Janis Paige, a scene-stealing sensation, began her career playing rather unremarkable film ingenues, but it was clear she was meant for more. Her vivacity and charisma shone through, making her uncomfortable in these formulaic roles.
Born Donna Mae Tjaden in 1922 in Tacoma, Washington, Janis started singing in public at the tender age of five in local amateur shows. After graduating from high school, she moved to Los Angeles and landed a job as a singer at the Hollywood Canteen during World War II. It was here that she was discovered by a Warner Brothers talent scout, who recognized her potential and signed her.
Janis went on to co-star in secondary musicals, often paired with Dennis Morgan or Jack Carson. However, she was later relegated to rugged adventures and dramas that didn't quite suit her style. Following her role in the forgettable Two Gals and a Guy in 1951, she decided to leave the Hollywood scene behind.
Instead, Janis turned to the Broadway stage, scoring a huge hit with the 1951 comedy-mystery play "Remains to Be Seen," co-starring Jackie Cooper. She also toured extensively as a cabaret singer, performing in cities across the country, from New York to Miami to Las Vegas to Los Angeles.
It wasn't until 1954 that Janis achieved definitive stardom with her feisty role as Babe in the Broadway production of "The Pajama Game," opposite John Raitt. Her old Warner Bros. rival, Doris Day, would later play the role on film, but Janis's stage performance cemented her status as a leading lady.
After a six-year hiatus, Janis returned to films, stealing scenes in tongue-in-cheek support roles, including Silk Stockings (1957) alongside Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse. She then grabbed the spotlight in a flashy role in the comedy Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1960) opposite Doris Day.
Throughout her career, Janis continued to shine in summer stock productions, playing iconic roles such as Annie Oakley in "Annie Get Your Gun," Margo Channing in "Applause," Mama Rose in "Gypsy," and Adelaide in "Guys and Dolls." She also tapped into television, appearing in series such as It's Always Jan (1955),Lanigan's Rabbi (1976),and Trapper John, M.D. (1979).
In the 1990s, Janis made recurring appearances on daytime soap operas General Hospital (1963) and Santa Barbara (1984). She was married three times and was the widow of Disney composer Ray Gilbert, who wrote the classic children's song "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah."
