Janis Paige
Born
September 16, 1922
Died
June 2, 2024 (101 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Tacoma, Washington, USA
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Janis Paige (September 16, 1922 - June 2, 2024; born as Donna Mae Tjaden in Tacoma, Washington) was an American film, musical theatre and television actress. She began singing in public from the age of five in local amateur shows. She then moved to Los Angeles after graduating from high school and then got a job as a singer at the Hollywood Canteen during World War II.
The Canteen, which was a studio-sponsored gathering spot for servicemen, is where Warner Bros. saw her potential and signed her up. She began her film career co-starring in secondary musicals, often paired with either Dennis Morgan or Jack Carson. She later was relegated to rugged adventures and dramas in which she was out of her element. Following her role in the forgettable Two Gals and a Guy released in 1951, she decided to leave the Hollywood scene.
She then took to the Broadway boards and scored a huge hit with the 1951 comedy-mystery play, Remains to Be Seen, co-starring Jackie Cooper. She also toured successfully as a cabaret singer, performing everywhere from New York City and Miami to Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
Stardom came in 1954 with the role of "Babe" in the Broadway musical The Pajama Game. (Doris Day went on to play the role on film.) After a six-year hiatus, Paige returned to films in Silk Stockings (1957), which starred Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse, plus the Doris Day comedy Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1960) followed by a role as a love-starved married neighbor in Bachelor in Paradise with Bob Hope (1961).
One of her rare dramatic roles was "Marion," an institutionalized hooker, in the 1963 drama, The Caretakers.
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Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age
Self
2021
Journey to Royal: A WWII Rescue Mission
2021
This Is Bob Hope...
Self (archive footage)
2017
Hollywood Singing & Dancing: A Musical History - 1970's
Self
2009
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1930s: Dancing Away the Great Depression
Self
2009
Legends
Elvira Kent (archive footage) (uncredited) · (1 episode)
2006
Cole Porter in Hollywood: Satin and Silk
Self
2003
Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There
Self
2003
Family Law
Ann Fox · (1 episode)
1999
Caroline in the City
Loretta · (1 episode)
1995
That's Entertainment! III
(archive footage)
1994
Natural Causes
Mrs. MacCarthy
1994
Mission: Impossible
Katherine Foster · (1 episode)
1991
Shades of L.A.
(1 episode)
1990
You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story
Self
1990
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
Self (archive footage)
1988
Santa Barbara
Minx Lockridge · (761 episodes)
1984
No Man's Land
Maggie Hodiak
1984
Night Court
Eleanor Brandon · (1 episode)
1984
Trauma Center
(1 episode)
1983
Baby Makes Five
(5 episodes)
1983
The Other Woman
Mrs. barnes
1983
Gun Shy
Nettie McCoy · (6 episodes)
1983
St. Elsewhere
Dee Mackaluso · (1 episode)
1982
Matt Houston
Lauren Calder · (1 episode)
1982
Capitol
(260 episodes)
1982
Love at the Top
Estelle
1982
Bret Maverick
Mandy Packer · (2 episodes)
1981
Lewis & Clark
(1 episode)
1981
Flamingo Road
(1 episode)
1981
Angel on My Shoulder
Dolly Blaine
1980
Valentine Magic on Love Island
Madge
1980
Trapper John, M.D.
Catherine Hackett · (19 episodes)
1979
The Love Boat
Phyllis Morrison · (1 episode)
1977
The Betty White Show
Wilma · (1 episode)
1977
Eight Is Enough
Auntie V · (5 episodes)
1977
Lanigan's Rabbi
(2 episodes)
1977
Charlie's Angels
Joan · (1 episode)
1976
All's Fair
(2 episodes)
1976
Alice
(1 episode)
1976
Lanigan's Rabbi
Kate Lanigan
1976
Cop on the Beat
Irene
1975
The Turning Point of Jim Malloy
Lonnie
1975
The Rockford Files
Miriam · (1 episode)
1974
Happy Days
Angela · (1 episode)
1974
Police Story
(1 episode)
1973
Banacek
Lydia · (1 episode)
1972
Sarge
Marian Hart · (1 episode)
1971
Columbo
Goldie Williamson · (1 episode)
1971
All in the Family
Denise · (2 episodes)
1971
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Charlene Maguire · (1 episode)
1970
Roberta
Scharwenka
1969
Hawaii Five-O
Minnie Cahoon · (1 episode)
1968
Mannix
Georgia Durian · (1 episode)
1967
Welcome to Hard Times
Adah
1967
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
Self · (1 episode)
1963
Burke's Law
Sharon McCauley · (1 episode)
1963
The Fugitive
Hallie Martin · (1 episode)
1963
The Caretakers
Marion
1963
Follow the Boys
Liz
1963
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · (2 episodes)
1962
The Mike Douglas Show
Self · (2 episodes)
1961
Bachelor in Paradise
Dolores Jynson
1961
87th Precinct
Cheryl Anderson · (1 episode)
1961
Please Don't Eat the Daisies
Deborah Vaughn
1960
The Bell Telephone Hour
Self · (1 episode)
1959
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
(1 episode)
1958
Wagon Train
Nellie Jefferson · (1 episode)
1957
Silk Stockings
Peggy Dayton
1957
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
Self · (5 episodes)
1956
Tony Awards
Self - Presenter · (1 episode)
1956
It's Always Jan
(9 episodes)
1955
Climax!
Barbara · (1 episode)
1954
The George Gobel Show
Self · (2 episodes)
1954
Studio 57
(1 episode)
1954
General Electric Theater
(1 episode)
1953
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Bebe Evans · (1 episode)
1951
The Red Skelton Show
School Teacher · (1 episode)
1951
The Red Skelton Show
Self · (1 episode)
1951
The Red Skelton Show
Mrs. Cavendish · (1 episode)
1951
The Red Skelton Show
Hatta Mari · (1 episode)
1951
Two Gals and a Guy
Della Oliver / Sylvia Latour
1951
Mister Universe
Lorraine
1951
Lux Video Theatre
Iris · (1 episode)
1950
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Self · (3 episodes)
1950
This Side of the Law
Nadine Taylor
1950
Fugitive Lady
Barbara Clementi
1950
The Bob Hope Show
Self · (13 episodes)
1950
The Bob Hope Show
Madame Nunez · (1 episode)
1950
The House Across the Street
Kit Williams
1949
The Younger Brothers
Kate Shepherd
1949
One Sunday Afternoon
Virginia Brush
1948
Romance on the High Seas
Mrs. Elvira Kent
1948
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self · (3 episodes)
1948
Wallflower
Joy Linnett
1948
Winter Meeting
Peggy Markham
1948
Always Together
Polly (uncredited)
1947
So You Want to Be in Pictures
Herself (uncredited)
1947
Cheyenne
Emily Carson
1947
Love and Learn
Jackie
1947
The Time, The Place and The Girl
Sue Jackson
1946
Two Guys from Milwaukee
Polly
1946
Of Human Bondage
Sally Athelny
1946
Her Kind of Man
Georgia King
1946
Hollywood Canteen
Studio Guide
1944
I Won't Play
Kim Karol / Sally
1944
Bathing Beauty
Janis
1944