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Born Jeanette Helen Morrison in Merced, CA; educated at the College of the Pacific in Stockton, CA (music, psychology). She was an only child of a couple who often moved from town to town. Living in apartments, Leigh was a bright child who skipped several grades and finished high school when she was 15. As a lonely child, she would spend much of her time at movie theaters. She was a student, studying music and psychology, at the College of the Pacific until she was "discovered" visiting her parents in Northern California. Her father was working the desk at a ski resort where her mother worked as a maid. Retired MGM actress Norma Shearer saw a picture of Janet on the front desk and asked if she could borrow it. This led to a screen test at MGM and a starring role in THE ROMANCE OF ROSY RIDGE (1947). MGM was looking for a young naïve country girl and Leigh filled the bill perfectly. Leigh (her new surname was chosen by Louis B. Mayer) evolved from a fetching ingenue into a competent leading lady, turning in creditable performances in TOUCH OF EVIL (1958) and PSYCHO (1960). Other notable (non-nominated) screen credits include WORDS AND MUSIC (1948), LITTLE WOMEN, THAT FORSYTE WOMAN and THE RED DANUBE (all 1949), ANGELS IN THE OUTFIELD (1951), THE NAKED SPUR and HOUDINI (both 1953), PRINCE VALIANT (1954), MY SISTER EILEEN and PETE KELLY'S BLUES (both 1955), THE VIKINGS (1958), PEPE (1960), THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (1962), BYE BYE BIRDIE and WIVES AND LOVERS (both 1963), HARPER (1966), NIGHT OF THE LEPUS (1972), THE FOG (1980), as well as a number of TV guest appearances.
Her first marriage, to John Carlyle, was annulled in 1942. She was married to Stanley Reames from 1946 until 1948. From 1951 to 1962 she was married to actor Tony Curtis. Their daughter is actress Jamie Lee Curtis (b. 1958). In 1962 she married writer-producer-director Robert Brandt, and they remained together until her death from vasculitis in 2004.
1 nomination |
Nominated for Supporting Actress