Her acting career ended at the age of 24 when she suffered a brain aneurysm, leaving her with a disability from which she never fully recovered.
Derived her stage name "Jan Norris" from the surname of her stepfather, Chester Norris.
Took ballet and acting lessons, making her theatrical debut at the Pittsburgh Playhouse.
After her acting career ended, she became a marketing model, posing with products in magazines and newspapers. She died of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1985.