| Janet Fox | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 12, 1912 Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Died | April 22, 2002 (aged 89) Palm Beach, Florida, USA |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Spouse | Henry Goldsmith |
Janet Fox (June 12, 1912 - April 22, 2002) was an American actress, niece of American novelist and playwright Edna Ferber, known for playing the role of Bernice Niemeyer in the original Broadway production of Stage Door, and for playing Tina in the original Broadway production of Dinner at Eight.[1]
Janet Fox was born June 12, 1912, in Chicago, Illinois.
Janet Fox made her Broadway debut in 1932 as Tina, the conniving maid in the Kaufman-Ferber comedy Dinner at Eight. (Kaufman was about as effusive as he could manage after watching her perform: "You know, you're pretty good—for a niece."[2]) She played Nurse Preen in USO tours of the Kaufman-Hart comedy, The Man Who Came to Dinner, with playwright Moss Hart in the title role of Sheridan Whiteside. She went on to recreate the role of the bedpan-wielding nurse in the 1969 musical version, Sherry! which starred Clive Revill and Dolores Grey.
Her other Broadway credits include Between Two Worlds (1934), Fools Rush In (1934), Cross Ruff (1935), Life's Too Short (1935), Tomorrow's a Holiday! (1935), Stage Door (1936), Having Wonderful Time (1937), The American Way (1939), Higher and Higher (1940), Two Story House (1941), Bravo, Tall Story (1959), The Tattooed Countess (1961) and Once for the Asking (1963).
She toured with George Hamilton, Susan Watson and Jan McArt in Gigi and was a frequent player at the Bucks County Playhouse where she replaced for Eileen Heckart as Dolly Levi in The Matchmaker with one week's notice. She appeared in the 1940 film, They Knew What They Wanted, starring Charles Laughton and Carole Lombard and portrayed her aunt in the 1963 film version of Moss Hart's autobiography, Act One.
She performed extensively on both radio and television. She had recurring roles on the Phil Silvers Show and the first television soap opera, Valiant Lady, which was broadcast live. She appeared in scores of commercials as well as hour-length plays for Studio One, The Alcoa Hour and The Steel Hour.
Janet Fox died in Palm Beach on April 22, 2002 of natural causes, at the age of 89. She is survived by her husband Henry Goldsmith, her daughter Julie Gilbert Daniel, and son-in law Francis Daniel.