Janet Waldo
as Judy Jetson
Born	February 4, 1924 (1924-02-04) (age 85) Yakima, Washington, USA
Occupation	actress, voice artist
Years active	1938–2000
Spouse(s)	Robert Edwin Lee (1948–1994, his death)

Janet Waldo (born February 4, 1924, Yakima, Washington)^[1] is an American actress and voice artist with a career encompassing radio, television, animation and live-action films. She is best known in animation for voicing Judy Jetson, Penelope Pitstop, and Josie McCoy in Josie and the Pussycats. She was equally famed for radio's Meet Corliss Archer, a title role with which she was so identified that she was drawn into the comic book adaptation.

[edit] Early life

Waldo's mother was a singer trained at the Boston Conservatory of Music, and her father was a descendent of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Her sister, Elizabeth,^[2] later became a violin virtuoso who appeared in the film Song of Mexico. Growing up, Janet Waldo had a love of acting and the theatre from an early age and performed in plays at her church. She attended the University of Washington, where her performance in a student theatrical garnered her an award and brought her to the attention of UW alumnus Bing Crosby. A Paramount Pictures talent scout, who was with Crosby at the time, signed Waldo for a screen test, which lead to a contract with the studio.^[3]

[edit] Radio and films

Waldo appeared in several dozen films in uncredited bit parts and small roles, although she was the leading lady in three Westerns, two of them starring Tim Holt. Her big break came in radio with a part on Cecil B. DeMille's Lux Radio Theater. In her radio career, she lent her voice to many programs, including Edward G. Robinson's Big Town, The Eddie Bracken Show, Favorite Story, Four-Star Playhouse, The Gallant Heart, One Man's Family, Sears Radio Theater and Stars over Hollywood. She co-starred with Jimmy Lydon in the CBS situation comedy Young Love (1949-50), and she had recurring roles on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (as teenager Emmy Lou), The Red Skelton Show and People Are Funny.

Al Feldstein, later the editor of Mad, was a writer-illustrator of the Meet Corliss Archer comic book. Waldo was depicted on the front cover twice, as herself and as Corliss.

However, it was her eight-year run portraying teenager Corliss Archer in Meet Corliss Archer that left a lasting impression, even though Shirley Temple starred in the film adaptations, Kiss and Tell and A Kiss for Corliss. Waldo later turned down the offer to play Corliss in a television adaptation.^[3]

[edit] Comic book

Radio listeners used their imagination to visualize Corliss, her friends and her town. However, those imaginations got a boost in 1948 when the Meet Corliss Archer comic book, published by Fox Feature Syndicate, appeared for a run of three issues from March to July 1948. Al Feldstein, later the editor of Mad, was a key writer and illustrator of the Meet Corliss Archer comic book. Film strips and radio microphones on the front cover indicated the tie-ins and media crossovers. Adapting directly from the radio scripts, Feldstein drew Waldo as the comic book character, as was done with Bob Hope, Jerry Lewis and other celebrities adapted to comics. Waldo was depicted on the front cover twice, as both actress and character, since Feldstein also included a smaller drawing of Waldo performing before a microphone.^[4]

[edit] Animation

In animation, she is noted for providing the voice of Judy Jetson in all versions of the Hanna-Barbera television cartoon The Jetsons, except in the movie version where her voice track was wiped so that the role could be played by Tiffany.^[3] Waldo is the last surviving main cast member of The Jetsons series.

Waldo also provided voices for Nancy (Shazzan), Granny Sweet (The Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel Show), Josie (Josie and the Pussycats), Penelope Pitstop (Wacky Races, The Perils of Penelope Pitstop) and a guest starring role in Thundarr the Barbarian as the witch, Sersi in the episode, Island of The Body Snatchers. She and Gary Owens are the only surviving cast members of The Perils of Penelope Pitstop. She did the voices of Morticia Addams in the short-lived 1973 cartoon series adaptation of The Addams Family. She was also the voice of Princess in Battle of the Planets.

[edit] On-screen appearances

Waldo made a rare on-screen television appearance when she appeared on an episode of I Love Lucy in 1952 with Richard Crenna, as Peggy, a young girl smitten with Ricky Ricardo. She also appeared on an episode of The Andy Griffith Show as Amanda. Later, she was the female lead opposite Anthony Franciosa in the short-lived sitcom Valentine's Day (1964).

[edit] Currently

She currently provides the voice for the character Joanne Allen in Focus on the Family's weekly Adventures in Odyssey radio drama series heard on more than 1600 radio stations throughout North America.

[edit] Personal life

Waldo was married to well-known playwright Robert Edwin Lee, the writing partner of Jerome Lawrence, from 1948 until his death in 1994. The couple had two children.

[edit] References

[edit] Listen to

• Jerry Haendiges Listening Lounge: Meet Corliss Archer (April 6, 1947)

[edit] External links

• Janet Waldo at the Internet Movie Database
• Janet Waldo at Allmovie
• Janet Waldo at the TCM Movie Database
• Janet Waldo at TV.com