Janet Gaynor was born Laura Gainor on October 6, 1906, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a child, she & her parents moved to San Francisco, California, where she graduated from high school in 1923. She then moved to Los Angeles where she enrolled in a secretarial school. She got a job at a shoe store for the princely sum of $18 per week. However, since L.A. was the land of stars and studios, she wanted to try her hand at acting. She managed to land unbilled bit parts in several feature films and comedy shorts. She bided her time, believing "Good things come to those who wait." She didn't have to wait too long, either. In 1926, at the age of 20, she turned in a superb performance as Anna Burger in _The Johnstown Flood . Her last performance was in a Broadway version of Harold and Maude. Although the play was a flop, Janet's performance salvaged it to any degree - she still had what it took to entertain the public. On September 14, 1984, Janet passed away from pneumonia in Palm Springs, California, at the age of 77.
In September 1982, Ms. Gaynor, who was 75, was seriously injured in a San Francisco taxi cab accident which also injured her husband, executive producer Paul Gregory , and actress Mary Martin. The accident proved fatal for Martins agent, Ben Washer. Gaynor suffered 11 broken ribs, a ruptured bladder, a broken collar bone, a bleeding kidney, and multiple pelvic fractures. She was to endure a number of operations in the next year and grew weaker until her death in 1984.
Until 1986, she was the youngest leading actress to be awarded an Oscar.
Interred at Hollywood Memorial Cemetery (now called Hollywood Forever), Hollywood, California, USA, Section B, east side of lake.
She was the first actress to win the Academy Award as best actress. In the early years, actors could receive one Oscar for several films. Gaynor won for Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans , 7th Heaven and Street Angel .
Gave birth to her only child at age 33, a son Robin Gaynor Adrian on July 6, 1940. Childs father was her 2nd husband, Adrian.
As of 2013 Gaynor is the third-youngest actress to have won the Best Actress Academy Award, winning the Oscar at the age of 22, behind only Jennifer Lawrence (also 22) and Marlee Matlin.
Was considered for the role of Scarlett OHara in Gone with the Wind .
Was the 1st actress to receive an Academy Award; she won the Best Actress Oscar for her performances in 7th Heaven , Street Angel and Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans at The 1st Academy Awards on May 16, 1929.
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