# Janet Waldo
**Janet Waldo** (born February 4, 1920; sources differ between 1919 and 1920) was an American radio and voice actress whose teenage-sounding voice, kept in largely natural form across six decades, defined the characters Corliss Archer on radio, Judy Jetson on *The Jetsons*, Josie McCoy in *Josie and the Pussycats*, and [Penelope Pitstop](https://www.edgepedia.org/penelope-pitstop) in *Wacky Races* and its spin-off *The Perils of Penelope Pitstop*. She died on June 12, 2016, at her home in Encino, California.[1](https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-janet-waldo-20160613-snap-story.html) • [2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-janet-waldo-appreciation-20160613-snap-story.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birth | Most obituaries give February 4, 1920, in Yakima, Washington; a birth certificate in hand led the astro-databank to record February 4, 1919, in Grandview, Washington[1](https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-janet-waldo-20160613-snap-story.html) • [3](https://www.astro.com/astro-databank/Waldo%2C_Janet) |
| Signature roles | Corliss Archer on CBS radio's *Meet Corliss Archer*, a role originated by Priscilla Lyon in 1943 that Waldo later took over and played for eight years; Judy Jetson from *The Jetsons* (1962); Penelope Pitstop; Josie McCoy[4](https://www.legacy.com/legacy/notable-deaths/janet-waldo) • [5](https://www.thewrap.com/jetsons-janet-waldo-dies-judy-jetson/) • [13](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/24473) |
| Education | Theater studies at the University of Washington[6](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/janet-waldo) |
| Marriage | Playwright and lyricist Robert E. Lee, 1948 until his death in 1994; two children, Lucy and Jonathan[4](https://www.legacy.com/legacy/notable-deaths/janet-waldo) |
| Health | Diagnosed in 2011 with a benign but inoperable brain tumor, according to her daughter Lucy Lee[5](https://www.thewrap.com/jetsons-janet-waldo-dies-judy-jetson/) |
| Final screen credit | A voice part on a 1998 episode of *King of the Hill*, per IMDb[5](https://www.thewrap.com/jetsons-janet-waldo-dies-judy-jetson/) |
| Notable replacement | She recorded Judy Jetson for the 1990 theatrical film *Jetsons: The Movie* but was replaced by the pop star Tiffany[4](https://www.legacy.com/legacy/notable-deaths/janet-waldo) |
## Early life and film
Waldo grew up in Washington State and studied theater at the University of Washington.[6](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/janet-waldo) Her break came through the singer and actor [Bing Crosby](https://www.edgepedia.org/bing-crosby), whose scouts saw her in a student play and entered her in a talent contest, which she won as a fourteen-year-old. Crosby brought her to California, where [Paramount Pictures](https://www.edgepedia.org/paramount-pictures) put her under contract.[4](https://www.legacy.com/legacy/notable-deaths/janet-waldo) • [7](https://leonardmaltin.com/remembering-janet-waldo/)
**On-camera work never suited her.** From 1938 she played small roles in films such as *Zaza* (1938) and *Waterloo Bridge* (1940), usually credited as a hatcheck girl, cigarette girl, receptionist, or telephone operator, with a few co-starring roles in [Tim Holt](https://www.edgepedia.org/tim-holt) westerns.[4](https://www.legacy.com/legacy/notable-deaths/janet-waldo) • [2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-janet-waldo-appreciation-20160613-snap-story.html) • [8](https://www.wallofcelebrities.com/celebrities/janet-waldo/biography.html) In her 2004 interview with the critic [Leonard Maltin](https://www.edgepedia.org/leonard-maltin) she said the studio did not know what to do with her and that she never felt comfortable in front of the camera.[7](https://leonardmaltin.com/remembering-janet-waldo/) Crosby's introduction to radio, where he hosted *Kraft Music Hall*, changed her direction; she told MovieWeb in 2011 that radio felt natural because she did not need makeup or memorized lines.