Janet Leigh

Actor

About

Also Known As

Jeanette Helen Morrison, Jeanette Reems

Birth Place

Merced, California, USA

Born

July 06, 1927

Died

October 03, 2004

Cause of Death

Vasculitis

Biography

Filmography

Mary Pickford: A Life on Film (2000)

Interviewee

In My Sister's Shadow (1999)

Charlton Heston: For All Seasons (1995)

Stephen Verona: Self Portrait (1995)

The Story of Lassie (1994)

The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal (1985)

Photos & Videos

View All

Three On A Couch (1966) -- (Movie Clip) They All Have The Same Problem

Three On A Couch (1966) -- (Movie Clip) He Trusts Bugs

Family & Companions

John K Carlyle

Husband

Marriage annulled in 1942.

Stanley Reames

Husband

Bandleader. Married in 1946; divorced in 1948.

Tony Curtis

Husband

Actor. Married in 1951; divorced in 1962; acted together in the films "Houdini" (1953), "The Black Shield of Falworth" (1954), "The Vikings" (1958), "The Perfect Furlough" (1959) and "Who Was That Lady?" (1960).

Robert Brandt

Husband

Stockbroker. Married in 1962.

Bibliography

"The Dream Factory"

Janet Leigh, Mira Books (2002)

"Psycho: Behind the Scenes of the Classic Thriller"

Janet Leigh and Christopher Nickens, Harmony/Crown (1995)

"House of Destiny"

Janet Leigh, Mira Books (1995)

"There Really Was a Hollywood"

Janet Leigh, Doubleday (1984)

Notes

"I don't take showers. Or, if there is no other way to bathe, I make sure all of the doors and windows in the house are locked, and I leave the bathroom door and shower curtain open so I have a perfect, clear view." --Janet Leigh in People, August 1, 1995,

"There's a difference between retiring from a profession and retiring from life. I choose not to do the latter." --Janet Leigh

Biography

Actress Janet Leigh's early film career found her playing wholesome ingénues in everything from musicals and Westerns to comedies and thrillers, which made excellent use of her generous smile and unflaggingly positive nature. But in 1960, Leigh's name - and terrifying screams - became synonymous with cinematic legend as Alfred Hitchcock's doomed heroine in the infamous stabbing shower scene from "Psycho." Despite her later roles, which were eventually superseded by turns as a mother, humanitarian and best-selling author, audiences would still forever remember those fateful 45 seconds of the dying Leigh, glimpsed in silhouette, her hands tearing vainly at the shower curtain as her blood spirals down the drain. Like the film itself, Leigh became an enduring part of the fabric of movie history.

Filmography

Life Events

1946

Signed by MGM

1947

Made film debut in "The Romance of Rosy Ridge"

1955

Played title role in "My Sister Eileen"

1956

Began TV appearances with "The Rosemary Clooney Show"

1960

Had breakout role in Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho"; earned Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actress

1962

Co-starred in the classic film, "The Manchurian Candidate"

1963

Played Rosie in film, "Bye Bye Birdie"

1969

Made TV-movie debut, "The Monk" (ABC)

1979

Co-starred in Stephen Verona's "Boardwalk"

1984

Published autobiography, There Really Was a Hollywood

1990

Returned to "Psycho" territory as host of the Showtime TV-movie, "Psycho IV: The Beginning"

1995

Published memoir on the making of "Psycho" titled, Psycho: Behind the Scenes of the Classic Thriller

1995

Published first novel, House of Destiny

1998

Appeared with daughter Jamie Lee Curtis in "Halloween H2O"

1999

Appeared as mother of Nancy McKeon and Alexandra Wilson in the CBS TV-movie, "In My Sister's Shadow"

Photo Collections

Two Tickets to Broadway - Lobby Cards

Here are a few Lobby Cards from RKO's Two Tickets to Broadway (1951). Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. As the name implies, they were most often displayed in movie theater lobbies, to advertise current or coming attractions.

Little Women (1949) - Publicity Stills

Here are a few Publicity Stills from Little Women (1949). Publicity stills were specially-posed photos, usually taken off the set, for purposes of publicity or reference for promotional artwork.

Hills of Home - Publicity Photos

Here are a few Publicity Stills from Hills of Home (1948), featuring Lassie with Edmund Gwenn and Janet Leigh. Publicity stills were specially-posed photos, usually taken off the set, for purposes of publicity or reference for promotional artwork.

Scaramouche - Publicity Stills

Here are several publicity stills from MGM's Scaramouche (1952), starring Stewart Granger, Eleanor Parker, and Janet Leigh. Publicity stills were specially-posed photos, usually taken off the set, for purposes of publicity or reference for promotional artwork.

