Profile Text
Birth Name: Donna Mae Tjaden
Date of Birth: September 16, 1922
Place of Birth: Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
Date of Death: June 2, 2024
Place of Death: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Ethnicity: English, one quarter German, one quarter Norwegian, Cornish, possibly other
Janis Paige was an American actress, singer, and pin-up model. She starred on the sitcom It’s Always Jan , in the films Bathing Beauty , Hollywood Canteen , Her Kind of Man , Of Human Bondage (1946), Two Guys from Milwaukee , The Time, the Place and the Girl ; Cheyenne (1947), Winter Meeting , The Younger Brothers , The House Across the Street , This Side of the Law , Mister Universe , Silk Stockings (1957), Please Don’t Eat the Daisies , and The Caretakers , and on Broadway.
She was the daughter of Hazel Leah and George S. Tjaden. She began singing in local amateur shows at the age of five. Janis moved to Los Angeles, California after high school. She was married to composer and music publisher Ray Gilbert, until his death.
Janis’ paternal grandfather was Siebe Tjaden (the son of Gerd Tjaden and Antona Schmidt). Siebe was born in Ridott, Illinois, to German parents. Gerd was the son of Siebe Gerdes Tjaden and Anka Eden.
Janis’ paternal grandmother was Sophia L. Haines (the daughter of William Cornelius Haines and Mary Eva Dower). Sophia was born in East Galena Township, Illinois, to parents who were also born in the state. Mary was the daughter of English-born parents, Samuel Dower, who was from Crowan, Cornwall, and Sophia Pierce, who also had Cornish roots.
Janis’ maternal grandfather was possibly named “Sol” Simmons.
Janis’ maternal grandmother was Julia Christina Swenson (the daughter of Andreas Kittel Swenson and Lena/Karolina Benson). Julia was born in Cumberland, Wisconsin. Andreas was born at sea, in the Atlantic Ocean, the son of Norwegian parents, from Telemark, Kjittle/Kittel Svendsen/Svenson and Kari Andersdatter Urdalen. Lena was born in Norway, the daughter of Fredrik Martin Berntsen and Johanne Evensdatter.
Source: Genealogy of Janis Paige – https://www.familysearch.org