ACTOR · BORN 1927 · DIED 2004
Janet Leigh
- Born
- 6 July 1927, Merced, California, USA
- Died
- 3 October 2004
- Known for
- Psycho (1960), The Vikings (1958), Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998), Harper (1966)
16 archived facts 5 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
Janet Leigh (6 July 1927 – 3 October 2004) was an actor best known for Psycho, The Vikings and Halloween H20: 20 Years Later.
Janet Leigh over the years
16 Interesting Facts About Janet Leigh
Production Story (3)
- #001
- #002
Felt insulted when Stanley Kubrick asked her to play Charlotte Haze in Lolita (1962), as it was the kind of part reserved for a character actress, not a sexy star coming off a box office smash. Needless to say, she turned it down and the role went to Shelley Winters.
- #003
Originally, she was considered for the role of Lila Crane in Psycho (1960) and Vera Miles was intended for the role of Marion Crane. After a few screen tests, the actresses roles were reversed when they, and Hitchcock, agreed that it would be better for both them and the characters centered within the screenplay.
Behind the Scenes (2)
- #004
Actually made Touch of Evil (1958), with a broken arm. Her arm was in a cast when she showed up for production, so they took her arm out of the cast and used every trick they could to hide it.
- #005
Characters & Cast (1)
- #006
She and her actress daughter Jamie Lee Curtis appear together in John Carpenter's The Fog (1980), though they do not meet until the film's ending. They also appear together in Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998) early in the film when Janet reports to Jamie on a problem with the girls' shower at a private school.
Career & Awards (8)
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- #009
Said on TCM that Van Johnson was responsible for her stage name. While they were filming The Romance of Rosy Ridge (1947), he suggested she shorten her first name to Janet. He also thought that, since the film they were doing was a civil war drama, Lee would go well as her last name. But then he suggested she spell it Leigh. She was concerned there might a problem in being confused with Vivien Leigh; but then Van Johnson reminded her of Van Heflin. He said "there's two Van's and it hasn't hurt either of us".
- #010
In June 2010, Pacific Theatre, the campus movie theater of the University of the Pacific, was renamed and dedicated as Janet Leigh Theatre. The theater houses Janet Leigh movie posters, movie stills, college and family photos, and a display cabinet with many personal and professional Janet Leigh artifacts. The lavender gown worn by Ms. Leigh to the 1961 Academy Awards (and created by Edith Head) is on display in the cabinet in the lobby.
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She was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree at University of the Pacific in Stockton, California on May 14, 2004. She delivered an inspirational speech to graduating students, faculty, and administrators in accepting her award. Author Maxine Hong Kingston and US Solicitor General Ted Olson were also awarded honorary degrees on the same day.
Life & Family (2)
Related pages
- Zodiac — Janet Leigh comes up in the facts on that page
- The Birds — Janet Leigh comes up in the facts on that page
- Anthony Perkins — Janet Leigh comes up in the facts on that page
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
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