Janet Carroll facts for kids

Janet Carroll (born December 24, 1940 – died May 22, 2012) was a skilled American actress and singer. She was known for playing different kinds of characters in movies, on stage, and on television.

Her career lasted over 40 years. She acted in many Broadway musicals, TV shows, and Hollywood films. Many people remember her as Joel's mom (played by Tom Cruise) in the 1983 movie Risky Business.

Early Life and Training

Janet Carol Thiese was born in Chicago, Illinois. Her parents were Hilda Catherine and George Nicholas Thiese. She started her acting journey with formal training. In the late 1960s, she began performing in local theaters.

She became a regular actress at Starlight Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri. She performed there for five seasons.

Janet also trained as a singer from a young age. She started classical voice lessons at age 12. She could sing many styles, from opera to jazz and gospel music. Her voice had a wide range, which means she could sing very high and very low notes. She even sang as a first soprano at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

A Busy Acting Career

Janet Carroll performed in many famous musicals in Kansas City and Chicago. Some of these included Carousel, Guys and Dolls, and Hello, Dolly!. Later, she moved to California and continued her stage work. She even won an award for her role as Klytemnestra in the play Elektra.

Movies and TV Shows

Besides Risky Business, Janet Carroll acted in more than 20 other movies. Some of her films were Secret Admirer (1985), Forces of Nature (1999), and Enough (2002).

She also had many roles on television. She appeared in popular shows like Hill Street Blues, Murphy Brown, and Melrose Place. She was also known for playing Gary, Al Bundy's boss, on Married... with Children. From 2002 to 2004, she played Helen Michaels on Still Standing.

In 2004 and 2005, Janet starred on Broadway in the musical Little Women. This show was based on the classic book by Louisa May Alcott. She also appeared in TV commercials for well-known brands like Diet Coke and Holiday Inn.

Singing Performances

Since 1982, Janet Carroll performed as a singer at Jazz Festivals. She traveled across the United States and Canada with her seven-piece band. She sang traditional jazz, swing, blues, and classic songs. She performed in many cities, including New Orleans and Monterey. She even received an award for Best Vocalist at the Redding Jazz Festival.

Janet was also involved in important social causes. She was a member of groups like the Screen Actor's Guild. She also helped lead The Jazz Series at Simi Valley's Cultural Arts Center.

In 1992, Janet sang on an album called This Joint Is Jumpin' Live!. She later released her own solo albums. These included Presenting... Janet Carroll and the Hollywood Jazz Cats (1992) and I Can't Give You Anything But Love (2000). Her last album, Lady Be Good, came out in 2010.

Later Life and Passing

In 2011, Janet Carroll was working on two new albums. However, she was diagnosed with brain cancer later that year. She had surgery and other treatments, but sadly, they were not successful.

Janet Carroll passed away on May 22, 2012, at her home in Manhattan. She was 71 years old. She had two sons, George and Tom Brown. Her son Tom passed away before her in 1978.

Filmography

Janet Carroll appeared in many films and television shows throughout her career. Here are some of her notable roles:

Film Roles

• 1983: Risky Business as Joel's Mother
• 1985: Secret Admirer as Toni's Mother
• 1989: Family Business as Margie
• 1999: Forces of Nature as Barbara
• 2002: Enough as Mrs. Hiller
• 2009: The Art of War III: Retribution as Secretary General Barnes

Television Roles

• 1983, 1986: Hill Street Blues as Peggy
• 1987: The Golden Girls as Phyllis Hammerow
• 1990–1996: Murphy Brown as Doris Dial
• 1993–1997: Melrose Place as Marion Shaw
• 1994–1997: Married... with Children as Gary
• 2002, 2004: Still Standing as Helen Michaels
• 2006: Scrubs as Mrs. Cooke
• 2010: Law & Order: SVU as Brenda Fairchild