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Janet Carroll
Born
Janet Carol Thiese

(1940-12-24)December 24, 1940
Chicago, Illinois. U.S.
Died May 22, 2012(2012-05-22) (aged 71)
Occupation Actress, singer
Years active 1960s–2011
Children 2

Janet Carroll (December 24, 1940 – May 22, 2012) was an American film, stage and television character actress.

Carroll's career spanned more than four decades and included major and supporting roles in Broadway musicals, television and Hollywood films. She is perhaps best-known for her portrayal of the oblivious mother of Joel (Tom Cruise) in the 1983 film Risky Business.

Early life

Carroll was born Janet Carol Thiese in Chicago, the daughter of Hilda Catherine (née Patton) and George Nicholas Thiese. She received formal theatrical training and began acting professionally in the late 1960s, appearing in numerous productions in local theaters. She then became a regular at Starlight Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri, where she acted during five seasons.

She began classical training at age 12 with Dr. Greta Allum in Chicago. Over the years she continued building and expanding her voice and repertoire in formal study with Douglas Susu-Mago. With a fluent 3+12-octave vocal range, she was able to sing everything from opera to jazz and Broadway style to gospel music and Dixieland genre.

Carroll sang as a first soprano with the Canterbury Choral Society at Carnegie Hall and other venues across New York City.

Career

Carroll then performed in Kansas City and Chicago, assuming significant roles in such musicals as Carousel, Guys and Dolls, Gypsy, Hello, Dolly!, Mame, South Pacific and The Pajama Game, before moving to California, where she continued her stage work, winning a Drama-Logue Award for her performance as Klytemnestra in Ezra Pound’s Elektra.

Besides Risky Business, Carroll appeared in more than 20 other films over the next three decades, including Secret Admirer (1985), The Killing Time (1987), Memories of Me (1988), Family Business (1989), Talent for the Game (1991), Destiny Turns on the Radio (1995), Forces of Nature (1999), The Omega Code and Enough (2002), among others. She developed her television career with recurring roles on the series Hill Street Blues (1983, 1986 as Peggy LaRue Nelson), The Bronx Zoo (1987 as Carol Danzig), Murphy Brown (1990–96, as Doris Dial, stoic anchorman Charles Kimbrough's wife), Melrose Place (1993–97, as Marion Shaw, Kimberly's mother), Married... with Children (1994–97, as Gary, Al Bundy's boss), and Still Standing (2002–04, as Helen Michaels).

From 2004 to 2005, she starred on Broadway creating the role of "Aunt March" in the original musical Little Women, which is based in the 1869 novel of the same title written by American author Louisa May Alcott. She promoted brands such as Century 21, Diet Coke, Outback Steakhouse and Holiday Inn, among others, in television advertisement spots.

Since 1982, she had performed as a singer at Jazz Festivals throughout the United States and Canada, being accompanied by her seven-piece format, while interpreting traditional jazz, swing, blues, and classic ballads or the Great American Songbook. She performed in Victoria and Vancouver summer festivals in British Columbia, as well as in Monterey, Los Angeles, Newport Beach, Santa Catalina Island, and New Orleans stages, along with concerts at United Service Organizations shows, the Palmer House in Chicago, the Fountainebleu in Miami Beach, the Ritz-Carlton chain, the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables and the San Antonio River Walk. At the Redding Jazz Festival, she was honored with an award for Best Vocalist. In 2004, she was the featured performer at the Porrath Foundation for Cancer Patient Advocacy Event tribute to film star Rhonda Fleming.

After twelve years of formal training Janet Carroll was ordained and licensed at the West Los Angeles' Church of Inner Light. An active participant in social issues, Carroll was a longstanding member of the Screen Actor's Guild and American Federation of Radio Artists and Actors Equity Association. She also served as the Artistic Director of The Jazz Series at Simi Valley's Cultural Arts Center. She was a V.P. on the executive board of directors of the Society of Singers and founder and co-chair of the Victory Ball in Westport, Connecticut.

In 1992, Carroll collaborated as a singer on the album This Joint Is Jumpin' Live! – Beverly Hills Unlisted Jazz Band, a recording project led by dixieland trombonist and actor Conrad Janis. She later released her solo albums Presenting... Janet Carroll and the Hollywood Jazz Cats (1992), I Can't Give You Anything But Love (2000), I'll Be Seeing You (2000) and Lady Be Good (2010).

By 2011, she was preparing the production of her fourth and fifth records titled A Tribute to the Great Ladies of Song! and Scorch Your Shorts Torch Songs!. She was diagnosed with brain cancer later that year and took a leave of absence. She underwent surgery and chemotherapy without success. She had two sons George and Tom Brown. Tom predeceased her in 1978.

