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Vivi Janiss (1911–1988)

Vivi Janiss was born on May 29, 1911 in Omaha, Nebraska, USA as Vivian Audrey Jacobsen. She was an actress, known for Lux Video Theatre (1950), The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues (1955) and Ben Casey (1961). She was married to John Larch and Robert Cummings. She died on September 7, 1988 in Los Angeles, California, USA. See full bio »
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Known For

Lux Video Theatre
Lux Video Theatre Lute Mal
(1956)
The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues
The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues Ethel Hall, Dr. King's Secretary
(1955)
Ben Casey
Ben Casey Mrs. Phelps / Mrs.Phelps
(1962)
TV Reader's Digest
TV Reader's Digest Mary Todd Lincoln
(1955)
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Filmography

Hide Hide Show Show Actress (88 credits)
 1979 House Calls (TV Series)
- Paging Dr. Michaels (1979)
 1979 Barnaby Jones (TV Series)
Landlady
- Dance with Death (1979) ... Landlady
 1978 First, You Cry (TV Movie)
Martha
 1978 Richie Brockelman, Private Eye (TV Series)
Manager
- Escape from Caine Abel (1978) ... Manager
 1977 The Rockford Files (TV Series)
Pawn Shop Proprietor
- Second Chance (1977) ... Pawn Shop Proprietor
 1977 Barney Miller (TV Series)
Lois Wheaton
- Abduction (1977) ... Lois Wheaton
 1977 The City (TV Movie)
Cab Driver
 1975 The Blue Knight (TV Series)
Mrs. Brogger
- Odds Against Tomorrow (1975) ... Mrs. Brogger
 1974-1975 Cannon (TV Series)
Woman / Mrs. Bucker
- Missing at FL307 (1975) ... Woman
- The Cure That Kills (1974) ... Mrs. Bucker
 1974 The Streets of San Francisco (TV Series)
Thelma Danielson
- Bird of Prey (1974) ... Thelma Danielson
 1966-1970 The F.B.I. (TV Series)
Annette / Mrs. Gould / Mrs. Gibbons
- The Diamond Millstone (1970) ... Annette
- Ordeal (1966) ... Mrs. Gould
- The Bomb That Walked Like a Man (1966) ... Mrs. Gibbons
 1969 Mannix (TV Series)
Miss Kearsarge
- A Question of Midnight (1969) ... Miss Kearsarge
 1968 Hawaii Five-O (TV Series)
Emma Trinian
- Yesterday Died and Tomorrow Won't Be Born (1968) ... Emma Trinian (as Vivi Janis)
 1967 Judd for the Defense (TV Series)
Helen Willoughby
- The Deep End (1967) ... Helen Willoughby (as Vivi Jannis)
 1962-1967 The Virginian (TV Series)
Miriam Harley / Ivy Flood
- The Girl on the Pinto (1967) ... Miriam Harley
- The Devil's Children (1962) ... Ivy Flood
 1964 Kraft Suspense Theatre (TV Series)
Ada Street
- That He Should Weep for Her (1964) ... Ada Street
 1962 Perry Mason (TV Series)
Margaret MacDonald
- The Case of the Polka Dot Pony (1962) ... Margaret MacDonald
 1962 Ben Casey (TV Series)
Mrs. Phelps / Mrs.Phelps
- The Night That Nothing Happened (1962) ... Mrs. Phelps
- Imagine a Long Bright Corridor (1962) ... Mrs.Phelps
 1962 Pages of Death (Short)
Ms. Fleming
 1959-1962 Wagon Train (TV Series)
Letty Morse / Martha Bevins / Madge Salters / ...
- The Terry Morrell Story (1962) ... Letty Morse
- The Saul Bevins Story (1961) ... Martha Bevins
- The Nancy Palmer Story (1961) ... Madge Salters
- The Cathy Eckhart Story (1960) ... Sarah Harness
- The Dick Jarvis Story (1960) ... Mrs. Jarvis
Show all 6 episodes
 1962 Hennesey (TV Series)
- The Old Pro (1962)
 1962 Have Gun - Will Travel (TV Series)
Countess Casares
- The Exiles (1962) ... Countess Casares
 1961 Follow the Sun (TV Series)
Hazel Laurence
- Conspiracy of Silence (1961) ... Hazel Laurence
 1961 87th Precinct (TV Series)
Mrs. Mattfield
- Line of Duty (1961) ... Mrs. Mattfield
 1961 The New Breed (TV Series)
Mary Clark
- No Fat Cops (1961) ... Mary Clark
 1961 The Jim Backus Show (TV Series)
Mrs. Rudolph
- Floundered in Florida (1961) ... Mrs. Rudolph
