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Janet Carroll

Janet Carroll

Actor · Died May 22, 2012, aged 71 · Chicago, Illinois, USA

Janet began her stage career, right out of high school, at the legendary Kansas City Starlight Theatre, appearing in many many musicals including: "Hello Dolly," "Guys and Dolls," "Mame," "Gypsy," "South Pacific," "Pajama Game," "Carousel" and many others. Janet continued her stage work in California for many years, starring opposite Cloris Leachman in "A Couple of White Chicks," starred with Lynn Redgrave and John Lithgow in "Lady Windemere's Fan," among other productions. Janet made her Broadway debut in "Little Women," alongside Sutton Foster and Maureen McGovern. Her big break in films came when she was cast as Tom Cruise's mother in Risky Business (1983). From there, she went on to star in numerous films, working almost non-stop till last year. Her films include: Family Business (1989), Memories of Me (1988), Forces of Nature (1999), The Killing Time (1987), Enough (2002), Talent for the Game (1991), "My Guaranteed Student Loan," among many others. Her television career was just as busy, with recurring roles or lead roles in: The Bronx Zoo (1987), Murphy Brown (1988), Melrose Place (1992), Married... with Children (1987), Bonnie (1995), and guest appearances on: Brothers & Sisters (2006), Scrubs (2001), Designing Women (1986), 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996), Mary (1985), etc. Her co- stars includes such luminaries as: Sean Connery, Dustin Hoffman, Celeste Holm, Jennifer Lopez, Sandra Bullock, Billy Crystal, Alan King, Ben Affleck, Mary Tyler Moore, Edward Asner, Brad Pitt, Matthew Broderick, Billy Campbell, Lorraine Bracco and Edward James Olmos, to name a few. Janet won the coveted Los Angeles Drama Logue Critics Award for outstanding achievement in theatre for Ezra Pound's "Electra." For eight years, she was the Artistic Director of The Jazz Series at The Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, Janet was the co-founder of "The Victory Ball" in Westport CT, annually benefiting ALS Foundation(Lou Gehrig's Disease). She served on the Executive Board of Directors of Ginny Mancini's "Society of Singers" as VP of Development. Her ashes will be spread in the Edgebrook Lutheran Church Memorial Garden in Chicago, Illinois, in a ceremony to be determined at a later date.

Read more

Biography from IMDb.

Born
December 24, 1940
Died
May 22, 2012 (aged 71)
From
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
45 on MovieCove · 76 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 65 days to Oct 28Down 23% in 30 days

What are Janet Carroll's films like?

Across their 18 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 36th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 23rd percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 2nd percentile
: browse their Action movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
29%
Bonds
25%
Morality
24%
Survival
13%
Power
6%
Ideas
3%
Society
1%
Romantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this themeMortality2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 17 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 14 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 4 · Charged 11 · Intense 2

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 10 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 7 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 2

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 10 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 15 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

3 analyzed roles
Mentor
1 of 3
Trickster
1 of 3
Threshold guardian
1 of 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
10
Warm
5
Melancholic
6
Hopeful
5
Dread
4
Other
19

How their films linger

Hopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet6
  • Ambiguous4

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Janet Carroll's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 33 of their 45 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (15).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Janet Carroll's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

76 credits, 45 with a MovieCove page.

  • College Debts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Grandma Clare

  • Christmas Spirit(2011)

    as Betty

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • What Happens Next(2011)

    as Gloria

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Art of War III: Retribution(2009)

    as Secretary General Barnes

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Beyond The Quest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Julia Baron

  • Brothers & Sisters(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Sloane Dodelson

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all shows

  • Confession(2005)

    as Mother Superior

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Living 'til the End(2005)

    as Constance Whilton

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Still Standing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 2 episodes · as Helen Michaels

  • Enough(2002)

    as Mrs. Hiller

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Changing Hearts(2002)

    as Mrs. Lane

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Scrubs(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Cooke

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • All You Need (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Jane Sabistan

