ACTOR · BORN 1927 · DIED 2004
Janet Leigh
- Born
- 6 July 1927, Merced, California, USA
- Died
- 3 October 2004
- Known for
- Psycho (1960), Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998), The Fog (1980), Touch of Evil (1958)
31 archived facts 5 topics 1 source Last reviewed Sep 2026
10 Facts From Janet Leigh's Career
- #003
Janet Leigh ran away from home and married for the first time when she was only 15; the marriage was later annulled. As a result, when she married Tony Curtis at 23, Curtis was her third husband. This early elopement points to a turbulent period in her life before she began her Hollywood career.
- #006
In June 2010, the Pacific Theatre, the campus cinema of University of the Pacific, was renamed the Janet Leigh Theatre and opened with a ceremony in the actress's honour. Inside the theatre is a display case exhibiting Janet Leigh's film posters, film stills, university and family photographs, and personal and professional items. A lavender gown designed by Edith Head that Leigh wore to the 1961 Academy Awards is also displayed in a case in the lobby.
- #008
Janet Leigh turned down the role of Simone Clouseau in the 1963 film The Pink Panther; the role then went to Capucine. Leigh, who had recently divorced and remarried at the time, did not want to be away from her family for the long shoot in Europe. This decision was an important turning point in her career, as the film brought Capucine international recognition.
- #009
Janet Leigh's acting career began when she saw a photograph of Norma Shearer on her father's desk. Shearer was struck by the young girl's beauty and discovered her, opening Hollywood's doors for Leigh. This chance encounter paved the way for her rapid rise to stardom.
- #010
When Janet Leigh finished shooting the 1956 film Safari, she was two months pregnant with her first daughter, Kelly Curtis. When she recorded her appearance on The Rosemary Clooney Show the same year, she was five months pregnant. This period points to a busy time in which Leigh pursued both her career and motherhood together.
- #016
Janet Leigh appeared in four films selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being 'culturally, historically, or aesthetically' significant: The Naked Spur (1953), Touch of Evil (1958), Psycho (1960) and The Manchurian Candidate (1962). These productions are counted among the masterpieces of American cinema history, and Leigh's performances in them are part of her enduring legacy.
- #017
On 8 February 1960, Janet Leigh was honoured with her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1777 Vine Street in Hollywood, California. This award was an official recognition of the success and popularity of her film career. With this star, Leigh cemented her place among Hollywood's legendary names.
- #020
Empire magazine placed Janet Leigh 99th on its list of the 100 sexiest stars in film history. This ranking is an indication of her allure and on-screen presence in the 1950s and 1960s. Leigh is remembered as one of the rare actresses who combined elements of both horror and allure, especially through her performance in Psycho.
- #024
Janet Leigh felt insulted when Stanley Kubrick asked her to play the role of Charlotte Haze in Lolita (1962), because the role was suited to character actors and was demeaning for a sexy, record-breaking star. She therefore turned down the offer, and the role went to Shelley Winters. Leigh's decision shows that she was selective in her career and cared about her image.
- #030
Janet Leigh was engaged to Arthur M. Loew Jr. Loew was the grandson of Marcus Loew, one of the founders of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and a well-known figure in Hollywood circles. This engagement shows Leigh's social circle in the early part of her career.
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