Pretty Janis Dremann headed for New York City after graduating college in her native Cleveland. She adopted her grandmother’s easier to spell and pronounce surname “Carter” and dreamed of becoming an opera star on the New York stage of the Metropolitan Opera. Unfortunately, a case of the nerves at her audition dashed her singing dreams. Janis, however, was determined and she found a comfortable home on the Broadway stage, landing roles in DuBarry was a Lady and Panama Hattie. Producer Darryl F. Zanuck was in the audience on the evening of her debut in Panama Hattie. Impressed with her performance, he signed the 27-year old actress to a movie deal.
Janis made her screen debut in Cadet Girl, alongside Carole Landis and George Montgomery in 1941. Over the next years, Janis co-starred in 30 films, appearing with popular box-office draws like Glenn Ford and John Wayne. After co-starring with Robert Young in the 1952 Western The Half-Breed, Janis bid farewell to Hollywood, returning to New York to try her hand at the budding television industry.
Finding plenty of roles in TV comedies and drama, Janis settled into a hostess role on the game show Feather Your Nest with host Bud Collyer. Although popular, it was a stint that would only last two years. In 1956, Janis married lumber tycoon Julius Stulman and she promptly left her show business career behind. Janis and her husband moved south where Janis became active in cultural and community activities.
Out of the spotlight for over forty years and living in near anonymity, Janis suffered a fatal heart attack in 1994. She passed away at the age of 80.