  • Time of Your Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Omega Code(1999)

    as Dorothy Thompson

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Brenda Fairchild

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Judging Amy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Atty. Marx

  • Forces of Nature(1999)

    as Barbara Holmes

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Ally McBeal(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Ellen Fish

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • 7th Heaven(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Betty Tomlin

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all shows

  • Pacific Blue(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Dorothy

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all shows

  • 3rd Rock from the Sun(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Runquist

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • Bonnie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 11 episodes · as Diane Fulton

  • Destiny Turns on the Radio(1995)

    as Escabel

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Born to Be Wild(1995)

    as Judge Billings

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Betrayed: A Story of Three Women(1995)

    as Patty

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Timemaster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Miss Spinell

  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Diana Abernathy

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • Boy Meets World(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Nurse Jill

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • The Hat Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 10 episodes · as Kitty

  • Melrose Place(1992)

    Show 4 episodes · as Marion Shaw

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all shows

  • One Special Victory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Actor

  • Pacific Station (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Judy Epstein

  • Talent for the Game(1991)

    as Rachel Bodeen

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Daughters of Privilege (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Gail Brody

  • Beverly Hills, 90210(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Patsy Regan

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • Glory Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Lovejoy

  • The Platinum Triangle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Lt. Smith

  • Family Business(1989)

    as Margie

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • When He's Not a Stranger(1989)

    as Counselor

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Mancuso, F.B.I. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Famous Teddy Z (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Life Goes On (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Quantum Leap(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Janie Wilson

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Coach(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Loretta

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Murphy Brown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 2 episodes · as Doris Dial

  • Empty Nest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Memories of Me(1988)

    as Dorothy Davis

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Sharing Richard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Actor

  • The Killing Time(1987)

    as Lila Daggett

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Jake and the Fatman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • A Year in the Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 2 episodes · as Joanne

  • Bluffing It (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Margaret Duggan

  • 21 Jump Street(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Poolish

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all shows

  • Married... with Children(1987)

    Show 7 episodes · as Gary

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • The Bronx Zoo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

  • Designing Women(1986)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • L.A. Law(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Geraldine Parker

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story(1986)

    as Susan Baker

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Matlock(1986)

    Show 2 episodes · as Anita Montrose

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • The Right of the People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Marjorie

  • The Twilight Zone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as (segment "Cold Reading")

  • 227(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • The Golden Girls(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Phyllis Hammerow

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Secret Admirer(1985)

    as Toni's Mother

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Double Dare(1985)

    Show 7 episodes · as Lt. Samantha Warner

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • E/R (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Beth

  • Laugh Busters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Actor

  • Getting Physical (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Myra Gibley

  • Risky Business(1983)

    as Joel's Mother

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Knight Rider(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Denise Merritt

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Cagney & Lacey(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Flora, Housewife (segment 'Astronomy')

  • Chicago Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Actor

  • Hill Street Blues(1981)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Alice(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 90th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 76 titles from 1976 to 2015; peak year 1984.

Biggest box office

Forces of Nature (1999)

$94M worldwide

Highest rated

Risky Business (1983)

Midcredits 74th

Film career

19762015

Peak 1984 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting76 of 76: 76 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score42nd

By decade

1970s1 · acting1980s38 · acting1990s24 · acting2000s10 · acting2010s3 · acting

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 0% of 11 roles
8398

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Janet Carroll's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 36th percentile, the median of all 20; across their 17 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 34th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

34thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Approval · how many liked their films

38thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Reach · how many have seen their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Midcredits score across 45 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th16
  • Below 25th11

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 45 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Cult Classic6
  • Crowd Pleaser11
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed17

Most divisive · actor

Christmas Spirit (2011)

88th percentile spread · 63% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Married... with Children (1987)

Midcredits 87th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the acting 58/100 in their films, across 17 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 31. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Janet Carroll's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 40 · moderateMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Janet Carroll work with?

People who share at least 2 of Janet Carroll's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Daniel Wright shares the most, 2.

Writers

Actors

Composers

Producers