Janis Paige, born Donna Mae Tjaden on September 16, 1922, in Tacoma, Washington, was an American actress and singer whose career spanned nearly 60 years. She began singing in local amateur shows at the age of five and moved to Los Angeles after high school, where she became a singer at the Hollywood Canteen during World War II. 

This led to a film contract with Warner Bros., and she began co-starring in low-budget musicals, often paired with Dennis Morgan or Jack Carson. 

She later left the studio to pursue live theatre work, appearing in a number of Broadway shows. She continued to alternate between film and theatre work for much of her career, making numerous television appearances and starring in her own sitcom, "It's Always Jan."

Her personal life was marked by her three marriages. She first married Frank Martinelli Jr. in 1947, but they divorced in 1951. Her second marriage to television writer Arthur Stander lasted from 1956 to 1957. Her third marriage to Disney composer Ray Gilbert, who wrote the classic children's song "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah," lasted from 1962 until his death in 1976. 

She did not have any children. She spent her later years between her homes in New York City and Sedona, Arizona, and continued to work in television and low-budget films.

Throughout her career, Janis Paige appeared in numerous films, including "Romance on the High Seas" (1948), "The Time, the Place and the Girl" (1946), "Two Gals and a Guy" (1951), "Silk Stockings" (1957), and "Please Don't Eat the Daisies" (1960). 

She also had a successful Broadway career, starring in productions such as "Remains to Be Seen" (1951), "The Pajama Game" (1954), and "Mame" (1968). She toured as a cabaret singer and performed in summer stock productions, playing roles such as Annie Oakley in "Annie Get Your Gun," Margo Channing in "Applause," and Mama Rose in "Gypsy."

Janis Paige received several awards and nominations throughout her career. She won a Special Career Award at the Fantasporto Film Festival in 2001 for her role in "Penny Dreadful" and was nominated for a Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actress for her performance in "Friday the 13th" (1980). She also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960 for her contributions to the motion picture industry.

Janis Paige passed away on June 2, 2024, at the age of 101 in Los Angeles, California.