Actors - Elsie Janis

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	Actors - Elsie Janis

Elsie Janis, (March 16, 1889 - February 26, 1956) was an American singer, songwriter, actress, and screenwriter.

Early Career

Born Elsie Bierbower (or Beerbower) in Marion County Ohio, she first took to the stage at age 8. By age 11, she was a headliner on the vaudeville circuit, performing under the name "Little Elsie". As she matured, using the stage name Elsie Janis, she began perfecting her comedic skills.

Acclaimed by American and British critics, Janis was a headliner on Broadway and London. She was nominated for a Best Actress Tony Award for her performance in the play, Look Back in Anger
.

Janis also enjoyed a career as a Hollywood screen writer, actor and composer; her song "Oh, Give Me Time for Tenderness" was featured in Bette Davis' 1939 movie, Dark Victory.

World War I

Janis was known as a tireless advocate for British and American soldiers fighting in World War I. She acted as both a Red Cross nurse and fundraiser for Liberty Bonds. Janis also took her act on the road, entertaining troops stationed near the frontlines - one of the first popular American artists to do so in a war fought on foreign soil.

Later Life

Janis mantained her private home, ElJan, on the eastside of High Street in Columbus, Ohio, across the street from what was Ohio State University's "Buckeye Field", the precursor to Ohio Stadium. Janis sold the house following her mother's death; a McDonalds now occupies the site of ElJan.

In 1932, Janis married Gilbert Wilson, who was sixteen years her junior. The couple lived in Terrytown, New York until Janis moved to California where she lived until her death. Her final film was the 1940 Women in War co-starring Wendy Barrie and a very young Peter Cushing.

Elsie Janis died in 1956 at her home in Beverly Hills, California and was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.

For her contribution to the motion picture industry, Elsie Janis has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6776 Hollywood Blvd.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Elsie Janis ]

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