View Full Version : Actress Janet Leigh Dies


Jrnygrl
10-04-2004, 10:34 AM
'Psycho' star Janet Leigh dies at 77
Monday, October 4, 2004 Posted: 9:49 AM EDT (1349 GMT)



Janet Leigh was best known to moviegoers for her role in the 1960 Alfred Hitchcock film, "Psycho."


FILMOGRAPHY
Selected films of Janet Leigh:
- "Angels in the Outfield" (1951)
- "The Naked Spur" (1953)
- "Touch of Evil" (1958)
- "Psycho" (1960)
- "The Manchurian Candidate" (1962)
- "Bye Bye Birdie" (1963)
- "Harper" (1966)
- "The Fog" (1980)
- "Halloween H20: 20 Years Later" (1998)



LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Hollywood movie star Janet Leigh, best known as the slasher victim in the 1960 Alfred Hitchcock thriller, "Psycho," has died, a spokeswoman for her daughter, actress Jamie Lee Curtis, said Monday.

"Janet Leigh died peacefully in her home Sunday afternoon," said the spokeswoman, Heidi Schaeffer.

Leigh, 77, died in her Beverly Hills home surrounded by daughters Jamie Lee and Kelly Curtis and her fourth husband, Robert Brandt, Schaeffer said.

Leigh had been battling vasculitis -- an inflammation of the blood vessels -- for a year, she said.

Leigh married Brandt in 1964 after an 11-year marriage to actor Tony Curtis, the father of her two children.

Leigh was born Jeanette Helen Morrison in Merced, California, on July 6, 1927. Norma Shearer, a Hollywood star of the '20s and '30s, saw a photograph of her and recommended her to Lew Wasserman, a powerful talent agent. Leigh was still a teenager at the time.

She was signed by MGM and first appeared in "The Romance of Rosy Ridge" (1947).

"Psycho," however, was no doubt her most famous role. The shower scene, meticulously laid out by Hitchcock, took a week to film.

She noted that she hadn't been able to take a shower since the movie. "It's not a hype," she told The Associated Press. "Honest to gosh, it's true."

In addition to "Psycho," Leigh's other films included "The Manchurian Candidate" (1962), "Bye Bye Birdie" (1963), "Little Women" (1949) and the Orson Welles classic "Touch of Evil" (1958). More recently, she appeared in "The Fog" (1980) and "Halloween H20: 20 Years Later" (1998) with daughter Jamie Lee.

Leigh had requested that all donations in her name be made to the Motion Picture and Television Foundation.

Leigh's publicist, John Frazer, said the actress served on the board of directors for the fund, which provides health care and medical treatment to those who work in the entertainment industry.

"She was not only a legendary actress, but she was also an author and a humanitarian," Frazer said.
________________________________________________

Another Hollywood legend is gone!

RIP JANET!

:crying: peacesign:

CliffClavin
10-04-2004, 10:38 AM
:(

Moonlight Lady
10-04-2004, 10:45 AM
Aww....:(

That stinks, I only saw her in Bye Bye Birdie, but I liked her.

Liza
10-04-2004, 10:46 AM
I can't believe it! Oh, rest in peace, Janet. That's so sad. She was always one of my favorites, and she looked so healthy right up till the end - it's unbelievable.

I've seen so many of her movies. First one I ever saw was The Vikings and I thought then she was one of the most beautiful actresses of all time. I still think so. My favorite film of hers was It's a Big Country which nobody remembers. I hope Kelly and Jamie Lee are alright. Rest in peace, Janet.

http://www.littlestourbooks.com/signaturejpgs/leigh_janet.jpg

CliffClavin
10-04-2004, 10:50 AM
R.I.P Janet

webuster
10-04-2004, 10:53 AM
RIP Janet

I saw Halloween H20 a few years ago- I still haven't seen Psycho (and everyone I know has!). Plus, Jamie Lee's still a great actress.

Brian Damage
10-04-2004, 11:29 AM
RIP :(

Janice
10-04-2004, 11:38 AM
That's sad. She wasn't old. Janet was a gorgeous actress back in the day. She and former husband, Tony Curtis, made a stunning couple.

AtlantaBravesFan29
10-04-2004, 11:52 AM
Rest In Peace,Janet:(

I didn't know that Janet's career extended that far back. I thought that Psycho was her first movie. She looked very healthy to me the last time I saw her on TV but you never know sometimes.