 1960 Route 66 (TV Series)
Helen
- Legacy for Lucia (1960) ... Helen
 1960 Outlaws (TV Series)
Chloe Duane
- Shorty (1960) ... Chloe Duane
 1960 Laramie (TV Series)
Hannah Moore
- Ride the Wild Wind (1960) ... Hannah Moore
 1960 The Twilight Zone (TV Series)
Edna Castle / Flora Gibbs
- The Man in the Bottle (1960) ... Edna Castle
- The Fever (1960) ... Flora Gibbs
 1958-1960 Goodyear Theatre (TV Series)
Rebecca Macabee / Mrs. March
- The Proud Earth (1960) ... Rebecca Macabee
- Fix a Frame for Mourning (1958) ... Mrs. March
 1960 The Detectives (TV Series)
Mrs. Long
- The Prowler (1960) ... Mrs. Long
 1954-1959 Father Knows Best (TV Series)
Myrtle Davis / Myrtle
- Good Joke on Mom (1959) ... Myrtle Davis
- Jim, the Answer Man (1958) ... Myrtle Davis
- A Medal for Margaret (1958) ... Myrtle
- Margaret Learns to Drive (1957) ... Myrtle Davis (uncredited)
- Class Prophecy (1957) ... Myrtle
Show all 11 episodes
 1959 Zane Grey Theater (TV Series)
Martha Lloyd
- The Grubstake (1959) ... Martha Lloyd
 1959 Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (TV Series)
Mrs. Downey
- The Hanging Judge (1959) ... Mrs. Downey
 1959 Tales of Wells Fargo (TV Series)
Elsie
- End of a Legend (1959) ... Elsie
 1959 This Man Dawson (TV Series)
- Intimidation (1959)
 1959 Make Room for Daddy (TV Series)
Doris
- Surprise Party (1959) ... Doris
 1959 Lawman (TV Series)
Alice Welch
- The Visitor (1959) ... Alice Welch
 1957-1959 State Trooper (TV Series)
Ella Westover / Mabel Cliff
- Excitement at Milltown (1959) ... Ella Westover
- No Blaze of Glory (1957) ... Mabel Cliff
 1958 Trackdown (TV Series)
Summer York
- The Kid (1958) ... Summer York
 1958 Cimarron City (TV Series)
Ivy Hargrave
- Beast of Cimarron (1958) ... Ivy Hargrave
 1954-1958 Studio 57 (TV Series)
Myra / Thelma Hitch
- Take five (1958) ... Myra
- So False and So Fair (1954) ... Thelma Hitch
 1958 The Millionaire (TV Series)
Sara
- Millionaire Marjorie Martinson (1958) ... Sara
 1957 Man on the Prowl
Mrs. Gerhardt
 1953-1957 Schlitz Playhouse (TV Series)
Nora / Emma / Alice
- Three Dollar Bill (1957) ... Nora
- Night Drive (1957) ... Emma
- Groundloop (1954)
- Twenty-two Sycamore Road (1953) ... Alice
 1957 Matinee Theatre (TV Series)
- The Adjustable Mr. Willing (1957)
 1957 Code 3 (TV Series)
Pat Bentley
- The Water Skier (1957) ... Pat Bentley
 1957 The Life of Riley (TV Series)
Mrs. Laurence
- A House Divided (1957) ... Mrs. Laurence
 1956-1957 Telephone Time (TV Series)
Nurse / Mrs. Parker
- Bullet Lou Kirn (1957) ... Nurse
- Man with a Beard (1956) ... Mrs. Parker
 1957 Spring Reunion
Grace
 1957 The 20th Century-Fox Hour (TV Series)
Margaret
- Deadline Decision (1957) ... Margaret
 1957 Panic! (TV Series)
Rose Duncan
- The Prisoner (1957) ... Rose Duncan
 1957 Gunsmoke (TV Series)
Sara Baxton
- The Cover Up (1957) ... Sara Baxton
 1955-1956 Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre (TV Series)
Ruby / Agnes Mason / Anita Spencer
- While There's Life (1956) ... Ruby
- Once Upon a Nightmare (1956) ... Agnes Mason
- The Key (1955) ... Anita Spencer
 1956 Lux Video Theatre (TV Series)
Lute Mal
- Flamingo Road (1956) ... Lute Mal
 1956 The Fastest Gun Alive
Mabel Brown (uncredited)
 1956 Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series)
Sgt. Bradford / Maude
- Mink (1956) ... Sgt. Bradford
- You Got to Have Luck (1956) ... Maude
 1956 Crusader (TV Series)
Helen Harris
- Rookie Cop (1956) ... Helen Harris
 1956 Cavalcade of America (TV Series)
Mrs. Jensen
- The Jackie Jensen Story (1956) ... Mrs. Jensen
 1956 Playwrights '56 (TV Series)
Annie Gubbage
- The Undiscovered Country (1956) ... Annie Gubbage
 1954-1956 It's a Great Life (TV Series)
Stella / Head Nurse / Nurse
