Jan Miner

Born: 1917-10-15

Janice Miner (October 15, 1917 – February 15, 2004) was an American actress best known as the character Madge the manicurist in Palmolive dish-washing detergent television commercials from the 1960s to the 1990s. Janice Miner was the daughter of a dentist and a painter, and had three brothers, Sheldon, Donald and Lyndsey. She studied at the Vesper George School of Art in her native Boston, then studied acting under Lee Strasberg and others. She made her stage debut in 1945 in a Boston production of Elmer Rice's Street Scene. Miner then became established on radio, and worked through the 1950s in several series simultaneously. Among other roles, she was one of three actresses who played secretary Della Street on Perry Mason and one of five to play girlfriend Ann Williams on Casey, Crime Photographer. She also appeared as Mary Wesley on Boston Blackie. Miner played featured roles in the anthology series Radio City Playhouse, in "Soundless", "Portrait of Lenore" and other episodes. Her appearance in the premiere broadcast of the series "created a minor sensation in the play Long Distance"; the episode proved so popular that she repeated her performance later in the season. From circa 1948 through some time before the series ended in 1957, Miner starred as Julie Erickson, head of the titular orphanage in the soap opera Hilltop House, during most of the show's revival beginning in 1948. The series was sponsored by the Colgate-Palmolive Company, for which she later appeared in a famous, long-running series of television commercials.


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Endless Love

as Mrs. Switzer
Released: 1981-07-17

Parental disapproval of two teenagers wrapped up in a passionate love affair causes a confusion...

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Mermaids

as Mother Superior
Released: 1990-12-14

Fifteen-year-old Charlotte Flax is tired of her wacky mom moving their family to a different...

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The Swimmer

as Lillian Hunsacker
Released: 1968-08-09

Well-off ad man Ned Merrill is visiting a friend when he notices the abundance of backyard pools...

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Lenny

as Sally Marr
Released: 1974-11-10

The story of acerbic 1960s comic Lenny Bruce, whose groundbreaking, no-holds-barred style and...

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Willie and Phil

as Maria Kaufman
Released: 1980-08-15

Life imitates art when two Manhattanites — pompous teacher Willie and quiet photographer Phil —...

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F.D.R.: The Last Year

as Cousin Daisy
Released: 1980-05-15

Though visibly frail and weary, President Franklin D. Roosevelt runs for a precedent-setting...

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Out of Our Fathers' House

as uncredited
Released: 1978-08-02

Drawn from the diaries and letters of noted feminists, such as women's suffrage founder...

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Gertrude Stein and a Companion!

as Gertrude Stein
Released: 1987-06-01

We arrive just after the death of Gertrude Stein. Her ghost returns to Alice B. Toklas and the...

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Law & Order

as Edna Hodge
First aired: 1990-09-13

In cases ripped from the headlines, police investigate serious and often deadly crimes, weighing...

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Great Performances

as uncredited
First aired: 1971-01-28

The best in the performing arts from across America and around the world including a diverse...

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Lights Out

as uncredited
First aired: 1949-07-19

Lights Out was an extremely popular American old-time radio program, an early example of a...

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Robert Montgomery Presents

as uncredited
First aired: 1950-01-30

Robert Montgomery Presents is an American dramatic television series which was produced by NBC...

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Robert Montgomery Presents

as Julia
First aired: 1950-01-30

Robert Montgomery Presents is an American dramatic television series which was produced by NBC...

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Robert Montgomery Presents

as Janet Ballard
First aired: 1950-01-30

Robert Montgomery Presents is an American dramatic television series which was produced by NBC...

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Robert Montgomery Presents

as Lesley
First aired: 1950-01-30

Robert Montgomery Presents is an American dramatic television series which was produced by NBC...

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Robert Montgomery Presents

as Jennie Ward
First aired: 1950-01-30

Robert Montgomery Presents is an American dramatic television series which was produced by NBC...

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Robert Montgomery Presents

as Irene
First aired: 1950-01-30

Robert Montgomery Presents is an American dramatic television series which was produced by NBC...

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Robert Montgomery Presents

as Melinda Phillips
First aired: 1950-01-30

Robert Montgomery Presents is an American dramatic television series which was produced by NBC...

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Robert Montgomery Presents

as Enid Garroway
First aired: 1950-01-30

Robert Montgomery Presents is an American dramatic television series which was produced by NBC...

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Studio One

as Mother
First aired: 1948-11-07

An American radio–television anthology series, created in 1947 by Canadian director Fletcher...

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Cagney & Lacey

as uncredited
First aired: 1982-03-25

Mary Beth Lacey and Chris Cagney are teamed up as NYPD police detectives. Their opposing...

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Naked City

as Elsie Knauf
First aired: 1958-09-30

Naked City is a police drama series which aired from 1958 to 1963 on the ABC television network....

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Naked City

as Lia Wallace
First aired: 1958-09-30

Naked City is a police drama series which aired from 1958 to 1963 on the ABC television network....

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Naked City

as Rosie Wilkin
First aired: 1958-09-30

Naked City is a police drama series which aired from 1958 to 1963 on the ABC television network....

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Naked City

as Superintendent
First aired: 1958-09-30

Naked City is a police drama series which aired from 1958 to 1963 on the ABC television network....

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One Step Beyond

as Grace Harkness
First aired: 1959-01-20

Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond is an American anthology series created by Merwin Gerard. The...

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Crime Photographer

as Ann Williams
First aired: 1951-04-19

"The Morning Express" photographer hangs out at New York's Blue Note Cafe and tells bartender...

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Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

as uncredited
First aired: 1951-10-05

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars is an anthology series that was telecast from 1951 until 1959 on CBS....

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