Janet Margolin, a stunning and demure-looking actress, was born in the vibrant city of New York in 1943. She received her education at the prestigious New York High School of Performing Arts, where she likely honed her skills and developed a passion for the performing arts.
The long-haired brunette's talent and beauty did not go unnoticed, as she was discovered by renowned director Frank Perry while making a name for herself on the Broadway stage. Perry was impressed by her performance in the play "Daughter of Silence," which earned her a Tony nomination, and promptly took her to Hollywood to cast her in the film adaptation of "David and Lisa" (1962) alongside Keir Dullea.
Margolin's portrayal of the schizophrenic Lisa in the film received widespread critical acclaim, with the movie itself being praised for its thoughtful and mature handling of its subject matter. Despite this early success, however, her career failed to gain momentum, and she went on to appear in a string of uneventful second leads in films such as "Bus Riley's Back in Town" (1965),"The Greatest Story Ever Told" (1965),and "Nevada Smith" (1966).
However, Margolin did experience some success with her ingenue roles in "Enter Laughing" (1967) and Woody Allen's "Take the Money and Run" (1969),although the offers began to dry up by the end of the decade. She subsequently turned her focus to television work and made appearances in various TV shows and films, including Woody Allen's "Annie Hall" (1977).
In her personal life, Margolin was married twice, first to an unknown partner and then to actor Ted Wass, who is best known for his roles in TV shows such as "Soap" (1977) and "Blossom" (1990).
Sadly, Margolin's life was cut short when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and passed away at the age of 50.