Janet Leigh

Janet Leigh

Acting
Born 1927-07-06 - Died 2004-10-03 Merced, California, USA

Biography

Janet Leigh (born Jeanette Helen Morrison; July 6, 1927 – October 3, 2004) was an American actress, singer, dancer, and author. Her career spanned over five decades. Raised in Stockton, California, by working-class parents, Leigh was discovered at 18 by actress Norma Shearer, who helped her secure a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Leigh appeared in radio programs before her first formal foray into acting, making her film debut in the drama The Romance of Rosy Ridge (1947). With MGM, she appeared in many films which spanned a wide variety of genres, which include the crime-drama Act of Violence (1948), the drama Little Women (1949), the comedy Angels in the Outfield (1951), the romance Scaramouche (1952) and the western drama The Naked Spur (1953). She played dramatic roles during the late 1950s, in such films as Safari (1956) and Orson Welles's film noir Touch of Evil (1958). With RKO Radio pictures she co-starred in the romantic comedy Holiday Affair (1949) with Robert Mitchum. Leigh achieved her biggest success starring as Marion Crane in Alfred Hitchcock's psychological thriller Psycho (1960). For her performance, Leigh won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress and earned a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Intermittently, she continued to appear in films, including Bye Bye Birdie (1963), Harper (1966), Night of the Lepus (1972), and Boardwalk (1979). She made her Broadway debut in 1975 in a production of Murder Among Friends. She would also go on to appear in two horror films with her daughter, Jamie Lee Curtis: The Fog (1980) and Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998). In addition to her work as an actress, Leigh also wrote four books between 1984 and 2002, two of which were novels. Leigh had two brief marriages as a teenager (one of which was annulled) before marrying actor Tony Curtis in 1951. The pair's highly publicized union ended in divorce in 1962, and after starring in The Manchurian Candidate that same year, Leigh remarried and scaled back her career. She died in October 2004 at age 77, following a year-long battle with vasculitis, an inflammation of the blood vessels.

Movies (110)

Psycho
8.4

Psycho

1960Movie8.4
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later
6.0

Halloween H20: 20 Years Later

1998Movie6.0
The Fog
6.7

The Fog

1980Movie6.7
Touch of Evil
7.7

Touch of Evil

1958Movie7.7
Little Women
7.4

Little Women

1949Movie7.4
Psycho II
6.5

Psycho II

1983Movie6.5
Telethon
6.0

Telethon

1977Movie6.0
Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story
7.5

Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story

2025Movie7.5
The Vikings
7.0

The Vikings

1958Movie7.0
Psycho III
5.7

Psycho III

1986Movie5.7
Harper
6.7

Harper

1966Movie6.7
The Manchurian Candidate
7.5

The Manchurian Candidate

1962Movie7.5
The Black Shield of Falworth
6.2

The Black Shield of Falworth

1954Movie6.2
Act of Violence
6.9

Act of Violence

1949Movie6.9
Hollywood: No Sex, Please!
5.5

Hollywood: No Sex, Please!

2018Movie5.5
Bye Bye Birdie
5.9

Bye Bye Birdie

1963Movie5.9
Night of 100 Stars II
6.8

Night of 100 Stars II

1985Movie6.8
Honeymoon with a Stranger
7.0

Honeymoon with a Stranger

1969Movie7.0
Angels in the Outfield
7.0

Angels in the Outfield

1951Movie7.0
The Naked Spur
7.0

The Naked Spur

1953Movie7.0
Scaramouche
7.0

Scaramouche

1952Movie7.0
Houdini
6.6

Houdini

1953Movie6.6
Holiday Affair
6.9

Holiday Affair

1949Movie6.9
The Fabulous Allan Carr
5.0

The Fabulous Allan Carr

2017Movie5.0
Confidentially Connie
5.8

Confidentially Connie

1953Movie5.8
Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary Special
6.9

Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary Special

1999Movie6.9
Jet Pilot
5.5

Jet Pilot

1957Movie5.5
Night of 100 Stars
5.8

Night of 100 Stars

1982Movie5.8
I Am Alfred Hitchcock
7.3

I Am Alfred Hitchcock

2021Movie7.3
Night of the Lepus
4.4

Night of the Lepus

1972Movie4.4
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
7.2

Hollywood: The Dream Factory

1972Movie7.2
Wives and Lovers
4.4

Wives and Lovers

1963Movie4.4
My Sister Eileen
6.6

My Sister Eileen

1955Movie6.6
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
7.0

Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

1983Movie7.0
The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal
7.3

The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal

1986Movie7.3
Boardwalk
7.5

Boardwalk

1979Movie7.5
Living It Up
6.5

Living It Up

1954Movie6.5
Fearless Fagan
5.2

Fearless Fagan

1952Movie5.2
The Perfect Furlough
6.7

The Perfect Furlough

1958Movie6.7
The Monk
8.0

The Monk

1969Movie8.0
How to Smuggle a Hernia Across the Border
8.0

How to Smuggle a Hernia Across the Border

1949Movie8.0
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
6.0

Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood

1987Movie6.0
Jamie Lee Curtis: Hollywood Call of Freedom
7.1

Jamie Lee Curtis: Hollywood Call of Freedom

2022Movie7.1
Prince Valiant
6.1

Prince Valiant

1954Movie6.1
Pete Kelly's Blues
6.3

Pete Kelly's Blues

1955Movie6.3
Rat Pack
9.0

Rat Pack

2022Movie9.0
Bad Girls from Valley High
4.0

Bad Girls from Valley High

2005Movie4.0
The Horror Show
3.4

The Horror Show

1979Movie3.4
Hills of Home
6.9

Hills of Home

1948Movie6.9
Words and Music
5.8

Words and Music

1948Movie5.8
It's a Big Country
5.9

It's a Big Country

1951Movie5.9
Howard Hughes: His Women and His Movies
9.0

Howard Hughes: His Women and His Movies

2000Movie9.0
100 Years of the Idiot: A Jerry Lewis Centenary

100 Years of the Idiot: A Jerry Lewis Centenary

2026Movie
Just This Once
4.4

Just This Once

1952Movie4.4
Pictures of Ghosts
8.0

Pictures of Ghosts

2023Movie8.0
Who Was That Lady?
6.4

Who Was That Lady?

1960Movie6.4
Fascination: Unauthorized Story of Marilyn Monroe
7.2

Fascination: Unauthorized Story of Marilyn Monroe

2012Movie7.2
The American Nightmare
6.8

The American Nightmare

2000Movie6.8
An American Dream
5.0

An American Dream

1966Movie5.0
Kid Rodelo
8.0

Kid Rodelo

1966Movie8.0
Hello Down There
5.9

Hello Down There

1969Movie5.9
Rogue Cop
5.7

Rogue Cop

1954Movie5.7
Grand Slam
7.1

Grand Slam

1967Movie7.1
That Forsyte Woman
6.0

That Forsyte Woman

1949Movie6.0
A Star Is Born World Premiere
8.0

A Star Is Born World Premiere

1954Movie8.0
The Red Danube
6.7

The Red Danube

1949Movie6.7
Charlton Heston: For All Seasons
5.0

Charlton Heston: For All Seasons

1995Movie5.0
Murder at the World Series
6.7

Murder at the World Series

1977Movie6.7
Pepe
6.4

Pepe

1960Movie6.4
Nightmare

Nightmare

1956Movie
The Spy in the Green Hat
6.6

The Spy in the Green Hat

1967Movie6.6
The Doctor and the Girl
5.9

The Doctor and the Girl

1949Movie5.9
Safari
5.6

Safari

1956Movie5.6
Miss Glucksman Visits Hollywood

Miss Glucksman Visits Hollywood

1954Movie
Three on a Couch
5.4

Three on a Couch

1966Movie5.4
Hitchcock: Alfred the Great
7.0

Hitchcock: Alfred the Great

1994Movie7.0
People, Hopes, Medals
4.6

People, Hopes, Medals

1960Movie4.6
Two Tickets to Broadway
4.6

Two Tickets to Broadway

1951Movie4.6
Fairfax Avenue

Fairfax Avenue

1951Movie
House on Greenapple Road
7.4

House on Greenapple Road

1970Movie7.4
Strictly Dishonorable
5.0

Strictly Dishonorable

1951Movie5.0
A Spot In The Shade

A Spot In The Shade

1951Movie
The Deadly Dream
7.0

The Deadly Dream

1971Movie7.0
The Romance of Rosy Ridge
6.7

The Romance of Rosy Ridge

1947Movie6.7
Mirror, Mirror
8.0

Mirror, Mirror

1979Movie8.0
Fear on Film: Inside 'The Fog'
5.8

Fear on Film: Inside 'The Fog'

