Leigh, Janet

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Jeanette Helen Morrison was born in Merced, California on July 6, 1927 and died Janet Leigh Brandt in Los Angeles on October 3, 2004. She started at the College of the Pacific in September of 1943 and studied music and psychology (music therapy), joined Alpha Theta Tau, and was involved in student government. She married a fellow student, Stanley Reames, in the fall of 1945. The Reameses left Pacific in the spring semester of 1946 and moved to Los Angeles - the same year that actress Norma Shearer discovered Jeanette. She soon signed a contract with MGM, changed her name to Janet Leigh, and debuted in The Romance of Rosy Ridge. She later married Tony Curtis (1951-1962) and Robert Brandt (1962-2004). Leigh is most famous for the shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. She was nominated for an Academy Award for best supporting actress and won the Golden Globe Award for best supporting actress in 1960. She also appeared in dozens of other films including Touch of Evil, Manchurian Candidate, and Bye Bye Birdie. Her daughter, Jamie Lee Curtis, attended the University of the Pacific briefly (fall semester 1976 and winter session 1977) before her film career took off. Throughout the years Leigh focused her energy on helping numerous charitable causes, including SHARE, Inc. (women who raise funds for the "developmentally disabled, abused and neglected children as well as medical research for all forms of developmental disabilities") and the Motion Picture and Television Fund (assists those in the industry with limited means). Leigh received an honorary degree from the University of the Pacific in May of 2004.

From the description of Janet Leigh Collection, 1947 - 2004. (University of the Pacific). WorldCat record id: 505869675

Biography / Administrative History

Jeanette Helen Morrison was born in Merced, California on July 6, 1927 and died Janet Leigh Brandt in Los Angeles on October 3, 2004. She started at the College of the Pacific in September of 1943 and studied music and psychology (music therapy), joined Alpha Theta Tau, and was involved in student government. She married a fellow student, Stanley Reames, in the fall of 1945. The Reameses left Pacific in the spring semester of 1946 and moved to Los Angeles - the same year that actress Norma Shearer discovered Jeanette. She soon signed a contract with MGM, changed her name to Janet Leigh, and debuted in The Romance of Rosy Ridge . She later married Tony Curtis (1951-1962) and Robert Brandt (1962-2004).

Leigh is most famous for the shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho . She was nominated for an Academy Award for best supporting actress and won the Golden Globe Award for best supporting actress in 1960. She also appears in dozens of other films including Touch of Evil, Manchurian Candidate, and Bye Bye Birdie .

Her daughter, Jamie Lee Curtis, attended the University of the Pacific briefly (fall semester 1976 and winter session 1977) before her film career took off.

Throughout the years Leigh focused her energy on helping numerous charitable causes, including SHARE, Inc. (women who raise funds for the "developmentally disabled, abused and neglected children as well as medical research for all forms of developmental disabilities") and the Motion Picture and Television Fund (assists those in the industry with limited means). Leigh received an honorary degree from the University of the Pacific in May of 2004.

From the guide to the Janet Leigh collection, 1947-2004, (University of the Pacific. Library. Holt-Atherton Dept. of Special Collections)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Leigh, Janet. Janet Leigh Collection, 1947 - 2004. University of the Pacific, William Knox Holt Memorial Library
referencedIn Gypsy Rose Lee papers, 1910-1970 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
referencedIn Lovell, Tom, 1909-1997. Tom Lovell papers, circa 1845-1997. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
creatorOf Yordan, Philip. Houdini, 1952 Sept. 5 / Philip Yordan. Ohio State University Libraries
referencedIn John Eldon Thayer collection of motion picture memorabilia, 1916-1979. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
creatorOf Stefano, Joseph. Psycho : release dialogue script, 1960 May 6. Ohio State University Libraries
referencedIn Clarke Taylor performing arts interviews [sound recording] The New York Public Library. Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound.
creatorOf Janet Leigh collection, 1947-2004 University of the Pacific. Library. Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections
referencedIn Cozine, William H., 1931- ,. Oral history interview with William H. Cozine [sound recording], 2006. Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center
referencedIn Hearst Metrotone News, Inc., Collection. 1937 - 1942. News of the Day Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1963 - 12/1967. News of the Day (Oct. 25) National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [JAN. 26] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Morrison, Jeanette. Jeanette Reames, 1946. University of the Pacific, William Knox Holt Memorial Library
referencedIn Rolfe, Sam. The naked spur 1953. The University of Tulsa, McFarlin Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Brandt, Janet Leigh person
associatedWith Cozine, William H., 1931- , person
associatedWith Lee, Gypsy Rose, 1914-1970 person
associatedWith Lovell, Tom, 1909-1997. person
associatedWith Morrison, Jeanette. person
associatedWith Morrison, Jeanette Helen person
associatedWith Reames, Jeanette person
associatedWith Rolfe, Sam. person
associatedWith Stefano, Joseph. person
associatedWith Taylor, Clarke person
associatedWith Thayer, John Eldon, 1899-1980 person
associatedWith University of the Pacific. corporateBody
associatedWith Yordan, Philip. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
Subject
Motion picture actors and actresses
Motion picture actors and actresses
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1927-07-06

Death 2004-10-03

Americans

English

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