Death

Carroll died on May 22, 2012, from brain cancer at her home in Manhattan, aged 71.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1983 Risky Business Joel's Mother
1985 Secret Admirer Toni's Mother
1987 The Killing Time Lila Daggett
1988 Memories of Me Dorothy Davis
1989 Family Business Margie
1990 The Platinum Triangle Lt. Smith
1991 Talent for the Game Rachel Bodeen
1995 Born to Be Wild Judge Billings
1995 Destiny Turns on the Radio Escabel
1995 Timemaster Miss Spinell
1999 Forces of Nature Barbara
1999 The Omega Code Dorothy Thompson
2001 All You Need Jane Sabistan
2002 Changing Hearts Mrs. Lane
2002 Enough Mrs. Hiller
2002 The Marriage Undone Judge Dunbar
2005 Confession Mother Superior
2005 Living 'til the End Constance Whilton
2007 Beyond the Quest Julia Baron
2009 (Untitled) Helen Finkelstein
2009 The Art of War III: Retribution Secretary General Barnes
2011 What Happens Next Gloria
2015 College Debts Grandma Clare
2016 Crosser Julia Barron

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1983 Knight Rider Denise Merritt Episode: "Soul Survivor"
1983, 1986 Hill Street Blues Peg / Peggy 2 episodes
1984 Getting Physical Myra Gibley Television film
1984 E/R Beth Episode: "Son of Sheinfeld"
1984 Son of Sheinfeld Assistant Television film
1984, 1985 Spencer Donna 2 episodes
1985 Alice Dr. Rose Goodwin Episode: "Kiss the Grill Goodbye"
1985 Cagney & Lacey Helene Ledding Episode: "Con Games"
1985 Double Dare Lt. Samantha Warner 6 episodes
1986 Mary Rachel Episode: "The Death Threat"
1986 The Right of the People Marjorie Television film
1986 The Twilight Zone Marilyn Cavendish Episode: "Cold Reading"
1986 Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story Susan Baker Television film
1986 You Again? Stacey Wendell Episode: "Marry Me A
1987 The Golden Girls Phyllis Hammerow Episode: "The Actor"
1987 Silver Spoons Arlene Episode: "Hero Worship"
1987 Designing Women Sissy Tate Episode: "Seams from a Marriage"
1987 Bluffing It Margaret Duggan Television film
1987 A Year in the Life Joanne 2 episodes
1987 227 Emily Mortimer Episode: "The Facade"
1987–1988 The Bronx Zoo Carol Danzig 8 episodes
1988 21 Jump Street Mrs. Poolish Episode: "A Big Disease with a Little Name"
1988 L.A. Law Judge Geraldine Parker Episode: "Hey, Lick Me Over"
1988–1989 The Boys Marjorie 4 episodes
1989 Jake and the Fatman Joan Thompson Episode: "I'll Never Smile Again"
1989 Quantum Leap Janie Wilson Episode: "Camikazi Kid"
1989 When He's Not a Stranger Counselor Television film
1990 Mancuso, F.B.I. Corinne Episode: "Shiva Me Timbers"
1990 Glory Days Mrs Lovejoy Episode: "The Kids Are Allright"
1990 Life Goes On Elaine Oslot Episode: "Corky and the Dolphins"
1990 Empty Nest Leah Episode: "There's No Accounting"
1990 The Famous Teddy Z Fay Parr Episode: "Teddy's Big Date"
1990–1996 Murphy Brown Doris Dial 10 episodes
1991 Daughters of Privilege Gail Brody Television film
1991 Pacific Station Judy Epstein Episode: "Waiting for the Other Gumshoe to Drop"
1992 Reasonable Doubts Tori Slade Episode: "The Shadow of Death"
1992–1993 The Hat Squad Kitty 6 episodes
1993–1997 Melrose Place Marion Shaw 7 episodes
1994 The Mommies Cindy the Clown Episode: "A Day in the Life"
1994 Boy Meets World Nurse Jill Episode: "I Dream of Feeny"
1994–1997 Married... with Children Gary 7 episodes
1995 Betrayed: A Story of Three Women Patty Television film
1995 Matlock Anita Montrose Episode: "The Heist"
1995, 1996 Bonnie Diane Fulton 2 episodes
1996 Coach Loretta Episode: "Somebody's Baby"
1996 Pacific Blue Dorothy Episode: "All Jammed Up"
1996 Touched by an Angel Diana Abernathy Episode: "Something Blue"
1997 The Jeff Foxworthy Show Esme Channing Episode: "Jeff, You the Man"
1998 The Closer Maude Bertram Episode: "Dobbs Takes a Holiday"
1998 Living in Captivity Nancy Episode: "The Unkindest Cut"
1998 Maggie Eleanor 2 episodes
1998 Cupid Dr. Darcy Wyatt Episode: "End of an Eros"
1999 7th Heaven Betty Tomlin Episode: "Yak Sada"
1999 Time of Your Life Georgia Halloway Episode: "The Time Sarah Got Her Shih-Tzu Together"
1999 3rd Rock from the Sun Mrs. Runquist Episode: "Dial M for Dick"
1999 The Norm Show Martha Episode: "Norm vs. Norm"
1999 Beverly Hills, 90210 Patsy Regan Episode: "Family Tree"
1999 Frank Leaves for the Orient Frank's Mom 2 episodes
2001 Dead Last Lucy Vard Episode: "He Who Smelt It"
2002 Ally McBeal Ellen Fish Episode: "What I'll Never Do for Love Again"
2002 Pasadena Phyllis Cameron Episode: "The Body"
2002, 2004 Still Standing Helen Michaels 2 episodes
2003 Judging Amy Atty. Marx Episode: "Sixteen Going on Seventeen"
2006 Scrubs Mrs. Cooke Episode: "My Own Personal Hell"
2006 Brothers & Sisters Sloane Dodelson Episode: "Family Portrait"

.....

2010 Law & Order: SVU Brenda Fairchild Episode: "Bullseye"
2011 Christmas Spirit Betty Television film
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