Born in Chicago, IL; educated at Northwestern University (Evanston, IL; speech). Former school teacher, model and actress [LOVING (1970), RIO LOBO (1970)]. She abandoned acting for production. She joined Talent Associates as an executive in charge of development in 1974, moving to MGM in 1975. She joined Columbia Pictures two years later as vice president in charge of production. In 1980, she was appointed president of 20th Century-Fox (the first time a woman had held such a position). Lansing formed Jaffe-Lansing Productions with producer Stanley R. Jaffe and from 1984 until 1992 the team was responsible for films such as FIRSTBORN (1984), FATAL ATTRACTION (1987), THE ACCUSED (1988), BLACK RAIN (1989) and SCHOOL TIES (1992). Lansing also produced INDECENT PROPOSAL (1993). After Jaffe was appointed president of Paramount Communications in 1990, Lansing became chairman of the Motion Picture Group in 1992. Noted for her humanitarian work, Lansing helped Dr. Armand Hammer form the nonprofit organization Stop Cancer and serves on its board. She is on the board of the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation, founded to honor excellence in basic and clinical science, and is a trustee of the American Association for Cancer Research. In addition, she serves on the Citizens' Oversight Committee of the California Institute for Stem Cell Research and on the American Red Cross Board of Governors Advisory Committee and is a trustee of the Carter Center, the human rights organization formed by former US President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn. She also serves as a regent of the University of California.  Nominated for Best Picture of the Year 1987: FATAL ATTRACTION - Producer at Jaffe/Lansing (w. Stanley R. Jaffe)  Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award 2006 1 nomination, 1 Honorary Award