Allison Janney
A character actress of towering stature and whip-smart delivery who became one of the most decorated performers in television history.
Born 1959 (age 67)·American actress·Birthday: November 19·Baby Boomers
Biography
Allison Janney's journey to becoming a national treasure was built on a foundation of skill, patience, and an unforgettable six-foot frame. A trained figure skater in her youth, a back injury steered her toward drama. After studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and graduating from Kenyon College, she honed her craft on the New York stage for years. Her big break came with a small but searing role in 'American Beauty,' but it was television that made her a star. As C.J. Cregg, the fiercely intelligent Press Secretary on 'The West Wing,' she delivered rapid-fire dialogue with a warmth and authority that won her four Emmys. She never settled into a type, moving effortlessly from sitcom matriarch on 'Mom' to the chilling, Oscar-winning figure skater's mother in 'I, Tonya.' Janney possesses the rare ability to command a scene with either a devastating glare or a perfectly timed pratfall.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Allison was born in 1959, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Allison Was Born
The biggest hits of 1959
#1 Movie
Ben-Hur
Best Picture
Ben-Hur
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Allison's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1959Born
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1964Started school
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1972Became a teenager
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1975Could drive
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1977Could vote
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1980Turned 21
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1989Turned 30
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1999Turned 40
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2009Turned 50
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 60
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 67 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as LaVona Golden in 'I, Tonya.'
- Secured seven Primetime Emmy Awards from a staggering 14 nominations, spanning drama ('The West Wing') and comedy ('Mom').
- Created the iconic character of White House Press Secretary C.J. Cregg, one of television's most beloved and influential political figures.
- Received two Tony Award nominations for her performances in the Broadway plays 'A View from the Bridge' and 'The Women.'
Did You Know?
She was a competitive figure skater in her teens and trained with Olympic champion Scott Hamilton.
She voiced the computer interface for the Starship Avalon in the film 'Passengers,' a role for which she was never on set.
She is a passionate advocate for animal welfare and has worked with the organization Farm Sanctuary.
Her height of 6 feet tall has often been written into her characters, including C.J. Cregg's preference for flats.
“I'm not a comedian. I'm an actress who can do comedy.”