HuntingtonM15
10-04-2004, 02:38 PM
:(

RIP Janet

Superstar
10-04-2004, 02:47 PM
RIP

phoebe7165
10-04-2004, 03:41 PM
RIP, Janet.

I actually got to meet Janet along with Jimmy Stewart & Tippi Hendren at the opening of Universal Studios-Orlando. They were there representing the Alfred Hitchcock attraction and she was especially there for the "Psycho" house that was built there. A very nice lady.

Cactus Jack
10-04-2004, 05:14 PM
:( RIP Shes awesome in Bye Bye Birdie

Liza
10-04-2004, 05:16 PM
Originally posted by phoebe7165
RIP, Janet.

I actually got to meet Janet along with Jimmy Stewart & Tippi Hendren at the opening of Universal Studios-Orlando. They were there representing the Alfred Hitchcock attraction and she was especially there for the "Psycho" house that was built there. A very nice lady.

Oh, you are so lucky! I always hoped to meet her someday :(

Mijada
10-04-2004, 06:11 PM
That's a shock. RIP Janet:(

Penny Lane
10-04-2004, 07:33 PM
I think that it is kind of sad that she seems only to be remembered for "Psycho" in which she had only a small part. She was a huge star in the 50's and made a lot of movies!
RIP Janet:(

Jrnygrl
10-04-2004, 07:41 PM
Originally posted by Penny Lane
I think that it is kind of sad that she seems only to be remembered for "Psycho" in which she had only a small part. She was a huge star in the 50's and made a lot of movies!
RIP Janet:(

Your right! She was wonderful in Bye Bye Birdie, where she sang and danced with Dick Van Dyke. She was great in That Touch of Evil with Orson Wells and Charlton Heston. She was wonderful in Manchurian Candidate, with Frank Sinatra. She was good in Houdini with her former husband Tony Curtis. Harper with Paul Newman. Living it Up with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. And so many more.

What you will find in her film biography, is that she could play any character put in front of her. The interviews that I always saw with her showed a woman who was very energtic and a young spirit.

They don't make them like that any more.

Penny Lane
10-04-2004, 08:01 PM
Originally posted by Jrnygrl
[

They don't make them like that any more. [/B]

No, they sure don't! She is one of the reasons why the 50's was The Golden Age Of Hollywood!:)

Penny Lane
10-04-2004, 08:04 PM
Janet in the 60's

musicradio77
10-04-2004, 09:52 PM
I love that movie "Bye Bye Birdie" with Janet Leigh along with Dick Van Dyke and "Hollywood Squares'" Paul Lynde. I have the soundtrack album on vinyl and the VHS copy of that movie. RIP:(

dandelion wine
10-04-2004, 10:46 PM
Originally posted by phoebe7165
RIP, Janet.

I actually got to meet Janet along with Jimmy Stewart & Tippi Hendren at the opening of Universal Studios-Orlando. They were there representing the Alfred Hitchcock attraction and she was especially there for the "Psycho" house that was built there. A very nice lady.

Wow, how lucky! She was always someone I loved to watch in movies.. can't believe she's gone. May you rest in peace, Janet. :(

Very cool that you also met Jimmy Stewart and Melanie Griffith's mother.

Lady T
10-04-2004, 11:02 PM
:( God bless Janet and her Family, and May she Rest in Peace

crystals
10-05-2004, 01:05 AM
So many great actors of the golden ages are passing on now. Was Janet related to Vivan Leigh? Just wondering because they both had the same last name. God bless Janet's soul.

dandelion wine
10-05-2004, 01:12 AM
Originally posted by crystals
So many great actors of the golden ages are passing on now. Was Janet related to Vivan Leigh? Just wondering because they both had the same last name. God bless Janet's soul.

No, her birth name was actually Jeanette Helen Morrison. You can read more here (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001463/bio)
at her IMDb biography page. :)

There's also something on the front page there at IMDb.

Dean Winchester
10-05-2004, 11:19 AM
RIP.

I hope Jamie Lee Curtis is coping alright, I am a huge fan of JLC, but admittedly have only seen Psycho and Harper with Janet (well, she was in Halloween H20 also, but a cameo).

Nevertheless she was a legend and it's sad she's gone

Titania
10-05-2004, 11:55 PM
Originally posted by crystals
Was Janet related to Vivan Leigh?

No, Vivien and Janet both changed their names.


Janet Leigh was an amazing actress who will be missed. RIP

Mr. Television
10-06-2004, 12:06 AM
R.I.P. Janet. You were one of the best. :(