- The Voice (1956) ... Head Nurse
- The Hospital (1955) ... Nurse
- Objective Moon (1954) ... Stella
- House Hunting (1954) ... Stella
 1955 The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues
Ethel Hall, Dr. King's Secretary
 1953-1955 You Are There (TV Series)
Wife / Mrs. Gilchrist
- Washington Crosses the Delaware (December 25, 1776) (1955) ... Wife
- Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941) (1953) ... Mrs. Gilchrist
 1955 Crossroads (TV Series)
- Vivi Shining Bright (1955) ... (unconfirmed)
 1955 The Ford Television Theatre (TV Series)
Miss B.
- A Smattering of Bliss (1955) ... Miss B.
 1955 Highway Patrol (TV Series)
Clara Brent
- Reckless Driving (1955) ... Clara Brent
 1952-1955 Gang Busters (TV Series)
Mrs. Jones / Eleanor Jarman
- The Rocco Trapani Case (1955)
- The Rocco Case (1952) ... Mrs. Jones (as Vivi Janis)
- The Blonde Tigress (1952) ... Eleanor Jarman
 1952-1955 Dragnet (TV Series)
Grace Dillon / Policewoman Stone / Frances Demmering
- The Big No Rain (1955) ... Grace Dillon
- The Big Sophomore (1953)
- The Big White Rat (1953)
- The Big Show (1953) ... Policewoman Stone
- The Big Seventeen (1952) ... Frances Demmering
 1955 The Man Behind the Badge (TV Series)
Thelma / Sarah Ferguson
- The Case of the Red Letter Day (1955) ... Thelma
- The Case of the Deadly Delicacy (1955) ... Sarah Ferguson (as Vivi James)
 1955 Your Play Time (TV Series)
- Speaking to Hannah (1955)
 1954-1955 The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (TV Series)
Mrs. Myers / The Woman / Molly
- Gracie & George Try for a Day at the Beach (1955) ... Mrs. Myers
- George and the 14-Karat Gold Trombone (1955) ... The Woman
- Burnses & Mortons Going to Hear Antonelli Concert (1954) ... Molly
 1955 Treasury Men in Action (TV Series)
Marie Lacosta
- The Case of the Avoided Taxes (1955) ... Marie Lacosta
 1955 City Detective (TV Series)
Sheila
- The Hypnotic Wife (1955) ... Sheila
 1955 TV Reader's Digest (TV Series)
Mary Todd Lincoln
- How Chance Made Lincoln President (1955) ... Mary Todd Lincoln
 1953-1954 I Led 3 Lives (TV Series)
Comrade Endora / Comrade Elaine
- Counterfeit (1954) ... Comrade Endora
- Gun Running (1953) ... Comrade Elaine
 1954 Climax! (TV Series)
Marion
- The White Carnation (1954) ... Marion
 1954 I Married Joan (TV Series)
Mrs. Genevieve Fisher / Reunion Friend
- Alienation of Affections (1954) ... Mrs. Genevieve Fisher
- Joan's Haircut (1954) ... Reunion Friend
 1954 Big Town (TV Series)
Carol Richards
- Thirty Days to Live (1954) ... Carol Richards
 1954 The Loretta Young Show (TV Series)
Dora
- Son, This Is Your Father (1954) ... Dora
 1954 Donald's Diary (Short)
Daisy Duck / Daisy's Mother (voice, uncredited)
 1953-1954 I Love Lucy (TV Series)
Louann Hall / Clubwoman
- The Charm School (1954) ... Louann Hall
- No Children Allowed (1953) ... Clubwoman
 1953 Death Valley Days (TV Series)
Deliah Murtaugh
- Dear Teacher (1953) ... Deliah Murtaugh
 1953 Four Star Playhouse (TV Series)
Mrs. Randell
- A Matter of Advice (1953) ... Mrs. Randell (uncredited)
 1953 99 River Street
Edna - Taxi Dispatcher (uncredited)
 1952 Kansas City Confidential
Mrs. Rogers (uncredited)
 1949 Your Witness (TV Series)
- Murder on the Menu (1949)
Show Show Archive footage (1 credit)
Edit

Personal Details

Other Works:

Portrayed as Myrtle Davis on the sitcom "Father Knows Best". She was the next-door neighbor to the Anderson family, the family around which the show revolved. See more »

Alternate Names:

Vivi James | Vivi Janis | Vivi Jannis

Height:

5' 3" (1.6 m)
Edit

Did You Know?

Trivia:

Met Robert Cummings when they appeared together in the 1934 Ziegfeld Follies. See more »

Star Sign:

Gemini
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