1980Movie5.8
Murdock's Gang
7.5

Murdock's Gang

1973Movie7.5
Walking My Baby Back Home
9.0

Walking My Baby Back Home

1953Movie9.0
One Is a Lonely Number
5.1

One Is a Lonely Number

1972Movie5.1
Tales from the Mist: Inside 'The Fog'
6.3

Tales from the Mist: Inside 'The Fog'

2002Movie6.3
Hitchcock: Shadow of a Genius
8.5

Hitchcock: Shadow of a Genius

1999Movie8.5
The Egg
7.0

The Egg

1993Movie7.0
Come Back Little Shiksa

Come Back Little Shiksa

1952Movie
If Winter Comes
6.7

If Winter Comes

1947Movie6.7
Emergency: Donald Trump’s "Touch of Evil"

Emergency: Donald Trump’s "Touch of Evil"

2019Movie
Unmasking the Horror
10.0

Unmasking the Horror

1998Movie10.0
The Re-Inforcer
5.5

The Re-Inforcer

1951Movie5.5
Inside the Dream Factory
8.0

Inside the Dream Factory

1995Movie8.0
Nightmare

Nightmare

1951Movie
Mary Pickford: A Life on Film
7.0

Mary Pickford: A Life on Film

2000Movie7.0
The Story of Lassie
8.0

The Story of Lassie

1994Movie8.0
Anthony Perkins: A Life in the Shadows
8.0

Anthony Perkins: A Life in the Shadows

1999Movie8.0
The Making of 'Psycho'
7.5

The Making of 'Psycho'

2005Movie7.5
In My Sister's Shadow
6.3

In My Sister's Shadow

1997Movie6.3
Rat Pack: A Conference of Cool

Rat Pack: A Conference of Cool

1999Movie
Bob Hope Christmas Show
7.0

Bob Hope Christmas Show

1965Movie7.0
Jerry Lewis: The Last American Clown
6.0

Jerry Lewis: The Last American Clown

1996Movie6.0
An Eye for an Eye

An Eye for an Eye

1952Movie
Cubby Broccoli: The Man Behind Bond
6.5

Cubby Broccoli: The Man Behind Bond

2000Movie6.5
Watch On The Lime

Watch On The Lime

1951Movie

TV Shows (26)

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
7.5

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962Series7.5
Columbo
8.1

Columbo

1971Series8.1
The Love Boat
6.3

The Love Boat

1977Series6.3
Murder, She Wrote
7.5

Murder, She Wrote

1984Series7.5
Golden Globe Awards
7.0

Golden Globe Awards

1944Series7.0
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
5.9

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

1963Series5.9
Touched by an Angel
7.2

Touched by an Angel

1994Series7.2
Intimate Portrait
4.5

Intimate Portrait

1993Series4.5
What's My Line?
7.0

What's My Line?

1950Series7.0
The Twilight Zone
7.7

The Twilight Zone

1985Series7.7
Tales of the Unexpected
6.8

Tales of the Unexpected

1979Series6.8
Family Law
8.1

Family Law

1999Series8.1
The Oscars
7.0

The Oscars

1953Series7.0
The Ed Sullivan Show
6.8

The Ed Sullivan Show

1948Series6.8
The Colgate Comedy Hour
6.9

The Colgate Comedy Hour

1950Series6.9
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
7.2

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

1964Series7.2
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
6.8

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

1968Series6.8
This Is Your Life
6.5

This Is Your Life

1952Series6.5
Matt Houston
6.3

Matt Houston

1982Series6.3
The Hollywood Palace
5.0

The Hollywood Palace

1964Series5.0
Ghost Story
7.4

Ghost Story

1972Series7.4
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
6.3

The American Film Institute Salute to ...

1973Series6.3
Scene by Scene
6.0

Scene by Scene

1997Series6.0
The Rosemary Clooney Show
8.0

The Rosemary Clooney Show

1956Series8.0
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
7.2

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

1951Series7.2
E! True Hollywood Story
8.1

E! True Hollywood Story

1996Series8.1