Biography
Janet Carroll (born Janet Thiese) was an American actress and singer. Born in Chicago, Illinois, she began her stage career after high school, appearing in musicals at the Kansas City Starlight Theatre and in Chicago productions of shows including Mame, Guys and Dolls, South Pacific and The Pajama Game. She later moved to California, where she continued stage work and won a Drama-Logue Award for her performance in Elektra.
Carroll made her film debut as Joel's mother in Risky Business (1983). She went on to appear in more than twenty films, including Family Business (1989), Forces of Nature (1999) and Enough (2002). On television she had recurring roles in Murphy Brown (as Doris Dial), Married... with Children (as Gary) and Melrose Place. Her Broadway debut came in the 2005 musical Little Women.
Carroll died in Manhattan on 22 May 2012, aged 71.
