comedy Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1960) opposite Ms. Day. Janis ventured on in summer stock playing such indomitable roles as Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun, Margo Channing in Applause, Mama Rose in Gypsy and Adelaide in Guys and Dolls. From the mid-50s on Janis also tapped into TV with such series like "It's Always Jan" (1955), "Lanigan's Rabbi" (1977) and "Trapper John, M.D." (1979). In the 90s, among other TV appearances, she had recurring roles on the daytime serials "General Hospital" (1963) and "Santa Barbara" (1984). Married three times, she was the widow of Disney composer Ray Gilbert, who wrote the classic children's song "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah."
TRIVIA:
- Chose her first name in honor of Elsie Janis, beloved entertainer of troops during World War I; Paige was her maternal grandmother's name.
- During her Broadway run of The Pajama Game in the mid-50s, she accidentally developed poison oak. Co-star 'John Raitt' (qv) had been clearing land and came to the theater with a rash on his hands. Janis missed three weeks of performances and had to endure potassium baths which made her turn purple.
- Was only 12 years older than 'Nicolas Coster' (qv) when she played his mother, Minx Lockridge (1990-1993), on _"Santa Barbara" (1984)_ (qv).
- She was nominated for a 1975 Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Guest Artist for her performance in the play, "The Gingerbread Lady," at the Candlelight Forum Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.
- Starred in the original Broadway production of The Pajama Game. Her role was played by 'Doris Day (I)' (qv) in the film version.
- Measurements: 37 1/2-25-37 (measured in 1954), (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)
- When the hit musical The Pajama Game was being transferred to film, both lead stars, 'Janis Paige' (qv) and 'John Raitt' (qv), were told either might recreate their respective roles, but not both. The reason being that neither were established movie stars at the time. 'Frank Sinatra' (qv) was approached to do the film, which meant Janis would have co-starred, but he turned it down. 'Doris Day (I)' (qv) was offered the role and accepted so Raitt was taken on board and Paige was out.
- Alternate board member of the Songwriters Guild of America.
Janis Paige Photos | powered by  |
Previous |
Next (1)
Janis Paige Fans [0]
Page created in 0.066 seconds
Facebook
Twitter
