Janice Lynde
A versatile actress who brought depth to daytime drama as Leslie Brooks on 'The Young and the Restless' and later found a second career in voice work.
Born 1948 (age 78)·American actress·Birthday: March 28·Baby Boomers
Biography
Janice Lynde carved out a distinctive path in American television, becoming a familiar face to soap opera audiences in the 1970s. She is best remembered for originating the role of Leslie Brooks on CBS's 'The Young and the Restless' in 1973, a part she played for five years. As Leslie, she portrayed a sophisticated, often troubled fashion photographer, bringing a grounded intensity to the show's early years. After leaving Genoa City, she continued with guest spots on prime-time series like 'Starsky and Hutch' and 'Barnaby Jones.' Her career later took a fascinating turn into the world of voice acting, where she found steady work lending her voice to animated series and video games. This shift showcased her adaptability, moving from the close-up emotional demands of soap opera to the character-building craft of voice performance. While not a constant tabloid presence, Lynde's sustained work across decades reflects a dedicated character actor who evolved with the industry.
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.
Janice was born in 1948, 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 Janice Was Born
The biggest hits of 1948
#1 Movie
The Red Shoes
Best Picture
Hamlet
#1 TV Show
Texaco Star Theatre
Janice's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1948Born
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1953Started school
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1961Became a teenager
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1964Could drive
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
1966Could vote
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1969Turned 21
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1978Turned 30
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1988Turned 40
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1998Turned 50
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 60
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 70
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 78 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Originated the long-running role of Leslie Brooks on the daytime soap opera 'The Young and the Restless'.
- Portrayed the character of Sandy Porter on the NBC soap opera 'Days of Our Lives' in the early 1970s.
- Built a second career as a voice actress for animated series such as 'The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest'.
Did You Know?
She was one of the original cast members when 'The Young and the Restless' premiered in 1973.
She provided the voice for the character of Jezebel Dice in the animated series 'The Pirates of Dark Water'.
She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin.
Her character Leslie Brooks was one of the first on daytime TV to be depicted as a professional career woman in a creative field.
“An actor's job is to find the truth in the fiction, no matter how dramatic.”
