Stockton’s Star…Janet Leigh
By Zoee Riggio-Flores, Intern, SJC Historical Museum
Born as Jeanette Morrison in 1927 in Merced and later moving to Stockton, California, Janet Leigh would go on to become a cherished Hollywood actress. Her journey from a talented honor student at the College of the Pacific to a Golden Globe-award-winning star is a story of talent, discovery and resilience.
Leigh’s early life was shaped by her academic and artistic pursuits. As a music major at the College of the Pacific, she excelled as an honor student and was deeply involved in campus life, becoming a member of Alpha Theta Tau and Omega Nu. Her path to Hollywood began in 1946 when she was just 19 years old. While skiing at Sugar Bowl Resort, Norma Shearer, a former MGM star, spotted a photograph of Jeanette that belonged to her parents, who worked as receptionists at the lodge. Struck by her beauty, Shearer arranged for MGM to meet her. After just three months of coaching, Leigh landed her first major role opposite Van Johnson in 1947’s The Romance of Rosy Ridge.
Throughout her career, Janet Leigh was humble and driven. Leigh kept up her studies after being discovered, attending singing, dancing and drama lessons. Leigh described the experience as “like being in Wonderland,” even though this was all new to her.
Leigh’s strength was evident in her personal life throughout these years. Leigh was married four times; the first was at age 18 and was later annulled. Her second marriage was to Stanley Reames, a basketball player at the College of the Pacific. Her most public marriage was to actor Tony Curtis. Together they had two daughters. Kelly Lee Curtis and Jamie Lee Curtis. After her divorce from Curtis, Janet married stockbrocker Robert Brandt.
In addition to her promising film career, Leigh maintained ties to her hometown. She performed locally, singing numbers from The Missouri Story during the College of the Pacific’s musical revue Pacific Varieties. In 1947, she was honored at Mardi Gras, the college’s largest social event. Leigh’s Hollywood career flourished in the 1950s and beyond. Leigh’s screen presence and versatility made her a favorite among directors and audiences alike. Her role as Marion Crane in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho remains one of the most memorable performances in film history, earning her a Golden Globe and an Academy Award nomination.
Beyond acting, Leigh was a dedicated philanthropist. Under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, she served on the President’s Council for the Peace Corps. She also toured South America for the United States Information Service and supported various charitable organizations, including CARE, SHARE and the United States Deaf Ski Team. She served on the board of directors of the Motion Picture and Television Foundation. She kept in touch with her life-long Stockton friend Marion Jacobs, inspiring her to return to Stockton on many occasions, such as giving the keynote address at the United Crusade Kickoff Luncheon, her first visit in 22 years. Janet Leigh’s legacy as an actress and humanitarian endured. In 1995, she again returned to the University of the Pacific for a Stockton Public Library benefit, where she shared insights from her books Psycho: Behind the Scenes of the Classic Thriller and House of Destiny. Her journey from Stockton to international stardom serves as an inspiration, showcasing the power of talent, determination and the enduring impact of giving back to the community. Leigh died at her home in Beverly Hills in 2004 at age 77.
