Biography

After graduating with two degrees (arts and music) from Mather College (Western Reserve) in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1935, Janis headed to New York with aspirations of embarking on a musical career in opera. Supporting herself by waitressing, singing in churches, modeling (Conover) and writing radio scripts, she won an audition with the Met. However, a case of nerves assured her failure and an end to that ambition. Landing on her feet, she got a part in the Broadway musical I Married An Angel. DuBarry Was A Lady soon followed and then Panama Hattie, in which she had a solo number. Darryl Zanuck of 20th Century-Fox attended the opening night and was impressed enough with Janis to offer her a contract. She arrived in Hollywood in February 1941 and stayed for 12 years, making more than 30 movies for 20th Century-Fox, MGM, Columbia, and RKO. After leaving Hollywood for good, Janis headed back to New York and began a career working in television. She acted in numerous shows, both drama and comedy, and in 1954 became the hostess of the NBC quiz show Feather Your Nest, working with Bud Collyer. In 1956, Janis married Julius Stulman and retired from show business. With the same enthusiasm she had shown in other areas of her life, she involved herself in cultural activities of her community, serving in various capacities throughout the years, primarily in Sarasota, Florida.

- IMDb mini biography by: Martha Smith <martha@netwurx.net>