Janet Leigh
American actress and scream queen known for Psycho.
Jeanette Helen Morrison, known to the world as Janet Leigh, was an American actress, author, and businesswoman born on July 6, 1927, who died on October 3, 2004. She became famous as one of the first scream queens in horror films and also built a reputation for dramatic roles at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Over a career spanning five decades, she accumulated numerous credits on screen and stage, winning a Golden Globe Award and a Laurel Award, and earning an Academy Award nomination.
Leigh grew up in Stockton, California, with working-class parents. At age 18, actress Norma Shearer discovered her and helped her land a contract with MGM. Her early films included the drama *The Romance of Rosy Ridge* (1947), the crime drama *Act of Violence* (1948), the adaptation of *Little Women* (1949), the comedy *Angels in the Outfield* (1951), the swashbuckler romance *Scaramouche* (1952), and the Western *The Naked Spur* (1953). She had two marriages in the 1940s before marrying actor Tony Curtis in 1951.
After leaving MGM in 1954, Leigh worked with Universal and Columbia Pictures, starring in the adventure *Safari* (1956) and Orson Welles’ film noir *Touch of Evil* (1958). Her big breakthrough came as Marion Crane in Alfred Hitchcock’s horror film *Psycho* (1960), which won her the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress and an Academy Award nomination for the same category. That year, she was cemented as a scream queen and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Leigh and Curtis divorced in 1962, and she married Robert Brandt. She then appeared in the political thriller *The Manchurian Candidate* (1962), the musical *Bye Bye Birdie* (1963), and the thriller *Harper* (1966), after which she reduced her workload. She made her Broadway debut in *Murder Among Friends* (1975) and acted in the horror film *Night of the Lepus* (1972) and the thriller *Boardwalk* (1979). Later, she starred alongside her daughter, Jamie Lee Curtis, in the horror films *The Fog* (1980) and *Halloween H20: 20 Years Later* (1998).
Outside acting, Leigh co-founded Curtleigh Productions with Curtis, which produced several successful films between 1955 and 1962. She wrote four books from 1984 to 2002, two of which were novels. She died on October 3, 2004, at age 77 from vasculitis.
Leigh was born Jeanette Helen Morrison on July 6, 1927, in Merced, California, to Helen Lita (née Westergaa
- born
- July 6, 1927
- died
- October 3, 2004
- field
- Actress, businesswoman, author
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Scream queen; role as Marion Crane in Psycho (1960)
Lore & Background
Janet Leigh was raised in Stockton, California, by working-class parents. She was discovered at age 18 by actress Norma Shearer, who helped her secure a contract with MGM. Leigh appeared in films such as The Romance of Rosy Ridge (1947), Act of Violence (1948), Little Women (1949), Angels in the Outfield (1951), Scaramouche (1952), and The Naked Spur (1953). She had two marriages in the 1940s before marrying actor Tony Curtis in 1951. After leaving MGM in 1954, she signed with Universal and Columbia Pictures, starring in Safari (1956) and Touch of Evil (1958). She achieved success playing Marion Crane in Alfred Hitchcock's horror film Psycho (1960), winning the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress and earning a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. That same year she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1962, Leigh and Curtis divorced, and she married Robert Brandt. She later starred in The Manchurian Candidate (1962), Bye Bye Birdie (1963), and Harper (1966) before scaling back her career. She made her Broadway debut in Murder Among Friends (1975) and appeared in horror films with her daughter, Jamie Lee Curtis, including The Fog (1980) and Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998). Outside of acting, Leigh co-founded Curtleigh Productions with Curtis, which produced several films between 1955 and 1962. She wrote four books between 1984 and 2002, two of which were novels.
Reader's Guide
Janet Leigh's significance rests primarily on her role as Marion Crane in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960), which established her as a defining scream queen and earned her a Golden Globe and an Academy Award nomination. Her career spanned five decades, encompassing dramatic roles at MGM and later horror films that cemented her legacy in the genre. She also co-founded a production company and authored four books. Her work with her daughter, Jamie Lee Curtis, in later horror films further linked her to the genre's history. Leigh's impact is reflected in her Hollywood Walk of Fame star and her enduring association with one of cinema's most iconic scenes.
Did You Know?
- Leigh was discovered at age 18 when actress Norma Shearer saw a photograph of her at a ski resort.
- She won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Psycho (1960).
- Leigh co-founded the production company Curtleigh Productions with her then-husband Tony Curtis.
- She appeared in two horror films with her daughter, Jamie Lee Curtis: The Fog (1980) and Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998).
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