The Vikings - Movie Posters

Harper - Movie Poster

The Manchurian Candidate - Movie Posters

Here are a few original release movie posters from John Frankenheimer's The Manchurian Candidate (1962), starring Laurence Harvey, Frank Sinatra, and Janet Leigh.

Psycho - Lobby Cards

Here are a few Lobby Cards from Psycho (1960). Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. As the name implies, they were most often displayed in movie theater lobbies, to advertise current or coming attractions.

Angels in the Outfield - Publicity Stills

Here are a number of stills taken to help publicize MGM's Angels in the Outfield (1951), starring Paul Douglas and Janet Leigh. Publicity stills were specially-posed photos, usually taken off the set, for purposes of publicity or reference for promotional artwork.

That Forsyte Woman - Scene Stills

Here are several scene stills from MGM's That Forsyte Woman (1949), starring Greer Garson, Errol Flynn, and Robert Young.

The Naked Spur - Movie Poster

Here is the American one-sheet movie poster for The Naked Spur (1953). One-sheets measured 27x41 inches, and were the poster style most commonly used in theaters.

Holiday Affair - Publicity Stills

Here are a few publicity stills for Holiday Affair (1949). Publicity stills were specially-posed photos, usually taken off the set, for purposes of publicity or reference for promotional artwork.

Little Women (1949) - Movie Poster

Here is the American one-sheet movie poster for Little Women (1949). One-sheets measured 27x41 inches, and were the poster style most commonly used in theaters.

Act of Violence - Portrait Publicity Stills

Here are a few close-up Publicity Stills from Act of Violence (1949), starring Robert Ryan, Janet Leigh, and Van Heflin. Publicity stills were specially-posed photos, usually taken off the set, for purposes of publicity or reference for promotional artwork.

Just This Once - Lobby Cards

Here are a few Lobby Cards from Just This Once (1952), starring Janet Leigh and Peter Lawford. Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. As the name implies, they were most often displayed in movie theater lobbies, to advertise current or coming attractions.

Janet Leigh - Color MGM Publicity Stills

Here are several color publicity stills of Janet Leigh, taken while she was under contract to MGM.

Holiday Affair - Lobby Card Set

Here is a set of Lobby Cards from RKO's Holiday Affair (1949). Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. As the name implies, they were most often displayed in movie theater lobbies, to advertise current or coming attractions.

Holiday Affair - Alternate "Noir" Movie Poster

Here is a movie poster RKO sent out for Holiday Affair (1949). When the comedy-drama did not perform well at the box-office, RKO attempted an alternate ad campaign reminiscent of star Robert Mitchum's earlier Film Noir successes.

Touch of Evil - Lobby Card Set

Here is a set of Lobby Cards from Touch of Evil (1958), starring Charlton Heston, Orson Welles, and Janet Leigh. Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. As the name implies, they were most often displayed in movie theater lobbies, to advertise current or coming attractions.

The Romance of Rosy Ridge - Janet Leigh Publicity Stills

Here are a few publicity photos of Janet Leigh, taken for her film debut in MGM's The Romance of Rosy Ridge (1947).

Act of Violence - Publicity Art

Here is a specialty drawing created by MGM for newspaper and magazine reproduction to publicize Act of Violence (1949), starring Janet Leigh and Van Heflin.

Rogue Cop - Lobby Card Set

Here is a set of Lobby Cards from MGM's Rogue Cop (1954), starring Robert Taylor, Janet Leigh, George Raft, and Anne Francis. Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. As the name implies, they were most often displayed in movie theater lobbies, to advertise current or coming attractions.

Safari - Lobby Cards

Here are a few Lobby Cards from Columbia Pictures' Safari (1956), starring Victor Mature and Janet Leigh. Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. As the name implies, they were most often displayed in movie theater lobbies, to advertise current or coming attractions.

Act of Violence - Lobby Card

Here is a Lobby Card from MGM's Act of Violence (1949), starring Robert Ryan, Van Heflin, and Janet Leigh. Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. As the name implies, they were most often displayed in movie theater lobbies, to advertise current or coming attractions.

Confidentially Connie - Lobby Cards

Here are a few Lobby Cards from Confidentially Connie (1953), starring Van Johnson and Janet Leigh. Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. As the name implies, they were most often displayed in movie theater lobbies, to advertise current or coming attractions.

Just This Once - Movie Poster

Here is the American one-sheet movie poster for MGM's Just This Once (1952), starring Peter Lawford and Janet Leigh. One-sheets measured 27x41 inches, and were the poster style most commonly used in theaters.

Night of the Lepus - Pressbook

Here is the original campaign book (pressbook) for Night of the Lepus (1972). Pressbooks were sent to exhibitors and theater owners to aid them in publicizing the film's run in their theater.

Hills of Home - Movie Poster

Here is the American one-sheet movie poster for Hills of Home (1948), featuring Lassie. One-sheets measured 27x41 inches, and were the poster style most commonly used in theaters.