Biography
Born Donna Mae Tjaden on 16 September 1922 in Tacoma, Washington, USA, Janis Paige sang from early childhood onward. After leaving school she made her way to Hollywood and secured employment at the Hollywood Canteen throughout World War II. Warner Bros. discovered and contracted her, resulting in screen appearances that included Bathing Beauty (1944), Hollywood Canteen (1944), Of Human Bondage, Two Guys From Milwaukee and The Time, The Place And The Girl (all 1946), Romance On The High Seas (1948, released in the UK as It’s Magic), The House Across The Street (1949) and Two Gals And A Guy (1951). Frustrated by the studio’s preference for assigning suitable parts to Doris Day, she relocated eastward and scored a success in the 1951 Broadway production Remains To Be Seen opposite Jackie Cooper. She then returned to singing, appearing regularly in cabaret venues. In 1954 she originated the role of Babe in the Broadway staging of The Pajama Game, sharing the stage with John Raitt.
Upon returning to Hollywood she accepted supporting parts in Silk Stockings (1957, alongside Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse) and Please Don’t Eat The Daisies (1960), the latter again featuring Day, who portrayed Babe in the film adaptation of The Pajama Game. Paige remained active onstage, frequently taking leading roles in summer-stock revivals of Annie Get Your Gun, Applause, Gypsy and Guys And Dolls. Television work proved steady as well; she performed on The Bob Hope Show during the 1950s and portrayed Jan Stewart in the 1955 series It’s Always Jan. Further guest appearances encompassed Wagon Train (1961), Burke’s Law and The Fugitive (both 1964), Columbo (1972), Lanigan’s Rabbi (1976/7), All In The Family (1976-78), Eight Is Enough (1977/8), Charlie’s Angels and The Rockford Files (both 1978) and Trapper John, M.D. (1979). Later credits extended to Happy Days and Bret Maverick (both 1981), St. Elsewhere (1983), Capitol (1987), General Hospital and Mission: Impossible (both 1989), Santa Barbara (1990), Natural Causes (1994), Caroline In The City (1997) and Family Law (2001). She adopted her professional surname from her maternal grandmother and her given name in tribute to singing star Elsie Janis. In 2003 she participated among numerous performers interviewed for the documentary Broadway: The Golden Age, By The Legends Who Were There.
Upon returning to Hollywood she accepted supporting parts in Silk Stockings (1957, alongside Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse) and Please Don’t Eat The Daisies (1960), the latter again featuring Day, who portrayed Babe in the film adaptation of The Pajama Game. Paige remained active onstage, frequently taking leading roles in summer-stock revivals of Annie Get Your Gun, Applause, Gypsy and Guys And Dolls. Television work proved steady as well; she performed on The Bob Hope Show during the 1950s and portrayed Jan Stewart in the 1955 series It’s Always Jan. Further guest appearances encompassed Wagon Train (1961), Burke’s Law and The Fugitive (both 1964), Columbo (1972), Lanigan’s Rabbi (1976/7), All In The Family (1976-78), Eight Is Enough (1977/8), Charlie’s Angels and The Rockford Files (both 1978) and Trapper John, M.D. (1979). Later credits extended to Happy Days and Bret Maverick (both 1981), St. Elsewhere (1983), Capitol (1987), General Hospital and Mission: Impossible (both 1989), Santa Barbara (1990), Natural Causes (1994), Caroline In The City (1997) and Family Law (2001). She adopted her professional surname from her maternal grandmother and her given name in tribute to singing star Elsie Janis. In 2003 she participated among numerous performers interviewed for the documentary Broadway: The Golden Age, By The Legends Who Were There.