[4](https://www.legacy.com/legacy/notable-deaths/janet-waldo)
## Radio
After a start on [Cecil B. DeMille](https://www.edgepedia.org/cecil-b-demille)'s *Lux Radio Theatre*, Waldo moved through a series of programs including *The Eddie Bracken Show*, Edward G. Robinson's *Big Town*, and *Sears Radio Theater*, and worked on shows written by [Robert E. Lee](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-e-lee), the radio writer she later married.[5](https://www.thewrap.com/jetsons-janet-waldo-dies-judy-jetson/) • [9](https://www.animationscoop.com/janet-waldo-the-sound-of-youthful-joy/) While Priscilla Lyon originated the role of Corliss Archer in 1943, Janet Waldo played the title role in *Meet Corliss Archer*, a CBS comedy about a teenage girl, and played the part for eight years.[2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-janet-waldo-appreciation-20160613-snap-story.html) • [5](https://www.thewrap.com/jetsons-janet-waldo-dies-judy-jetson/) • [13](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/24473) She was the leading teenage actress in radio situation comedy of the period, working alongside performers from [Orson Welles](https://www.edgepedia.org/orson-welles) to Frank Sinatra.[7](https://leonardmaltin.com/remembering-janet-waldo/)
When *Meet Corliss Archer* moved to other media, Waldo did not follow: Ann Baker played Corliss on television and [Shirley Temple](https://www.edgepedia.org/shirley-temple) in the films, although a 1948 comic book series used Waldo's likeness for the character.[4](https://www.legacy.com/legacy/notable-deaths/janet-waldo) • [10](https://www.saturdaymorningsforever.com/2020/05/saturday-morning-masters-janet-waldo.html)
## Television and animation
Waldo moved to television in the early 1950s. In 1952 she played the teenage Peggy, infatuated with Ricky Ricardo, in *The Young Fans*, an episode of *I Love Lucy*, and the same year re-created her radio role as the teenage neighbor Emmy Lou on the new television version of *[The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-adventures-of-ozzie-and-harriet)*. Her early credits also included *The Phil Silvers Show* and *The Andy Griffith Show*.[2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-janet-waldo-appreciation-20160613-snap-story.html) • [6](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/janet-waldo) She was over 30 when she played the teenage Peggy, an example of the agelessness that radio and later animation made her specialty: the Los Angeles Times critic Robert Lloyd described her voice as "the flute-like music of excited youth," a sound she could summon well into her 70s.[2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-janet-waldo-appreciation-20160613-snap-story.html)
**The Jetsons made her a fixture.** She auditioned in 1962 for the teenage daughter in a new [Hanna-Barbera](https://www.edgepedia.org/hanna-barbera) prime-time cartoon and became the voice of Judy Jetson, a part she reprised for the 1985 revival and the television movies *The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones* (1987) and *Rockin' With Judy Jetson*. "Judy was a cinch," she said later, "because I just did my own voice."[4](https://www.legacy.com/legacy/notable-deaths/janet-waldo) • [7](https://leonardmaltin.com/remembering-janet-waldo/) For the 1990 theatrical film she recorded her role but was replaced by the pop star Tiffany, a widely criticized decision for which the producer Joe Barbera later apologized to her.[4](https://www.legacy.com/legacy/notable-deaths/janet-waldo) • [9](https://www.animationscoop.com/janet-waldo-the-sound-of-youthful-joy/)
Hanna-Barbera made her one of its house voices. Beyond Judy Jetson, her most recognizable characters were Penelope Pitstop on *Wacky Races* (1968) and *The Perils of Penelope Pitstop* (1969), and Josie McCoy in *[Josie and the Pussycats](https://www.edgepedia.org/josie-and-the-pussycats-tv-series)* (1970) and *Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space* (1972); another performer supplied Josie's singing voice.