Janis Paige Dies at 101 in West Hollywood Home
Janis Paige, a vibrant nightclub performer known for her Broadway role in "The Pajama Game."
her performance alongside Fred Astaire in the film "Silk Stockings," and her portrayal of a flirtatious waitress tempting Archie Bunker in the sitcom "All in the Family," passed away on June 2 at her West Hollywood home. She was 101.
Her death was confirmed by her friend Stuart Lampert, who mentioned she had been in hospice care but did not specify a cause.
Early Career and Breakthrough Roles
While Ms. Paige appeared in westerns and melodramas, she was best known for her roles as a scene-stealing comic actress, often showcasing her long legs and expressive eyes. Film critic Alton Cook from the New York World-Telegram and Sun described her as "one of the most deft and engaging of our girl clowns."
RIP: Janis Paige, a popular actor in Hollywood and in Broadway musicals and comedies who danced with Fred Astaire, toured with Bob Hope and continued to perform into her 80s, has died. She was 101.https://t.co/aVoSbvJvPW
— WTVC NewsChannel 9 (@newschannelnine) June 4, 2024
Source: Twitter/WTVC NewssChannel9
Talent scouts discovered her singing opera at the Hollywood Canteen, a club for servicemen on leave during World War II. Within a year, she was signed by Warner Bros. and featured in the film "Hollywood Canteen" (1944) as a hostess and aspiring actress who charms a predatory soldier (Dane Clark).
When he asks her out, she dramatically rebuffs him, saying, "I give so much of myself to my art, and there’d be so little left for you."
Missed Opportunity and Continued Success
Janis Paige was passed over for the 1957 film adaptation, which starred her Broadway co-star John Raitt opposite Doris Day. "For the movie, they needed a box office name," she told the Associated Press years later.
"They wanted Frank Sinatra to play John Raitt's role. Frank considered it and turned it down. I would have played my role."
“I never get devastated about things like that,” she added. “I’m lucky to have had the show. I always felt that way. There’s nothing like the original.”
Later Career and Memorable Performances
The film was based on the 1955 Broadway musical adaptation of the 1939 movie “Ninotchka,” a romantic comedy starring Greta Garbo and Melvyn Douglas. Ms. Paige added much-needed energy to the movie, particularly with her witty performance of Cole Porter’s “Stereophonic Sound.”
This number, choreographed by Hermes Pan, ended with Ms. Paige and Astaire gliding across the room, suspended from a chandelier.
Iconic TV Roles and Personal Life
In the comedy film "Please Don’t Eat the Daisies" (1960), Ms. Paige had a memorable supporting role as an actress who slaps theater critic David Niven for giving her a bad review.
She was also part of Bob Hope’s USO shows and became a television regular, appearing on variety shows, soap operas like "General Hospital," and series such as "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "Trapper John, M.D.," and "St. Elsewhere."
Early Life and Personal Struggles
Donna Mae Tjaden was born in Tacoma, Washington, on September 16, 1922. Her parents separated when she was 4, and she was raised by her mother and grandparents. Her mother supported her show business ambitions, leading her to Hollywood a year after she finished high school.
Her marriages to restaurateur Frank Martinelli Jr. and TV producer Arthur Stander ended in divorce.
She was married to Ray Gilbert, the Oscar-winning lyricist of “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah,” from 1962 until his death in 1976. Complete information on survivors was not immediately available.
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