Janis Paige Finds Renewed Fame in Film Industry - Actress passes away at a biblical age.
Janis Paige, a renowned actress and singer, has passed away. She died on Sunday, June 2, 2024, in her Los Angeles home due to natural causes, as confirmed by her friend Stuart Lampert to the media. At the age of 101, the Broadway and Hollywood veteran left us.
As a kid, Janis Paige began singing and after finishing high school, she moved from Tacoma, Washington to Los Angeles to pursue a career as an opera singer. Surprisingly, she got discovered for the film industry instead. In LA, she sang opera arias at the Hollywood Canteen, a nightclub for soldiers. When she stepped off the stage, a talent scout was waiting for her. She made her big screen debut in the well-known musical "Bathing Beauty" (1944) opposite Esther Williams (1921-2013).
A Shadowed Career
Janis Paige struggled to find a big break in Hollywood despite many roles. In "Magic in Rio" (1948), she took the leading role but couldn't outshine film newcomer Doris Day (1922-2019). Switching to Broadway, she captured the spotlight with the lead role in "The Pajama Game." However, when the show was made into a movie named "Picnic in Pyjamas," her part went to - guess who? - Doris Day.
From then on, Janis Paige went back and forth between Broadway, Hollywood, and television. On the big screen, she danced with Fred Astaire (1899-1987) in "Silk Stockings," and on small screens, she had her own sitcom "It's Always Jan," but unfortunately, it lasted just one season. Throughout her career, she appeared in film and TV for a total of 104 times, according to IMDb.
Reopening an Old Wound
In 2017, Janis Paige once again made headlines when she contributed a guest article to the "Hollywood Reporter." In it, she openly spoke about her experience with American entrepreneur Alfred Bloomingdale (1916-1982) who tried to rape her when she was only 22 years old.
Janis Paige was married three times, and each marriage resulted in no children.
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Janis Paige's passing in Los Angeles at the age of 101 gained attention in the US media. Her career began in Los Angeles after moving from Tacoma, where she aspired to be an opera singer. However, she was discovered for the film industry instead and made her debut in "Bathing Beauty." Despite numerous roles, Janis never achieved the same level of fame as Doris Day, with whom she competed in "Magic in Rio" and "Picnic in Pyjamas." Janis also danced with Fred Astaire in "Silk Stockings." Her career spanned both Broadway and television, with a total of 104 appearances. In a controversial move, she shared her experience of being sexually assaulted by Alfred Bloomingdale in a 2017 article for the "Hollywood Reporter." Despite three marriages, Janis remained childless.