[4](https://www.legacy.com/legacy/notable-deaths/janet-waldo) • [10](https://www.saturdaymorningsforever.com/2020/05/saturday-morning-masters-janet-waldo.html) She also voiced Pearl Slaghoople, Fred Flintstone's mother-in-law, taking over the part from [Verna Felton](https://www.edgepedia.org/verna-felton) in *The Flintstones*; Granny Sweet on *The Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel Show*; the witch Hogatha in *The Smurfs*; and Morticia in the 1973 animated *The Addams Family*.[2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-janet-waldo-appreciation-20160613-snap-story.html) • [4](https://www.legacy.com/legacy/notable-deaths/janet-waldo) • [9](https://www.animationscoop.com/janet-waldo-the-sound-of-youthful-joy/) Later credits included anime dubbing as the Princess in *Battle of the Planets*, work for [Ruby-Spears](https://www.edgepedia.org/ruby-spears) and Marvel Productions, and assorted characters on *The Smurfs*, *The New Adventures of Superman*, and other series.[5](https://www.thewrap.com/jetsons-janet-waldo-dies-judy-jetson/) • [7](https://leonardmaltin.com/remembering-janet-waldo/) • [10](https://www.saturdaymorningsforever.com/2020/05/saturday-morning-masters-janet-waldo.html)
She retired from acting around the turn of the millennium after more than 100 television and film credits.[11](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/janet-waldo/) • [12](https://www.tvguide.com/news/janet-waldo-judy-jetson-dead-at-96/)
## Later years and death
Waldo remained visible to fans of animation, appearing regularly at Comic-Con International, where she said in 2011 that she received boxes of fan mail from as far away as Europe.[4](https://www.legacy.com/legacy/notable-deaths/janet-waldo) She continued performing into old age, including roles with the California Artists Radio Theatre and on the children's radio series *Adventures in Odyssey* opposite [Alan Young](https://www.edgepedia.org/alan-young).[7](https://leonardmaltin.com/remembering-janet-waldo/) • [9](https://www.animationscoop.com/janet-waldo-the-sound-of-youthful-joy/) At her death she was the last surviving member of the original *Jetsons* cast.[12](https://www.tvguide.com/news/janet-waldo-judy-jetson-dead-at-96/)
## References
1. [Janet Waldo Obituary, Los Angeles Times / Associated Press (June 13, 2016)](https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-janet-waldo-20160613-snap-story.html)
2. [Robert Lloyd, Appreciation: Famed voice actress Janet Waldo provided the sound of sweetness, spiked with attitude, Los Angeles Times (June 14, 2016)](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-janet-waldo-appreciation-20160613-snap-story.html)
3. [Waldo, Janet, Astro-Databank](https://www.astro.com/astro-databank/Waldo%2C_Janet)
4. [Janet Waldo Obituary, Legacy.com](https://www.legacy.com/legacy/notable-deaths/janet-waldo)
5. [Tim Kenneally, 'Jetsons' Voice Actress Janet Waldo Dies at 96, TheWrap (June 13, 2016)](https://www.thewrap.com/jetsons-janet-waldo-dies-judy-jetson/)
6. [Janet Waldo, Television Academy bio](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/janet-waldo)
7. [Leonard Maltin, Remembering Janet Waldo (June 24, 2016)](https://leonardmaltin.com/remembering-janet-waldo/)
8. [Janet Waldo Biography & Photo Gallery - Wall Of Celebrities](https://www.wallofcelebrities.com/celebrities/janet-waldo/biography.html)
9. [Greg Ehrbar, Janet Waldo: The Sound of Youthful Joy, Animation Scoop (June 13, 2016)](https://www.animationscoop.com/janet-waldo-the-sound-of-youthful-joy/)
10. [Saturday Morning Masters: Janet Waldo, Saturday Mornings Forever (2020)](https://www.saturdaymorningsforever.com/2020/05/saturday-morning-masters-janet-waldo.html)
11. [Janet Waldo, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/janet-waldo/)
12. [Joyce Eng, Janet Waldo, Voice of Judy Jetson, Dead at 96, TV Guide (June 13, 2016)](https://www.tvguide.com/news/janet-waldo-judy-jetson-dead-at-96/)
13. [catalog.afi.com](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/24473)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Voice performers › American voice performers › Animation and cartoon voice actors › Classic cartoon and radio era voice actors*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license